Category: 
Job


Location: Nashville, TN

Assistant Director – Urban Design

Salary: $160,000

Closing: October 28, 2023

About
The Nashville Planning Department is seeking an experienced professional to join its Design Studio and guide its talented staff in taking the studio to the next level. Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and it is an exciting time to shape the built environment for current and future generations.

The Nashville Planning Department is comprised of planners and designers with expertise in land use, zoning, long range planning, architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. These staff members provide analysis and recommendations throughout the 526 square miles that make up the City of Nashville and Davidson County in a wide variety of urban, suburban and rural contexts, and are supported by the department’s operational staff.

Position Description
The Assistant Director – Urban Design will oversee the 11-person Design Studio, a division within the Metro Nashville Planning Department that includes three sections: Ecological Design, Design Review/Implementation and Urban Design. Typical duties include visionary yet pragmatic leadership of the division; providing guidance to improve design quality; high-level administrative duties involved in managing the Design Studio; strategic planning; recommending and monitoring budgets; resource allocation; recommending organizational and process improvements; and clear and timely communication with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including elected officials.

Typical Duties

  • Leads and coordinates daily work activities of the Design Studio Division.
  • Manages the studio, including assignments, employee performance and other typical duties.
  • Works closely with members of the senior leadership team.
  • Recommends and prioritizes urban design projects in the department’s annual work plan.
  • Administers contracts to vendors and consultants and manages complex urban design projects as assigned.
  • Develops and coordinates urban design studies, design guidelines, master plans, schematic designs, and policy analyses of public and private land.
  • Utilizes 3-D modeling, massing, GIS mapping, sections, elevations, renderings (such as computer-based and/or hand-drawn), visualizations, diagrams, and photography.
  • Supports activities within other divisions of the Planning Department and/or other Metropolitan departments.
  • Facilitates community and internal workshops and design charrettes.
  • Consults with developers, contractors, architects, landscape architects (and other design professionals) and the public about planning- and development-related issues.
  • Recommends policy changes and/or develops and implements new policies and procedures as needed.
  • May act on behalf of the Deputy Executive Director in his/her absence.
  • Performs related duties as required.

Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture or Urban Planning from an accredited college or university and ten (10) years of relevant experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience. Or, Master's Degree and eight (8) of relevant experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience. Licensure in architecture or landscape architecture is preferred. Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and trends in city planning, urban design, New Urbanism, architecture and/or landscape architecture.
  • Knowledge of basic legal principles of land development and zoning.
  • Thorough knowledge of supervisory and management principles and practices, including supervising the work of others and examining and modifying the flow of work to increase productivity and work quality.
  • Experience applying best practices that elevate the design of buildings and places in equitable and sustainable ways and an ability to accurately process, review, analyze and critique development issues with an emphasis on sound urban design principles.
  • Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in helping to solve complex problems.
  • Understanding of how to leverage 3D spatial design/urban design capabilities and graphic representation techniques to support and communicate projects and ideas.
  • Strong prioritization and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  • Ability to successfully work with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to read and interpret complex materials.
  • Ability to conduct studies, analyze data, and make recommendations.
  • Ability to present technical information to lay persons in ways they can understand, including communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to value and respect cultural differences, balance different perspectives, and to be intentional about expanding opportunities for all persons.

How to Apply
Qualified applicants should send letter of interest, resume and portfolio of work samples to: Randi Semrick at randi.semrick@nashville.gov or

Randi Semrick
Metro Planning Department
800 President Ronald Reagan Way
P.O. Box 196300
Nashville, TN 37219-6300
(No Phone Calls Please)