City of Fort Wayne

Job Description:

SUMMARY

Working under the direction of the Deputy Director - Redevelopment, the incumbent plans, manages and directs design solutions for the City and neighborhood urban and landscape design projects, including supervising consultant’s and contractor’s work. Incumbent is responsible for giving consideration to the interrelationships of land use, historic preservation, commercial revitalization, neighborhood conservation, downtown redevelopment, environmental sustainability, etc. Issues such as social, physical and economic factors affecting urban development must be studied and analyzed, and recommendations developed that address these issues. Incumbent is expected to contribute to the resolution of many complex issues concerning City Administration, Redevelopment Commission and departmental strategies, goals, and objectives. A considerable portion of the work will entail project development and proposal studies along with supervisory, decision making duties. Incumbent directs and manages professional services contracts, construction contracts, and project budgets. Independent analysis and design development is expected without specific technical instructions from the supervisor. The incumbent is expected to exercise good judgment, independence, initiative, and professional expertise in conducting day-to-day operations. All work duties and activities must be performed in accordance with the City safety rules and operating regulations, policies and procedures as well as federal, state, and local regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the ability to interact with the public, City incumbents, and outside agencies with patience, tact, respect, and professionalism and the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides direction on the City’s urban design strategy and programs;
• Identifies and determines location, scale, scope, and style of urban design projects across all parts of the City;
• Develops, designs, and prepares technical documents including construction plans, construction specifications, and bid documents all in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and requirements for high profile civic urban design and landscape architecture projects such as streetscape and public space design;
• Prepares and reviews architectural and engineering plans and specifications for all assigned projects, including site plans, development plans, and demolition and construction plans, and guides all plans through the required approval processes, and ensures that all plans are revised as required to indicate as-built conditions;
• Procures professional services and contractor services for assigned projects in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and requirements;
• Prepares bid and contract documents, let bids, and awards, administers and closes out contracts for all assigned projects;
• Manages Redevelopment construction projects;
• Monitors and ensures each project is completed in a timely manner and according to established schedules;
• Manages and supervises consultant’s and contractor’s work;
• Prepares and/or evaluates reports, plans, and design solutions for historic preservation, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood sub-areas, downtown study areas, green infrastructure and other projects as necessary;
• Performs analysis of social, physical, ecological, and economic factors affecting city land use plans and private development plans;
• Works closely with Redevelopment Commission and City Administration in developing, implementing, and managing design and construction projects;
• Represents Redevelopment department and Community Development Division before City Council, civic and business groups, and other parties as required;
• Represents Community Development Division, making presentations as needed to citizen's groups and public officials;
• Maintains confidentiality of work performed.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

Performs other duties as assigned.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

The incumbent is responsible to manage their performance in accordance with this job description and the performance expectations provided to them by management. If at any time the incumbent is unsure of their role or specific responsibilities, it is the incumbent’s responsibility to refer to their job description and ask for clarification from their supervisor. Management will work with the incumbent, as needed, to ensure performance expectations are clearly communicated and performance goals are achieved.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Any combination of work experience or academic pursuit equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree and seven years increasingly responsible experience in Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, or a related field;
• Closely related work experience at a level commensurate with the position may count toward a maximum of two years of full-time undergraduate college education. Under no circumstances will experience count for more than two years of college education.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Broad knowledge of the principles and practices of planning and design as related to urban design, landscape architecture, architecture and historic preservation;
• Ability to research, develop, and write specific plans and reports dealing with urban design;
• Ability to objectively analyze design problems and develop innovative, workable, and cost effective solutions;
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other planning units at city, county, and state levels as well as other governmental agencies and a variety of community and interest groups;
• Ability to write and speak clearly and concisely to produce reports, proposals, construction documents, presentations, design service contracts and to make oral presentations when necessary;
• Ability to review work of design, planning, and engineering consultants;
• Must be able to create and review plans and documents utilizing various software including AutoCAD, INdesign, Photoshop, and other software programs commonly utilized in the development and review of landscape and architectural concept and construction plans and documents.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid Indiana Driver's License if City vehicle is used;
• Indiana Professional Landscape Architect Licensure or ability to obtain within six months of employment required;
• Project Management Institute (PMI) certification desired, but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.