Massachusetts Creative Jobs

Boston Planning & Development Agency

*BOSTON RESIDENCY IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT AND MUST BE MET WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF START DATE*

TITLE: Senior Landscape Architect

GRADE: 10

STATUS: EXEMPT

DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: URBAN DESIGN

The Urban Design department is responsible for crafting and executing a beautiful, human-scale, and inclusive vision for the design of the built environment across Boston. We champion the transformative power of beautiful, sustainable, walkable communities for everyone that support social, mental, and physical health while improving resiliency and promoting equity.

SUMMARY of RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under direction of the Open Space Manager, the senior landscape architect will lead design review for development projects of all scales. The senior landscape architect will be a critical member of project review teams, facilitating internal and interdepartmental conversations, and communicating clear and actionable feedback, guided by city goals and policies, to project proponents. The senior landscape architect will address complex landscape architectural and urban design problems, with a special focus on the public realm and issues of climate change. They will contribute to new and ongoing planning, design, and interdepartmental efforts on resilience, affordability, and equity and help advance key City initiatives on climate adaptation and the urban forest.

The senior landscape architect will work with other urban design staff, as well as collaborate with other City departments and commission staff, in communicating and resolving design coordination issues related to design review across all scales, and improvements that impact the public realm. The senior landscape architect will contribute to a wide range of public realm, urban design, and planning projects, producing analysis, conceptual ideas, and public realm, open space, and urban design scenarios. In addition, the senior landscape architect will also serve as a mentor to other design review staff and plays a key role in ensuring that proposed development projects advance the City’s design vision and planning goals.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The general duties and responsibilities of the position are included in but not limited to the information listed below.

Design Review:

• As a lead design reviewer, lead review of a wide range of large- and small-scale development projects, including signage and master plan developments, by analyzing project documents(plans, sections, grading plans, etc.) and understanding the project context and site constraints, guided by the City’s design vision and planning goals

• Understand climate change/sea-level rise issues with particular regard to identifying projects that require resilience measures, including retrofits, and coordination with the public realm and accessibility requirements, based on both current and future flood projections

• Conduct design review of Public Improvement Commission (PIC) plans, and evaluate proposed plans for compatibility with BPDA design review priorities for development projects, and in coordination with sister department and commission reviews.

• Support the Deputy Director and/or current Senior Landscape Architect’s role as BPDA liaison to PIC, Parks Department and Commission, Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Boston Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Boston Art Commission, and community groups on assigned projects or where public realm is being considered

• Incorporate and apply urban design policies and applicable zoning regulations to evaluate how a project conforms with landscape architecture best practices, the principles of urban design, and planning goals specific to the neighborhood

• Communicate design feedback in a professional and collaborative manner to external and internal stakeholders

• Prepare urban design analyses, site and landscape studies, and alternative scenarios, under the supervision of senior staff as appropriate, for development projects of all scales

Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Planning:

• Work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams consisting of planners, architects, landscape architects, policymakers, and urban designers

• Engage in all aspects of planning and urban design processes including site and existing conditions analysis, conceptual ideas, and scenario development

• Work across multiple scales and contexts including urban districts and neighborhoods, research and innovation clusters, campuses, etc.

• Be responsible for creating 2d and 3d analytical and conceptual drawings, graphics, digital and physical models, and other content that reflects City goals and community priorities

• Initiate urban design concepts, visual graphics, with guidance from senior staff

• Develop urban design guidelines, feasibility studies, and impact analyses for a range of scales, from individual parcels to citywide planning and zoning initiatives, with guidance from senior staff

• Collaborate with other City departments on design problems and planning projects regarding urban design and the City’s public realm

General:

• Advise BPDA senior staff of politically sensitive or controversial project related issues requiring their input and/or approval

• Represent the BPDA at public meetings and meetings with other city, state and federal agencies as required for assigned design review and planning projects

• Dispense public information about specific projects and overall design and planning initiatives to private citizens, civic or community groups, and other interested parties. This may include conducting tours, discussing and explaining models, and interpreting the use and application of guidelines and zoning.

• Participate in the development of Requests for Proposals (RFP) and the subsequent selection of engineering, planning, and/or design consultants

• Prepare regular status reports of projects under review for supervisor and other senior staff

• Perform other related duties as required

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The position requires a master’s degree in landscape architecture or a closely related field, plus 15 years of related professional experience. Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture, or a closely related field with a minimum of 18 years of experience are also encouraged to apply. Massachusetts Landscape Architecture License is a requirement for this role.

The work requires the ability to:

• solve complex landscape, urban design, planning, and zoning problems across a wide range of scales;

• understand and interpret urban design, landscape architectural, and architectural drawings, such as plans, sections, elevations and details;

• effectively and clearly communicate with a range of stakeholders graphically and verbally;

• work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously; and

• collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Prior experience with complex landscape, climate resilience, or urban design projects is also highly desirable.

Proficiency with design and office software including AutoCAD, Rhino, SketchUp, PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, and/or equivalent programs is required. Familiarity with ArcGIS Pro or equivalent software is a plus.

Application Requirements:

Applicants are required to submit work samples that illustrate strong graphic and written communication skills, or one graphic work sample and one written work sample. Work samples should be combined as a single PDF with the applicant's cover letter.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Normal office environment, occasional site visits.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

Little or no exertion, occasional local travel.

*BOSTON RESIDENCY IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT AND MUST BE MET WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF START DATE*