Project Manager

Overview

About the Planning Department: Boston's Planning Department was established by Mayor Wu in 2024 to restore planning as a core function of City government and to shape growth that serves Boston's residents and centers their needs. Our mission is to address our City's greatest challenges: resilience, affordability, and equity; we take real estate actions and prioritize planning, development, and urban design solutions that further these priorities. We seek to build trust with communities through transparent processes that embrace predictable growth.

We are professionals who serve the City in a variety of ways-from architects who review the smallest details of a historic building to city planners who envision the future of neighborhoods with community members. We work hand-in-hand with other City departments and community groups to make our City better.

The Planning Department's purpose is to: develop comprehensive short and long-term plans for Boston's built environment, establish a consistent and predictable zoning code for the City, advance exceptional and inclusive design standards, provide predictability to guide development that is responsive to community needs, and plan for the effective use of public real estate.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Director and Deputy Director of Development Review, the Project Manager will manage and coordinate the development review process of small and large commercial, residential, industrial, or institutional projects through the Article 80 process. The Project Manager must have a firm understanding of the Article 80 development review process and the Boston Zoning Code. The Project Manager will only require minimal consultation on complex development proposals and political or administrative issues. Specific responsibilities of this role include:

• As assigned, manage, review, and evaluate small and large commercial, residential, industrial, or institutional project proposals submitted by developers through the Article 80 development review process from initial filing to consideration by the Boston Planning & Development Agency Board.

• Lead the coordination of various development projects with the development team and project review team (composed of planners, urban designers, attorneys, transportation planners, and community engagement managers) and other public agencies over the course of Article 80 review.

• Lead community engagement related to the review of Article 80 projects. Serve as a liaison between community groups and development teams; plan and implement community participation strategies to solicit useful feedback. Host public meetings and engage with neighborhood and civic leaders; Advisory Groups (IAG, CAC, Task Force, etc.) moderate and facilitate discussion; monitor, review, and synthesize community feedback received at various stages of the process.

• Actively manage multi-stakeholder negotiations related to mitigation and community benefits extracted from development projects. Resolve competing priorities among development teams, community stakeholders, and public agencies and build consensus over the course of the project's review.

• Review development proposals, including proposed use, cost, conformity with zoning requirements, traffic studies, land use studies, environmental impact, etc. Compile and prepare reports and memoranda, documenting comments to development proposals. Manage the coordination and distribution of development proposal comments to involved parties. Monitor development project timelines from initial contact with development proposals through BRA board consideration.

• Organize meetings with developers and architects to negotiate agreements and revisions to project development review and design process. As assigned, participate in the development and preparation of institutional master plans; meet with institution representatives to negotiate and achieve consensus; document master plans and their amendments or updates.

• Propose and negotiate agreements between developers or their representatives and community groups to achieve consensus and make joint recommendations on project plans.

• Establish and cultivate effective working relationships with representatives of community groups, government, industry, and other entities that have interests in the development review process.

• Collaborate with representatives of the Legal, Urban Design and Planning Department, along with other City, State, and Federal agencies or departments in the project review process.

• Lead or participate in project-related briefings for senior staff, leadership, City of Boston Cabinet Chiefs, and elected officials. Prepare briefing materials as needed.

• Prepare reports, memoranda, recommendations, and other materials for consideration of proposed projects at the monthly BPDA Board meeting.

• Maintain and update current knowledge of the Boston Zoning Code, economy, commercial/industrial base, neighborhoods, and institutional constituencies.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business, City Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Real Estate Development, or equivalent. A Masters degree is preferred.

• Requires three to five (3-5) years of progressively responsible related experience in urban planning, urban design, transportation and infrastructure planning, architecture, real estate development, construction management, or related field. A firm understanding of the Article 80 development review process and the Boston Zoning Code is preferred.

• Requires familiarity with and a strong interest in Boston's economy, real estate market, neighborhoods, planning, and urban design context.

• Requires excellent verbal and written communication, and analytical skills. Strong visual communication (slide decks, diagrams, flow charts, etc.) and data management skills preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-stakeholder negotiations, lead community meetings, and build consensus in politically challenging environments

• Demonstrated ability to manage and deliver on multiple competing deadlines is required.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary/Grade: EXM/Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000

Hours per week: 35