Career Opportunity

Waterfront Resilience Program Planner III (5291)

Recruitment: RTF0120060-01146951

Published: April 15, 2022

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

Appointment type:  Permanent Exempt (PEX), this position is excluded by Charter Section 10.104 from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

The Port of San Francisco manages a diverse maritime, commercial and recreation portfolio and is steward of the Embarcadero Historic District, home to treasured public assets. The waterfront receives more than 24 million visitors annually. The Embarcadero Roadway includes backbone infrastructure owned by the SFPUC, SFMTA, Public Works and private utilities and is vulnerable to near-term risks including flooding near the Embarcadero MUNI tunnel and lateral spreading and subsidence of the roadway and utilities from Fisherman’s Wharf to Oracle Park.  The Port’s Southern Waterfront from Mission Creek to Heron’s Head Park is home to the Port of San Francisco’s maritime industry which provides jobs that are crucial to the long-term economy of the waterfront.

Waterfront Resilience Program

The Port of San Francisco's treasured waterfront is vulnerable to hazards, including urgent seismic risk and increasing flood risks from sea level rise. To protect this resource - from the iconic landmarks, cultural and art destinations, and beautiful open spaces to connected to the Bay, to the diverse maritime industries and businesses, and key emergency, transportation and utility infrastructure - for future generations, the Port has established the Waterfront Resilience Program.  The Program works to ensure the waterfront, and its critical regional and citywide assets, are resilient to hazards - and increasingly accessible to everyone it serves.

The Waterfront Resilience Program (WRP) will take actions to reduce seismic and climate change risks that support a safe, equitable, sustainable, and vibrant waterfront. The Port recently concluded a Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment (MHRA) to examine the impacts to Port, City, regional and privately-owned assets and infrastructure from a variety of potential seismic and flood events for the 3 miles of Embarcadero Seawall, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Mission Creek. The Port is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a general investigation of flood risks to the Port’s entire 7½ mile jurisdiction (the USACE Flood Study).

The WRP is at a critical juncture. Over the coming year, the Program will develop adaptation strategies for the entire Port waterfront, re-engage and kick off the USACE Flood Study, develop early implementation projects, conduct significant public stakeholder outreach and engagement, develop a programmatic equity strategy, and engage with city, regional, state, and federal agencies.

Role description

Under direction from the WRP Deputy Program Manager - Planning, the Planner III PEX develops and implements difficult and complex planning studies and projects including urban design plans, requiring balanced and fair analysis and judgement of diverse land use, design-related, transportation, general planning, environmental, community, regulatory and economic issues; gathers, analyzes and interprets planning data often with the use of computers; produces written reports for public review; reviews projects for compliance with Port policies and other applicable regulatory requirements; prepares recommendations to senior staff and the Port Commission; and coordinates interdepartmental project teams.

Through an inclusive stakeholder process, the Waterfront Resilience Program’s Planning Team develops plans and strategies to adapt the waterfront to climate hazards. The Senior Planner will work with the Port and consultant team to develop waterfront adaptation strategies, lead community engagement and racial and social equity efforts, and provide policy support on a variety of planning and resilience topics.

The position requires substantial contact with the general public, applicants, Port tenants, and numerous governmental agencies; supervises designated consultants in the performance of work related to Planner III’s assigned projects; provides technical advice and assistance on complex city planning, urban design, development, and construction projects; represents the department in public meetings, presents program and Port information and receives, integrates, and responds to feedback from Port stakeholders in community meeting settings and individual correspondence; and responds to inquiries and requests for information from citizens, community organizations, applicants, and governmental agency representatives.

Essential duties

1. Participate in team development of waterfront-wide adaptation and resilience strategies, including Port Division and City Agency in-reach and public outreach and engagement strategies to inform and obtain critical inputs and feedback for WRP workstreams and key policy decisions.
2. Assist the Deputy Program Manager with managing and reviewing content from a team of consultants that will develop and evaluate various waterfront adaptation strategies, including resilience policies, design guidelines, and design strategies to reduce seismic and flood risks.  Adaptation strategies will include proposed construction projects, new policies, and additional planning efforts.
3. Assist the Deputy Program Manager - Planning and USACE Project Manager with managing and reviewing content from a team of consultants that will develop the Final Array of Alternatives, Locally Preferred Plan, and the Tentatively Selected Plan for coastal flood protection for the SF Waterfront Flood Resiliency Study.
4. Lead Program planning efforts including the development of key stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies with support from the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement team; manage and review content from Stakeholder Engagement consultant team; liaise with Port Communications Division on WRP-related content; act as a public point of contact for WRP Planning-related issues.
5. Assist with development of programmatic equity strategy for adaptation strategies development; manage and review content for equity strategies from the consultant team; develop, implement, and communicate equity strategies as developed throughout the WRP.
6. Assist with development and implementation of engagement strategy for a Resource Agency Working Group of representatives from key regulatory and resource agencies to ensure agency priorities and needs are identified early, that agencies are actively engaged during project development and design, to facilitate understanding and develop regulatory strategies to support project entitlement approvals.
7. Assist with development and review of design guidelines and adaptation strategies for Port piers and wharves, and engagement with urban design and historic preservation representatives.
8.  Function as a key member of the high performing, multi-disciplinary Resilience Program Team by working effectively and collaboratively with consultants and staff. 

How to qualify

These minimum qualifications are to be used as a guide for establishing the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

1.  Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND four (4) years (8,000 hours) of verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in an urban, city, regional and/or other related planning environment (such as transportation planning, environmental planning, architecture or urban design); OR

2.  Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in City, Regional or Urban Planning, or a closely related field such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Urban Studies or Environmental Studies AND two (2) years (4,000 hours) of verifiable full-time-equivalent experience in an urban, city, regional and/or other related planning environment (such as transportation planning, environmental planning, architecture or urban design).

Desirable Qualifications

These desirable qualifications should be used as a guide for the ideal candidate for the WRP Planner III position.

1.       Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, spirit of collaboration, and written and verbal communication abilities

2.       Strong organizational and project management skills, including proven record of developing and managing project charters, project management plans, scopes of work, schedules, and budget tracking

3.       Extensive knowledge of public outreach and engagement practices and experience with developing and implementing public outreach and engagement plans, and reaching vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations

4.       Deep commitment to racial and social equity; knowledge of and experience working with applying best practices and strategies in racial and social equity to urban planning and resilience processes and contexts

5.       Experience and ability to work with diverse public stakeholders and community-based organizations, especially with BIPOC communities

6.       Knowledge of resilience practices and principles; experience working to develop climate adaptation and coastal resilience plans and strategies

7.       Urban design skills and knowledge of urban design practices and principles a plus

8.       Graphic design and illustration skills a plus

What else should I know?

Supplemental Questionnaire

All applicants are required to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire as part of this recruitment process. The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire is to determine whether applicants possess the minimum qualifications and the knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas that have been identified as critical for satisfactory performance in this position.  The information provided should be consistent with the information on your application and is subject to verificatio

Planner Supplemental Questionnaire is due Friday, May 6, 2022

Selection Procedures

Applications materials including the supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed for relevant qualifying experience.  

Only those applicants who most closely meet the requirements for this position will be invited to participate in the selection process. 

Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed an invitation to interview. Qualified applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified of the exact date and time.

Salary range: $109,382 to $132,938 annually. 

Application Deadline: Friday, May 6, 2022

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Please contact Tiaka Hyatt-Geter at (415) 509-4672, or by email at Tiaka.Hyatt-Geter@sfport.com  if you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.