Director of Design, Policy and Guidance - City of New York : Job Details

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***To be considered for this position, candidates must be serving permanently in the title of Administrative City Planner, or be reachable on the open competitive civil service list, Exam No. 1143, or be eligible under the 55a program.***

The Transportation Planning and Management Division (TPM) is responsible for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods on the City's streets, supporting the larger goals of economic and social vitality for people living, working, and doing business in New York City. The Division's responsibilities include planning, street design, technical analysis, signs, transit development, freight mobility and markings, ensuring the safety of motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists. TPM's Design & Construction (D&C) unit has professional engineering oversight for geometric design elements of NYC roadways. We draw on expertise and talent of Civil Engineers, Urban Designers, Planners, Asset Managers, Inspectors, Administrators, Analysts, and others to evolve and maintain the curb geometry and street plans for all NYC's 6300+ miles of roads, create and maintain official pavement marking and concrete island plans, and oversee the application and refurbishment of NYC's 250+ million linear feet of pavement markings (stripes, messages, colored surface treatments for bus/bike/plaza, etc.).

The Director of Design, Policy and Guidance will be based in the TPM's Design and Construction (D&C) unit and play a pivotal role in managing various aspects critical to infrastructure development. This role entails spearheading the research and development of infrastructure design, quality and safety standards across all projects, as well as evolving the agency's geometric design policy, offering guidance, support, and innovative options for the NYC Street Design Manual (SDM). The Director will work on special projects beyond current design guidelines, such as shared streets, cycling boulevards, woonerfs, plaza designs, transit-ways, modal filters, traffic diverters, and contra-flow facilities, with a focus on multi-modal transportation. Additionally, the Director will conduct training sessions for DOT staff on urban design guidance, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring the SDM remains a dynamic resource reflecting the city's changing needs.

NYC DOT's mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York, maintaining and enhancing transportation infrastructure crucial to the city's economic vitality and residents' quality of life.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in interpreting and implementing engineering standards and regulations, with a strong understanding of industry best practices.
• Experience managing complex technical documentation systems ensuring accuracy, accessibility, and compliance.
• Familiarity with urban design principles, especially in transportation infrastructure and streetscape design.
• Expertise in pavement marking standards, materials, application methods, and maintenance.
• Proven ability to conduct effective training sessions and workshops, communicating technical concepts clearly.
• Strong project management skills, including prioritization, timeline management, and resource coordination.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop integrated infrastructure solutions.
• Knowledge of emerging trends in transportation engineering focused on sustainability and resilience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for relationship building, negotiation, and advocacy.