Job Description

Position Title: Senior Landscape Architect

Division: Community Development Department

Rate: $85,619 - $113,149 annually

Application Requested: 5/31/23

Posting Date: 5/9/23

Civil Service Type: None

Number of Hours Per Week: 37.5

Additional Work Hours Information: Flexibility to work nights and weekends for community meetings and events, as needed.

Job Code: M599 (ID# 230)

Sequence #: 720

Union Affiliation: Non Union

Description:

ABOUT THE CITY:

The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that people of different ethnic, racial, religious, national, and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our city\'s diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve. The city is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. We seek to hire, develop, and advance individuals who value antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and are committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:

The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Encompassing the Community Planning, Economic Opportunity and Development, Environmental & Transportation Planning, Housing, and Zoning & Development divisions, CDD\'s mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. CDD engages and collaborates with community partners, other government agencies, businesses, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Community Planning Division leads the planning and design of the City\'s open space system. We assess open space needs throughout the City and develop recommendations for future open space development. Our planners, landscape architect, and designers work together with the community and other City departments to design attractive, creative, and playful open spaces that serve our diverse community\'s needs.

The Senior Landscape Architect is responsible for managing the design of new or renovated parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, including leading participatory community processes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direction of the Community Planning Director, the Senior Landscape Architect will support the division in the following ways.

• Manage park and open space design projects; this requires managing teams of staff and consultants involved in design of open spaces throughout the city, and actively managing schedules and budget.
• Work with City staff, consultants, and contractors to implement the Open Space Plan in City Capital Projects including parks, streets, sidewalks, and public buildings.
• Guide design vision for City\'s open space system and individual parks, with input from all interests in the Cambridge community.
• Work with an interdisciplinary team of City staff throughout the design process;. ensure that open space projects meet the city\'s high design goals for equity, livability, and sustainability.
• Coordinate with various city, state and federal agencies on projects and related open space issues.
• Ensure the plans, specifications, and estimates developed for projects meet the needs of the Department and City and will result in successful projects.
• Collaborate with staff and/or consultants to conduct inclusive and equitable public processes around open space and public realm projects.
• Review design of private development projects to ensure they are incorporating recommendations from City\'s various open space and environmental plans.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

• Undergraduate degree in landscape architecture or related field.
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in design and construction of landscape improvements including park projects, urban plazas, and streetscapes. A Master\'s degree may be substituted for 2 years of experience.
• Although the applicant\'s expertise should be primarily in landscape architecture, a thorough understanding of environmental sustainability and public space design is highly important.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal, customer service, project management; and budget preparation skills.
• Ability to work independently, proactively, and as a team player. Applicant must be comfortable working in a multidisciplinary team environment and in settings with extensive community participation.
• Strong computer skills including demonstrated facility with software (Word, Excel, Access); knowledge of and experience using Adobe Creative Cloud software, including InDesign, as well as other design software.
• Excellent visual presentation, written, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop and prepare conceptual, schematic, and final design documents (construction drawings and specifications); prepare bid packages; inspect construction of landscaped areas; and develop operation and maintenance plans.
• Knowledge of relevant local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations related to accessibility.
• Knowledge of construction materials, specifications, and processes.
• Knowledge of procurement procedures for design and construction of public works projects.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role that racial inequity plays in our society.
• Must be self-motivated and detail-oriented and have the ability to work as part of a team.
• Strong commitment to equity and respect, both in the provision of services and in the workplace.
• The City of Cambridge\'s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse.?Demonstrated ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies in a courteous, compassionate, and professional manner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Designation as registered landscape architect.
• Knowledge of the Cambridge community.
• Expertise in using programs for physical space and 3-D visualization are highly desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones, maintain multiple files, and lift a minimum of at least 10 pounds. Ability to travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings, etc. Work involves frequent site visits, requiring travel to and through active construction zones, driving, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, and stretching. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work involved is both indoors in a professional office setting and outdoors including construction sites and congested city roadways under all weather conditions. Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Moderate noise level. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City\'s Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and Sick leave eligible
• Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
• 3 Personal days
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Management Allowance, $2,700/year
• City employee transportation benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application.

• Resume
• Cover letter

THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED CATEGORY. WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. CITY OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES, WRITTEN MATERIALS IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS, AND REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WILL BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FREE OF CHARGE, UPON REQUEST. THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING A WORKFORCE CULTURE OF ANTIRACISM, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

PI228727295

City of Cambridge