Job Summary

Harvard University Planning and Design (HUPAD) is responsible for the stewardship of one of the world's most iconic campus settings and advances Harvard's mission of teaching and research by enhancing, sustaining, and optimizing the physical campus to achieve planning and design excellence. While remaining centered in its historical Cambridge and Boston geography, the University today includes diverse campus locations throughout the United States and the world.

Harvard University Planning and Design (HUPAD) seeks an experienced Resilience and Landscape Design Manager. The position will report to and focus primarily on the work of the Urban District Initiatives team but will also be tapped to support efforts across the HUPAD portfolio/University geography.

Under the supervision of UDI's Senior Manager for Planning and Design, the successful candidate will be responsible for assessing and prioritizing resilience efforts from an urban planning perspective, working with colleagues on the implementation of a cohesive resilience strategy, and coordinating resiliency expertise and resources across the HUPAD portfolio. The position will also address complex landscape architectural and urban design challenges and opportunities, with a special focus on the public realm and issues of climate change. The role will contribute to new and ongoing planning, design, and interdepartmental efforts on resilience and landscape design and help advance key initiatives on climate adaptation and the urban forest.

The successful candidate will work with other urban design and planning staff, collaborate with University stakeholders, and engage with external stakeholders, in communicating and resolving design coordination issues related to design review across all scales, and improvements that impact the public realm.

Position Description

The Resilience and Landscape Design Manager will be part of a team of planners who are guiding the physical development of Harvard. The role provides leadership in the planning of urban districts, landscape, public realm and performative infrastructure. This role will be responsible for:

• Fostering excellence in resilience and landscape design, by clearly articulating design goals & objectives for the University.
• Increasing awareness of resilience design in collaboration with University clients and Harvard faculties.

Engage in all aspects of HUPAD's planning and project work, including physical planning, urban design, regulatory approvals, research, writing, development of graphics, data analysis, and community engagement.

• With a focus on resilient planning and design, support internal and external planning and project efforts, meetings, and coordination with consultants, including preparing materials, documenting decisions, and monitoring status and next steps.
• With colleagues in HUPAD, Harvard University Public Affairs and Communications (HPAC), and others at the University, share public information about specific projects and planning initiatives with private citizens, civic or community groups, and other interested parties.
• Participate in the review of a wide range of large- and small-scale projects, by analyzing project documents (plans, sections, grading plans, etc.) and understanding the project context and site constraints with a focus on resilience and the public realm.
• Understand climate change issues/impacts/vulnerabilities – and related city and state regulations – with regard to both planning strategies as well as project implementation.
• In collaboration with University colleagues, including the Office for Sustainability, advance an overarching resilience planning strategy that identifies challenges, capabilities, plans to address issues, and any current gaps or shortfalls in achieving resiliency goals.
• Communicate design feedback in a professional and collaborative manner to external and internal stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams consisting of planners, architects, landscape architects, policymakers, and urban designers.
• Prepare urban design analyses, site and landscape studies, and alternative scenarios under the supervision of senior staff as appropriate, for plans/projects of all scales.
• Create graphics, digital models, presentations, and other content that reflects goals and priorities.
• Monitoring best practices in resilience and landscape design and disseminating information concerning contemporary issues in planning and design.
• Providing project management of projects including the management of consultants.
• Building partnerships with stakeholders to identify opportunities for coordination and more effective service delivery.

Basic Qualifications

Candidate must meet the following basic qualifications to be considered for this role:

• Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, planning, urban design, or related field required; master's degree preferred but not required.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Proficiency in graphic communication and software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite).
• Demonstrated experience with planning/design at the district scale, as well as the site scale.
• Knowledge of sustainability and resilience systems and best practices at the district scale, as well as the site scale.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational and management skills, with attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work effectively at all levels of an organization, and ability to work well in teams and independently.
• Experience with community engagement processes and public speaking preferred.

Additional Information

Qualified and interested applicants must provide the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Representative work samples: 10 pages maximum.

Harvard University supports a hybrid workplace model which will actively support some remote work. Specific days and schedules for on-site work and remote work will be discussed during the interview process. Please note hybrid workers must reside in a state where Harvard is registered to do business (CA, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA).

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up to date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)


Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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