Climate and Sustainability Planner

The City of New York is seeking a Climate and Sustainability Planner for a two-year position in Suffolk, VA. The role involves planning, project review, and policy development to enhance the city's waterfront and address climate change. Responsibilities include preparing citywide reports, advising on sustainability issues, and coordinating with various agencies. The position aims to improve public access to waterfront areas and promote resiliency strategies.
Note:

This position is funded for two years with the possibility of further extension.

THE AGENCY
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the city through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide and sharing its perspectives on growth and community needs with sister agencies in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The New York City Department of City Planning is a great place to work – cultivating intellectual inspiration, professional development and creativity. Visit our website .gov/planning to access the full listing of job opportunities and to learn more about our great agency.

THE DIVISION
The Climate and Sustainability Planning (CSP) team at DCP helps prepare the city for a changing climate and advances initiatives to protect and enhance New York City’s waterfront. Our work promotes an active, accessible and resilient waterfront, and climate ready, carbon neutral, and environmentally sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and residents. Our work involves planning, project review, and policy development in partnership with city, state, and federal agencies, neighborhood residents, and numerous stakeholders.

CSP staff work on:
• Preparing citywide reports and plans to address the challenges the city faces, including the ten-year Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, and the City’s sustainability plans.
• Administering the Waterfront Revitalization Program, the city’s Coastal Zone Management program, through review of roughly 200 projects annually.
• Advising the DCP’s Director and the City Planning Commission on issues related to climate change, resiliency, and sustainability.
• Collaborating with other divisions in the agency to advance neighborhood and citywide planning initiatives.
• Continuing to expand and improve New Yorkers’ access to the city’s waterfront.
• Advancing planning for stormwater resiliency.
• Coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies on the planning of coastal protection systems.
• Increasing DCP’s understanding of emerging topics including urban heat, clean energy and energy storage, and biodiversity.

THE ROLE
New York City’s waterfront is a tremendous asset to the city and one that has the potential to provide recreational and economic opportunities and increase the city's resiliency to climate change and sea level rise. CSP is launching a two-year-long study of waterfront public access requirements in the Zoning Resolution, which have been in place for over 30 years. These regulations mean that many forms of development on the waterfront are required to provide publicly accessible open space to and along the shoreline as a condition of development.

The study will assess what is working well and where there is room to improve these regulations to shape the next generation of waterfront open space.

The study is part of City of Yes for Families, a multi-pronged initiative also announced in the 2025 State of the City to help families live and thrive across the boroughs, including by promoting equitable access to public spaces. The study's goals are to foster resiliency strategies and an inviting public realm, promote efficiency and transparency in the processes by which waterfront public access areas are reviewed and constructed, and identify opportunities to expand access to communities that currently cannot access the waterfront.

The study will be conducted in partnership with DCP’s Urban Design division. The selected candidate will work closely with an urban designer to complete shared tasks and deliverables. The selected candidate will perform individual and collaborative work including – but not limited to – the following:
• Research zoning, property histories, legislative histories, and other sources as necessary.
• Use research, analysis, and metrics to summarize current waterfront public access issues, develop solution options, and refine recommendations.
• Prepare written materials and presentations to communicate complex trends.
• Lead engagement events with stakeholders and the general public.
• Work closely with other divisions within DCP, City…