JOB DESCRIPTION

Overall purpose of the position

The Land Use and Housing Senior Project Manager will play a leading role on planning projects focused on land use and housing in Oregon and across the Western US. Senior Project Managers are responsible for implementing and managing project work in partnership with a Project Director on each project. This role will work on planning projects such as housing needs analysis, area planning, zoning code evaluations, and comprehensive planning. They will lead demographic, market, regulatory, feasibility, and policy analysis; best practices research; community and interested party engagement; synthesis of findings and recommendations; presentations to decision-makers. This position will work primarily on projects across Oregon, but will also participate in projects in Washington, Colorado, and other states as appropriate. Senior Project Managers also play a lead role in business development efforts and proposals for projects they will lead.

Essential functions of the position

• Provides project management on land use and housing planning and analysis projects, including:

  • Internal and external project kickoffs and check-in meetings.

  • Development of scopes of work and project budgets.

  • Identification of resources and staff needed to complete projects.

  • Effective communication with internal and subconsultant team members about their specific roles, expectations, and budget for projects.

  • Project budget management and reporting of potential problems to the Project Director or cluster lead.

• In coordination with the Project Director, lead and contribute to project research, written deliverables, and presentations including:

  • Identifying relevant and appropriate research and analysis to support the project goals within the available budget

  • Reviewing and ensuring accuracy and relevance of research and analysis by project team members

  • Synthesizing analysis to highlight key findings.

  • Engaging the Project Director and other subject matter experts for input on appropriate methods, approach, and key assumptions; review of results and key findings; and guidance on communications and messaging of conclusions and recommendations.

  • Ensuring project work and deliverables are consistent with ECOnorthwest’s values and statement of research integrity.

  • Facilitating client and stakeholder meetings and presenting findings and conclusions in public meetings.

• Support the development of project staff, including:

  • Providing feedback on staff performance on project work.

  • Mentoring and supporting project teams as they collaborate to execute project work.

• Support business development and proposal efforts, including:

  • Developing a diverse professional network

  • Seeking opportunities to represent our work externally, such as presentations and conferences

  • Writing proposals for relevant projects

Required competencies

Technical Competencies

• Has identified areas of substantial experience and subject matter expertise with land use planning, such as comprehensive planning, long-range planning, housing planning and strategies, or area planning .

• Familiarity with state or regional land use system requirements, such as the Oregon land use system, Washington State’s Growth Management Act, or similar state requirements.

• Understands and can communicate the strategic and political implications and consequences of work.

• Ability to communicate complex technical findings in written deliverables and presentations.

• Ability to lead and provide quality control for a team’s analysis and research.

• Knowledge of and ability to apply the key analytic and research frameworks used at ECOnorthwest (engagement methods; datasets and their application; analysis using database, spreadsheet, and/or statistical software; economic and planning theories and principles; other quantitative and qualitative research methods). Understanding of when to apply these principles and tools given project and client needs. 

• Understanding of and ability to communicate the implications of data limitations, including how they may over- or under-represent some populations.

• Ability to incorporate existing knowledge into project work and learn and adapt new principles.

• Ability to analyze and define technical and/or analytic problems, evaluate alternatives to support staff with solutions.

Project and Team Management Skills

• Know when to bring in more senior staff to assist with problem solving, quality control, political, or strategic aspects of project work.

• Ability to communicate tactfully and candidly, inform senior staff and/or clients of pertinent issues, define clear roles and manage difficult situations within a team, be an excellent listener. 

• Ability to effectively lead a diverse staff team, working with the project team to set achievable objectives, maintain a positive outlook, make decisions, reinforce a culture of inclusivity, and provide and receive constructive and regular feedback. 

• Ability to analyze and define a problem, evaluate alternatives, find a solution, and understand how to communicate tradeoffs.

• Ability to share information, coach team members, delegate responsibility, promote supportive team interactions. 

• Understand client needs, set realistic expectations, manage difficult situations within a project, reach agreement with client from outset of project.

• Understand how to obtain and ensure quality results for client satisfaction, ability to take corrective actions and perform verification of project standards.

• Anticipate project and team needs and proactively addresses sensitive issues with emphasis on collegiality, sound judgement, and initiative.

• Ability to identify and resolve project- and team-based problems through helping a team pivot direction to meet project needs, work through uncertainty, and stay focused on the needed deliverables.

• Ability to present at and facilitate effective team and client meetings.

• Ability to develop a professional network that leads to new project work.

Personal Aptitudes/Interpersonal Skills 

• Models the firm’s mission and operating values in all interactions, internal and external

• Proactively contributes to a collegial and inclusive work environment

• Intellectual curiosity and the desire to seek out new ideas and new solutions 

• Political acumen, including the ability to read stakeholder dynamics, anticipate sensitivities, and tailor communication to the political and policy context.

• Open-minded approach; listens to understand 

• Takes responsibility for own work and the work of junior staff

• Reliability, timeliness, and efficient management of time and workload 

• Enables effective and inclusive teamwork across diverse team participants

• Ability to provide and receive constructive and regular feedback 

Desired competencies

• Experience working in or on projects for one or more communities in Oregon.

• Experience with market analysis, real estate finance, or pro forma models.

• Understanding and familiarity with zoning code and other development regulations.

• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.

Qualifications

• Degree in planning, public administration, real estate, political science, or a related field (Master’s generally preferred). 

• Minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience (Master’s may substitute for 2 years of experience) in consulting or a related field, including specifically: experience managing the production of project deliverables, and experience with scope development, project budgeting, and contracting procedures.

• Demonstrated excellence in written and oral presentation.

• Experience interpreting qualitative and quantitative research findings.

Physical Requirements: 

• Ability to work for long periods at a computer.