Senior Planner

 

Description:

The Senior Planner will initiate and execute programming and planning efforts in support of Capital Plan development and implementation, as well as strategic campus plan development and implementation in support of overall campus development (i.e. storm water management master plan, maintenance investments, accessibility planning, sustainability initiatives for campus, space utilization, space standards, classroom design, laboratory design, etc.). The Senior Planner will work closely with the Design and Construction (D&C) project manager to provide high quality and responsive client/user service to support the effort through all phases.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Provide in house "subject matter expertise" for long term planning for sites currently owned or leased by the university and sites being considered for purchase or lease.

Provide in house "subject matter expertise" for high level building planning efforts, including planning for renovation and repurposing existing assets for new and future uses.

Be a JHU in-house resource for areas required for specific uses and area calculations involving Acreage, NSF, NASF, and GSF ratios for all higher education space typologies.

Work with JHFRE's team, including the GIS team, and consultants, to plan and document infrastructure upgrades, vehicular circulation upgrades, pedestrian pathway upgrades, accessibility upgrades, landscape improvements, etc. future land use scenarios for consideration on all existing and proposed university properties.

Work with JHFRE team to coordinate and perform technical analyses of existing building systems to inform recommendations regarding design, functionality, performance, and universal accessibility. Evaluate capability of space to support a proposed use, landscape design, and site work.

As an ongoing responsibility, work with JHU stakeholders, JHFRE/Design and Construction, Real Estate, Plant Operations, fellow P&A staff and external consultants or experts as required to contribute to and update JHU Guidelines and Standards.

Work with JHFRE Plant Operations team and Design & Construction team to continually monitor and improve JHU campus and building ADA compliance, universal accessibility, and adherence to inclusion policies.

Participate and provide guidance in design and construction progress meetings with JHFRE consultants to assure adherence to intended scope of work, budget, industry best practices, and JHU Guidelines and Standards, as well as JHU policies, aesthetic appropriateness within the campus context, and alignment with the approved Capital Plan and Master Plan.

Interface with JHFRE/Plant Operations personnel in recommending the most appropriate design solutions, addressing accessibility, durability, financial sustainability, architectural appropriateness, and landscape architecture appropriateness.

Work with the Senior Director of Planning and Architecture, Associate Director of Planning and Architecture, D&C Senior Program Manager, D&C Director of Operations, and D&C project managers to continually critique and improve JHFRE design and delivery process efficiencies. Recommend process improvements. Be a proactive resource to internal staff in their decision-making processes and in the development of technically sound planning and design solutions.

Serve as liaison to JHFRE/Information Systems and advise on development of project and building information management systems (i.e. PMWeb, GIS, COBie/BIM, EDM for digital archive, Archibus, etc.).

Work with the Senior Leadership, divisional representatives, JHFRE/Plant Operations, and government officials to guide and oversee the development and implementation of campus-based planning initiatives.

Work with the JHFRE/ Sustainability and university constituents to champion progress on the university's sustainability initiatives with respect to Capital Plan development and assets. Evaluate projects for compliance with the Sustainability Master Plan.

Lead other planning and design related tasks and initiatives of strategic importance to the university as well as related data gathering and analysis, research, presentation preparation, facility surveys, and other ad hoc efforts as assigned by the Senior Director of Planning & Architecture or Associate Director.

Coordinate with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, landscape, technology and other design and engineering disciplines as required.

Targeted Job Functions (as assigned)

Working with the Senior Director of Planning & Architecture, lead long range master planning, precinct planning, and building site planning development.

Work with the JHFRE Plant Operations and Building & Grounds team to advise on land use and landscaping initiatives.

Work with JHFRE Plant Operations to monitor care and upkeep of Homewood Forest Conservation Easement set asides required by the municipal Authority Having Jurisdiction.

Work with the Office of Institutional Equity to identify, prioritize, and implement ongoing accessibility improvement projects.

Manage ongoing stormwater management master plan implementation, tracking, adherence, and reporting.

Provide guidance with organization and distribution of correspondence by the Space Allocation Committee including tracking space utilization and needs, facilitating meetings, preparing or securing consultants to perform space studies, and reporting.
Interface with the University Space System Administrator (D&C position) to ensure space changes are being accurately tracked in Archibus and/or GIS so as to provide an always current inventory of all JHU owned or leased assets.

Scope of Responsibility

Manage, participate, guide and review planning efforts in support of the university's Capital Plan.

Interface and instill confidence with University Leadership and Departmental Leadership to define needs and scope of feasibility studies.

When requested, attends and participates in presentation delivery and open dialogue with Senior Leadership, Deans, Vice Provosts, and others in JHU leadership positions.

Develops and maintains a strong and respectful working relationship with the prime client for major capital projects. Speaks for the P&A unit when reviewing planning and design options for consideration.

Provide high level space planning "test fits" for a variety of land use, academic, laboratory, administration, and student spaces to evaluate feasibility of proposed locations; evaluate scope for appropriateness of use of JHFRE in house resources, or design consultant.

Prepare RFP's for feasibility/concept design proposals. Participate in selection of firms to be offered the RFP.

Participate in interview/selection process for design consultant. Support D&C with RFP scope of work definition, fee allocation, and contracting process with selected consultant.

Provide oversight for design consultants during the feasibility study/concept design process; support D&C project manager assigned as day to day, single point of contact between design consultant and JHFRE.

Attend design presentations, product reviews, mockup reviews as the university's authority regarding planning and compliance with project design goals and intent, and JHU Guidelines and Standards.

Support D&C project managers with technical review of consultant deliverables (program, space utilization reports, concept, planning, and schematic design).

Perform existing conditions surveys, existing FFE inventory, programming, planning, design, and documentation responsibilities for small projects within the JHU institution not requiring professional seals or permitting by the AHJ.

Contribute to the ongoing development and updating of JHU Guidelines and Standards.

Decision Making

Prepares information for recommendations to guide decision making by JHU Senior Leadership and Trustees.

Provides critique and direction to JHFRE project managers, consultant design teams, Plant Operations and other JHU constituents on architectural design materials, furniture, systems, solutions and standards in support of sound economic and architectural design principles.

Carries out duties and responsibilities with limited supervision. Makes decisions and establishes work priorities on complex, problem-solving operations.

Authority

This position will supervise an Interior Planning specialist.

Communication

Exchanges routine and non-routine information with all levels within the JHU organization, including Senior Leadership, JHFRE Leadership, colleagues, and staff. Corresponds with individuals at peer institutions and vendors using effective oral and written communication skills, tact, and persuasion as appropriate.

Builds camaraderie and alliances with a wide range of JHU constituents, and has a collaborative, inclusive, mentoring style of working well with others.

Possesses the ability to communicate graphically through sketching, drafting and marking up drawings.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Planning, Construction Management or related degree.

Master's degree preferred.

AICP certification preferred.

LEED Accredited Professional preferred.

Prior experience with planning for higher education clients preferred.

Experience

Successful candidates will have at least twelve years' experience in architectural planning and design work; experience with construction and renovation of a broad variety of building types, mechanical and electrical systems, and construction delivery methods; the ability to use MS Office, AutoCAD and Revit, and a thorough understanding of architectural and engineering drawings.