About the Planning Department: Boston’s Planning Department was established by Mayor Wu in 2024 to restore planning as a core function of City government and to shape growth that serves Boston’s residents and centers their needs. Our mission is to address our City’s greatest challenges: resilience, affordability, and equity; we take real estate actions and prioritize planning, development, and urban design solutions that further these priorities. We seek to build trust with communities through transparent processes that embrace predictable growth.
We are professionals who serve the City in a variety of ways—from architects who review the smallest details of a historic building to city planners who envision the future of neighborhoods with community members. We work hand-in-hand with other City departments and community groups to make our City better.
The Planning Department’s purpose is to: develop comprehensive short and long term plans for Boston’s built environment, establish a consistent and predictable zoning code for the City, advance exceptional and inclusive design standards, provide predictability to guide development that is responsive to community needs, and plan for the effective use of public real estate.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Senior Policy Advisor, the Policy Specialist will manage projects and coordinate with interdepartmental staff on research and accountability measures related to existing Urban Renewal Plans, the potential transition out of Urban Renewal (pending state legislation), oversight of Land Disposition Agreements (LDAs), the disposition of BRA-owned land, and other matters involving BRA assets. This position will also perform research, data analysis, and policy support. Work on special projects as assigned. Additional duties include:
Ongoing maintenance and enhancement of existing data collection and retention practices for Land Disposition Agreements (LDAs) and other data related to Urban Renewal assets. Oversee the ongoing use and updates of the existing online AirTable database, as well as corresponding public-facing dashboards.
Read, understand, and clearly communicate the details of the legal requirements of LDAs, including some that may be decades old.
Research and understand the history of LDA-related matters.
Serve as a primary contact for LDA-related data for both internal and external constituents.
Oversee Urban Renewal-related protocols and procedures adopted by the BRA Board, including any Urban Renewal Plan minor modifications as needed until the passage of the sunsetting of Urban Renewal through the Home Rule Petition at the state house.
Gain a deep understanding of the restrictions and content of LDAs, including affordable housing and restrictions and public realm requirements. Determine the current and future status of the LDA and identify if further action is required. Work with external constituents on all matters requiring action.
Collaborate interdepartmentally with representatives of the Planning Department, Compliance Department, Development Review Department, and Legal Department on projects that are impacted by LDA restrictions to determine the status of restrictions and recommend further research, if applicable, and implement resolutions.
If necessary, create presentations and documents for internal and external stakeholders, including the BRA Board, Boston City Council, and the Mayor’s Office, regarding progress made on Urban Renewal protocols and other special projects related to BRA assets.
Assist with the reconfiguration of the BRA-owned land database (BOLD) system to ensure accuracy. Assist to ensure that the status of BRA assets including disposition efforts are efficiently managed and tracked. Prioritize projects, conduct research and assess needs and requirements for completion of projects.
Communicate and collaborate with other City and state departments regarding parcels regulated by Land Disposition Agreements and real estate projects, including performing any necessary research on existing Urban Renewal Plan requirements that may impact departments.
When assigned, provide detail-oriented project management of assigned proposed development projects on BPDA-owned or LDA-protected land, including project inception, community process, evaluation of proposals, and tentative designation at the Boston Planning and Development Agency board, and monitoring compliance through permitting, and construction.
Perform research on policy-related matters as needed.
Be able to understand Salesforce reports and data and pull data into Excel (or Google Sheets) to perform deeper data analysis on a wide array of topics from Housing, Life Sciences, Displacement impacts, and more.
Able to represent the City in Housing Policy matters, such as Boston Interagency Fair Housing meeting, and meetings discussing the requirements and impact of the Executive Order for Streamlining Affordable Housing.
Work with Real Estate finance experts to understand and communicate basic real estate finance and build policy ideas around that understanding.
Create and manage policy research and data-oriented internships.
Able to support and, at times, manage the implementation of policy initiatives.
Support and supplement the work of the Senior Policy Advisor.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications
Work requires completion of an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree.
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in government, urban planning, municipal legal research, and/or project management; public sector experience is strongly preferred.
Work also requires strong research and data management.
Work requires very good Excel skills.
Work requires good oral and written strategic communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
A Master’s Degree.
Knowledge of Boston’s neighborhoods, geography, and history.
Some knowledge of Urban Renewal history and practice.