The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire a City Planner III for a position with The Upstate Real Property Services (UPRS). Watershed Lands and Community Planning Division within the Source Water Directorate, located in Valhalla, New York.

This position will serve as a Real Property Project Manager for one or more geographic areas within the NYC watershed, with a focus on the East of Hudson watershed in Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties. Under direction, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, this position will perform a variety of difficult and responsible tasks relating to the City’s acquisition, disposition and or management of real property including performing site visits, negotiating with landowners, ordering real property services from independent consultants, preparing reports, performing specialized research and analysis, identifying and developing land acquisition policies and strategies, and managing certain steps within the real property transaction process or City land/easement monitoring process. This position will work independently but in close coordination with the supervisor and other DEP staff to implement the projects, programs, policies and tasks assigned to them. The position will be accountable for tasks assigned to them while balancing and coordinating priority needs of the broader UPRS team. Specific duties include:

- Formulates and coordinates implementation of the City’s acquisition and disposition of land and easements.

- Performs specialized research and analysis necessary to support land acquisition, property disposition, and other real property management work relating to the City’s real property ownership interests throughout the upstate watershed and water supply region.

- Work with landowners, attorneys, and/or agents to develop new acquisitions projects including fee simple and conservation easement, routines responsibilities may include field inspections, negotiating the configuration of parcels or easements to be acquired or disposed of by the City, ordering and reviewing of appraisals, and assisting with drafting of purchase contracts.

- Perform site inspections and prepare reports on encroachments, incidents of trespass or easement violations, or progress of demolitions on City owned lands.

- Manage vendor contracts for real property services including the drafting or revising of scopes of work, reviewing deliverables for accuracy and contract compliance, and reviewing and processing vendor invoices.

- Address private and public groups, explaining the City’s programmatic objectives associated with the Land Acquisition Program (or City acquisitions and dispositions) necessary to advance the work.

- Coordinates with other DEP staff to ensure all administrative, programmatic and policy requirements are met for the City’s Land Acquisition Program and potentially to support the City Land Stewardship Program.

- Identifies and recommends land acquisition planning strategies which require special study and conformance with various legal mandates. Develops new policies and procedures to assist management with the administration and implementation of the Land Acquisition Program.

- Update project information in the Watershed Lands information System (WaLIS) a geospatial and Upstate Real Property Services (URPS) policies and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP’s) ensures that journal notes, documents, and photos/maps are added to WaLIS as appropriate for each project.

- Attend regularly scheduled real estate review meetings to present, discuss and review proposed real estate acquisition projects with staff from DEP and land acquisition partners.

- Under direction, with latitude for independent imitative and judgment, performs other difficult task and professional work as assigned.

- May supervise subordinate staff as needed or assigned.

- Please note, while this position has been posted for Arkville, NY, we may change it at the time of hire to accommodate the chosen candidate. Possible alternative reporting locations include Kingston, NY.

- Effectively plan and coordinate to ensure projects progress in a timely manner and tasks are completed accurately within assigned deadlines.

- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records and, if required, ensure that information is entered into WaLIS accurately and timely.

- Respond to landowner and DEP inquiries quickly, accurately and professionally.

- Bring issues affecting project completion to supervisor’s attention in a timely manner.

- Follows up on supervisory requests promptly and accurately.

- Stay abreast of DEP contract management and invoice submission requirements.

- Adhere to all health and safety guidelines


Computer Skills and Knowledge:

Knowledge and proficient use of Adobe software and all Microsoft Office programs. Ability to learn and use utilize automated research, payment and analysis tools such as WaLIS, PASSPort and, potentially, ArcGis.


Additional Working Conditions:


Must be willing and able to perform site visits to properties located throughout the NYC watershed, primarily East of the Hudson River. Site visits are performed in all seasons and can include steep and remote properties with varying degrees of access difficulty. Position requires sufficient strength, agility and mobility to hike mountainous terrain safely and use hiking equipment such as snowshoes and trek poles when needed.


(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position.)


Preferred Skills:


- Project management, and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

- Read and interpret surveys and deeds.

- WaLIS, PASSPort and, ArcGis

- Contract management and budget oversight/analysis.

- Ability to work independently and cohesively as a part of multi-disciplinary team.

- Excellent written and oral communication skills.

- Capacity to work with landowners, attorneys, municipal leaders, co-workers, surveyors, clerks and others to advance DEP and Upstate Real Property Services missions.

- Capability to conduct field work in all seasons, including navigating difficult terrain and using GPS units, compasses, digital cameras, and related field equipment.

- Knowledge and proficient use of Adobe software and all Microsoft Office programs.

- Stays abreast of DEP contract management and invoice submission requirements

- Strictly adheres to all health and safety guidelines.

- A valid NYS driver’s license


Hours and Shift:

35 Hours per week. Day/Shift



Work Location:

465 Columbus Ave

Valhalla NY, 10595

CITY PLANNER - 22122

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory full-time experience in city planning; or

2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience that is equivalent to “1"" above. Graduate
education in city planning, urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, public administration, economic development or related fields may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 graduate semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Special Qualification Requirements

Assignment Level III
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level III, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in "2" above.

Assignment Level IV
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level IV, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, two additional years of professional experience as described in "2" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.