Project Director Position
Focus Area: Zoning & Development Code

The Position: Cascadia Partners seeks a Project Director to oversee multiple projects within our growing zoning and development code portfolio across Oregon and the western United States. The position provides an opportunity to play a key leadership role in exciting code reform projects aimed at addressing the housing shortage, advancing equity in land use policy, and fostering sustainable development patterns. This position requires someone with substantial experience evaluating and writing development code regulations. The ideal candidate can critically analyze existing codes, creatively integrate policy concepts, and construct regulations that are clear, legally-sound, and effectively balance flexibility and predictability. The candidate must also have experience managing and directing internal project teams and engaging effectively with clients, stakeholders, and the public.

Our Work: Cascadia Partners is a fast-paced, values-driven, and diverse firm of 20 headquartered in Portland, OR, with staff that work in-person, hybrid, or remotely. Our multidisciplinary team works on 30-40 projects across the country annually, ranging from housing policy and zoning code updates, district and master plans, mission-driven public-private developments, scenario planning, and community engagement. We focus on actionable plans that get built and solutions rooted in equitable community engagement.

Our Values: We value diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team and in our work. We value intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning and offer professional development stipends and frequent internal skill building courses. We value a healthy life-work balance and offer every other Friday off and generous paid vacation.

Position Details: This Project Director position is responsible for comprehensive management of multiple zoning and housing-related projects, including scoping, budgeting, deliverable ideation, creation, and quality control. Projects could include development code audits centered on housing or climate goals, code rewrites and citywide code reform projects, subarea or corridor plans that include code updates, housing action plans, and affordable housing incentives. The position will require professional client interaction, presentations, facilitating stakeholder and public engagement meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in planning, real estate development, or public policy
• Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Public Policy, Economics, or related fields
• Critical thinker who can analyze a policy or regulation from multiple perspectives, including legal compliance, economic feasibility, housing affordability, urban design, and sustainability
• Strong writer who can break down complex issues clearly and concisely and synthesize complex information
• Effective public speaker with passion for presenting, hands-on public, and stakeholder engagement
• Visual storyteller with ability to direct the creation of compelling, public-friendly graphics and documents

Desirable Qualifications

• Project management experience, such as managing the production of deliverables, coordinating the work of internal and/or external teams, communicating with clients, and managing project schedules
• Experiencing reviewing, drafting, and/or administering development code regulations
• Familiarity with Oregon’s land use planning system or other statewide long-range planning systems
• Interest in land use and housing policy and how detailed regulations impact systemic issues and inequities

The Ideal Candidate

• Enjoys consulting work and is able to manage a variety of project types in different communities and contexts
• Demonstrates leadership in working with respect, dignity, and empathy in diverse, multicultural settings
• Centers relationship-building and collaboration in their work, seeking to engage authentically with their teams, clients, and stakeholders and understand their interests, values, and backgrounds
• Demonstrates willingness to receive and give growth-minded feedback and to receive and respond to coaching from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) colleagues

Work Location

• Strong preference for candidates based in Oregon or southwest Washington
• If based in the Portland metro area, must work 2 days per week in our office in the Pearl District.
• Travel to client locations may be required (once every 1-3 months)

Compensation and Benefits

• Every other Friday off year-round (36-hour average work week)
• $100,000 - $120,000 base salary + profit sharing bonus, based on experience
• Gold-level health insurance, dental, 401k match, professional development stipend
• Generous paid time off, including 4 weeks paid vacation for first full year (prorated to hire date for first year)
• 1 additional week of paid vacation per year worked; up to 8 weeks max
• Additional paid holidays (up to 15 days)
• Paid parental leave (dependent on state of residence)

How to Apply
Application materials can be submitted to Info@Cascadia-Partners.com by Wednesday, December 04, 2024.

Application materials should consist of the following:

• Introductory email or cover letter stating the reason for your interest in the positions
• Resume summarizing work and educational history
• One work sample such as a presentation, memorandum, or report that showcases your experience with land use or housing policy