Community Planner

Job Summary: The Community Planner is part of the Community Planning Team, a team responsible for working with community members to elevate the voice of community and supporting a variety of short- and long-range planning projects to improve the quality of life in Chinatown. Issue areas include transportation, economic development, affordable housing and open space. The Planner must see participatory planning, outreach, organizing and education as a core component of the work. The Planner will assist with project management and community planning initiatives.

Status: Full-time, Nonexempt, Regular

Location: Chinatown neighborhood, San Francisco

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00a.m. - 5:30p.m., plus some weekend and night hours

Salary: $38.36 - $40.00 per hour; Comprehensive Benefits

The Organization: A private non-profit founded in 1977, Chinatown Community Development Center believes in a comprehensive vision of community. We own and/or manage approximately 36 affordable housing buildings serving over 4,500 low-income seniors, single adults, formerly homeless adults, and families of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Tenderloin, Western Addition, and Polk Gulch neighborhoods. We also build housing, develop grassroots leadership, and engage low-income residents and youth. Our employees are passionate about the mission; thrive in a family organizational culture; and embody values of empowerment, teamwork, and compassion. Chinatown CDC serves a diverse population and is committed to hiring practices that provide culturally competent services. We encourage people of color to apply.

Essential Functions

• Develop deep and meaningful relationships with Chinatown community members and stakeholders
• Collaborate with teammates. Stakeholders and members of the Community Organizing team members in meetings and informally most days
• Attend meetings with City of San Francisco staff to learn about a support community stakeholder to provide input on city plans and programs

What You Will Do

Community Planning:

• Identify and assess community priorities within San Francisco’s Chinatown
  • Focus on housing, transportation, economic development, and open space issues
  • Coordinate, organize, and document, community input/data from Chinatown residents, merchants and visitors
• Analyze and draft responses to plans, proposals, or recommendations from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, San Francisco Planning Department and other city or state agencies incorporating stakeholder feedback and uplifting community voices
• Assess impact of proposed citywide projects on neighborhood merchants, residents and physical environment and help them provide meaningful feedback to City Agencies
• Gather, analyze and provide information/statistics on Chinatown neighborhood, such as demographics and trends
• Collaborate with Planning Team, Community Building and Engagement staff and community stakeholders in defining the organization’s position on planning-related issues and in strategizing plan of action
• Outreach/Educate grassroots leaders on issues that affect Chinatown through providing workshops and meetings at community meetings.
• Give public testimony to City agencies, civic committees, and neighborhood groups as needed
• Assist in advocacy efforts on issues significantly affecting Chinatown community especially on Land Use, Transportation, and Open Space issues.

• Represent organization with community residents, governmental agencies and committees, neighborhood groups, and city-wide organizations
• Embody organization values (respect & compassion, empowerment, teamwork)
• Contribute to a safe and pleasant work environment
• Follow policies, procedures, and safe work practices
• Other duties as assigned

What You Bring

• Excellent communication and outreach skills
• Excellent public speaking skills and ability to facilitate meetings
• Familiarity with Chinatown neighborhood and issues relevant to the community
• Familiarity with local government processes, ordinances, and legislation
• Familiarity with neighborhood planning concepts
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team structure
• Ability to be flexible and perform a variety of work activities
• Excellent written and verbal skills in English
• Capacity to attend evening meetings

Education and Experience (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s Degree in urban planning, urban studies, geography, policy, economics, or related fields, with experience in neighborhood planning, transportation issues, economic development, or advocacy/community work.
• Proficiency with PC computer systems, including Word, Excel, Outlook

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in urban planning, urban studies, geography, policy, economics, or related fields, or one (1) year experience in neighborhood planning/organizing, transportation issues, demographic statistics, economic development, advocacy/community work.
• Meaningful and established relationship in Chinatown community and the broader AAPI community
• Ability to speak fluently in Cantonese.

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