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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Resource Specialist

💰 $ - $

Urban PlanningSustainabilityResource ManagementGIS

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Resource Specialist is a cross-disciplinary practitioner who plans, manages, and coordinates the sustainable use of urban assets and natural resources in cities and metropolitan regions. This role combines urban planning, GIS and spatial analysis, stakeholder engagement, program management, regulatory compliance, and data-driven policy development to optimize land use, public infrastructure, green space, housing, and resilience outcomes. The Urban Resource Specialist works with municipal departments, community groups, utilities, developers, and regional agencies to deliver measurable improvements in resource efficiency, environmental quality, and equitable access.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • GIS Technician, Junior Planner or Environmental Analyst transitioning into municipal resource management.
  • Community Engagement Coordinator or Sustainability Coordinator with local government or NGOs.
  • Data Analyst with experience in spatial data and urban systems.

Advancement To:

  • Senior Urban Resource Specialist or Lead Planner (mid-level technical lead).
  • Program Manager — Urban Sustainability, Resilience, or Natural Resources.
  • Director of Urban Planning, Director of Sustainability, or Chief Resilience Officer.

Lateral Moves:

  • Land Use Planner or Zoning Specialist.
  • Climate Resilience Coordinator or Urban Forestry Manager.
  • Infrastructure Planning Analyst or Public Works Project Manager.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead development and implementation of integrated urban resource management plans that align land use, water, energy, transportation, and green infrastructure priorities to support municipal sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
  • Conduct advanced GIS and spatial analyses (ArcGIS/Pro, QGIS), mapping, and geospatial modeling to identify resource vulnerabilities, service gaps, habitat corridors, and priority investment areas for urban greening and infrastructure.
  • Design, manage, and evaluate pilot projects for stormwater management, urban tree canopy expansion, heat mitigation, and integrated water systems, ensuring projects meet technical specifications, budgets, timelines, and performance targets.
  • Prepare detailed technical reports, memos, and policy briefs that translate complex spatial and environmental data into actionable recommendations for elected officials, agency leadership, and community stakeholders.
  • Coordinate cross-departmental planning efforts with public works, parks, housing, transportation, environmental services, utilities, and permitting to integrate resource planning into capital improvement programs and long-range plans.
  • Lead stakeholder engagement processes, including community workshops, public hearings, interagency working groups, and stakeholder advisory committees to capture input and build consensus for resource strategies and project designs.
  • Develop and administer grant proposals, funding applications, and partnership agreements to secure federal, state, and foundation funding for urban resource initiatives; oversee grant reporting and compliance.
  • Review development proposals, site plans, and environmental assessments to ensure consistency with municipal resource management policies, stormwater, tree protection, and land use regulations.
  • Establish monitoring and evaluation frameworks, performance metrics, and dashboard reporting for resource programs, including data collection protocols and indicators for water quality, canopy cover, green stormwater infrastructure performance, and equity outcomes.
  • Provide technical assistance and capacity building to municipal staff, neighborhood groups, and partner organizations on best practices in sustainable urban resource management, GIS tools, and regulatory compliance.
  • Manage project budgets, scope, procurement of consultants and contractors, and contract deliverables for resource-related capital and operational projects.
  • Conduct environmental permitting coordination and regulatory review, liaising with state and federal agencies (e.g., EPA, state environmental departments) to ensure permit compliance and mitigation strategies are implemented.
  • Integrate climate change adaptation and resilience principles into resource planning — performing vulnerability assessments, scenario planning, and nature-based solution design to reduce flood risk, heat islands, and infrastructure exposure.
  • Use data analytics (Excel, SQL, Python/R) to synthesize multi-source datasets (land use, parcel, utility, demographic, environmental sensors) and produce insights that drive equitable resource allocation and policy decisions.
  • Develop and maintain GIS databases, metadata standards, and spatial data governance practices to ensure high-quality, interoperable datasets for long-term resource planning and asset management.
  • Lead feasibility analyses, cost-benefit assessments, and life-cycle evaluations for proposed infrastructure and nature-based projects to inform investment prioritization and funding strategies.
  • Oversee urban forestry and vegetation management programs, including planting plans, species selection, maintenance schedules, and monitoring for ecosystem service delivery and public safety.
  • Draft and update ordinances, policies, technical standards, and design guidelines related to green infrastructure, stormwater, tree protection, and sustainable site development in coordination with legal and planning teams.
  • Facilitate intergovernmental coordination on regional resource challenges such as watershed management, watershed restoration, brownfield redevelopment, and transportation-land use integration.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise during emergency response and recovery planning for urban environmental incidents (e.g., pollution events, extreme storms) and support continuity of services and rapid resource deployment.
  • Mentor junior staff and interns, review technical deliverables, and build internal capacity for multidisciplinary resource planning across municipal teams.
  • Monitor emerging technologies, best practices, and funding trends in urban sustainability, nature-based solutions, and smart city analytics; incorporate innovations into program design where evidence supports better outcomes.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with public communications, social media summaries, and outreach material development to promote programs and solicit community input.
  • Represent the organization at conferences, technical working groups, and stakeholder forums to share lessons learned and build strategic partnerships.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert proficiency in GIS and spatial analysis tools (ArcGIS Desktop/Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS) for mapping, spatial querying, and geoprocessing workflows.
  • Strong data analysis and visualization skills using Excel, SQL, Python or R, and dashboarding tools (Tableau, Power BI) to synthesize datasets and present insights.
  • Experience with urban planning tools and software (AutoCAD/Civil 3D, CityEngine, land use modeling) and familiarity with parcel, cadastral, and zoning datasets.
  • Knowledge of stormwater engineering concepts, green infrastructure design, LID (low-impact development) practices, and associated performance metrics.
  • Demonstrated grant writing, budgeting, and contract management experience to secure and manage public and private funding for urban projects.
  • Understanding of environmental regulations, permitting processes, NEPA/CEQA or state equivalents, and compliance reporting.
  • Proficiency in producing technical design documents, construction specifications, RFPs, bid evaluations, and contractor oversight.
  • Experience applying climate vulnerability assessments, resilience frameworks, and nature-based solutions in urban settings.
  • Ability to administer and maintain spatial databases, metadata, and GIS data governance practices for long-term asset and resource management.
  • Familiarity with community engagement platforms, public meeting facilitation techniques, and equity-centered outreach strategies.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical writing, public presentations, and cross-sector collaboration.
  • Proven stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills; able to build consensus among residents, agencies, and private sector partners.
  • Critical thinking and analytical problem-solving to evaluate trade-offs and recommend evidence-based resource strategies.
  • Project management capabilities: scheduling, task coordination, risk management, and multi-stakeholder alignment.
  • Cultural competency and commitment to equity, ensuring inclusive participation and distribution of benefits in planning processes.
  • Leadership and mentorship skills with the ability to coach staff and coordinate interdisciplinary teams.
  • Adaptability and creativity in applying innovative solutions to complex urban resource challenges.
  • Time management and organizational skills to manage competing priorities, deliverables, and deadlines.
  • Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills for permit negotiations, interagency agreements, and community disputes.
  • Attention to detail in data quality, technical specifications, and regulatory compliance.

Additional desirable skills: AICP certification or working knowledge of planning accreditation, PMP or proven project management certification, GIS Professional (GISP) or ESRI technical certification.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Environmental Science, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Public Policy, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Urban Planning (MUP/MPP), Environmental Management, Landscape Architecture (MLA), Civil/Environmental Engineering, or a related graduate degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Urban Planning / Regional Planning
  • Geography / GIScience
  • Environmental Science / Ecology
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering
  • Public Policy / Public Administration
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in urban resource planning, GIS analysis, environmental management, or related municipal programs.

Preferred: 5+ years of directly relevant experience managing urban sustainability or resource programs, demonstrated success with GIS-driven planning, grant and contract management, and stakeholder engagement at the city, county, or regional scale. Experience working with public agencies, multi-disciplinary technical teams, and community-based organizations is strongly preferred. Certifications such as AICP, PMP, GISP, or professional licensure may be advantageous.

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