Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urbanism Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Urbanism Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the development and delivery of urban plans, policies, and projects that shape land use, mobility, public realm and built form. Acting as a bridge between elected officials, planning teams, technical consultants and communities, the Coordinator manages complex multi-stakeholder processes, ensures regulatory compliance, delivers high-quality urban design guidance, and monitors outcomes using spatial data and performance indicators. Key focus areas include zoning and development review, public consultation and engagement, site masterplanning, sustainability and climate resilience initiatives, and cross-departmental project delivery.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate / Junior Urban Planner
Planning Assistant or Planning Technician
GIS Analyst with an urban planning focus

Advancement To:

Senior Urbanism Coordinator / Senior Planner
Urban Design Manager / Principal Urban Designer
Head of Planning or Director of Urban Development

Lateral Moves:

Transportation / Mobility Planner
Housing Policy Analyst
Environmental or Climate Resilience Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development, coordination and implementation of neighbourhood and precinct plans, including visioning, spatial analysis, land use strategy, built form controls, and phasing plans to guide public and private development.
Manage zoning and development application review processes, preparing technical assessments, conditions of approval, zoning interpretations, and recommendations for planning committees or council.
Design and deliver inclusive public engagement programs—workshops, charrettes, open houses, stakeholder briefings and online consultations—to gather input, build consensus, and integrate community priorities into planning outcomes.
Prepare, review and present planning reports, policy briefs, urban design guidelines, feasibility studies and statutory documentation for internal stakeholders, elected officials, and public hearings.
Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and external consultants (transportation, heritage, environmental, landscape architects) to ensure integrated, timely and cost-effective delivery of planning and design projects.
Use GIS and spatial analysis to evaluate land suitability, density scenarios, accessibility, service catchments, urban heat vulnerability and other indicators to inform planning decisions and policy recommendations.
Develop and maintain masterplan and urban design deliverables—site layouts, massing studies, streetscape and public realm concepts, renderings and technical details—to high professional standards using AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, SketchUp or equivalent tools.
Lead grant applications, capital funding proposals and budget preparations for urban regeneration, public realm improvements, transit-oriented development and sustainability pilots.
Monitor project budgets, milestones and procurement processes; prepare scope of works, tender documents, evaluate proposals and manage contracts with consultants and contractors.
Ensure compliance with planning legislation, statutory processes, environmental and heritage regulations; coordinate statutory referrals and respond to legislative changes that affect urban policy and development.
Collaborate with transportation planners and engineers to integrate mobility solutions—transit, active transport, parking strategies and curb management—into land use plans and redevelopment projects.
Develop affordable housing and inclusive city strategies in coordination with housing teams and non-profit partners; identify enabling policies, incentives and site opportunities to deliver housing targets.
Lead climate resilience and sustainability integration by applying urban ecology, nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, stormwater management and energy efficiency principles within city projects and policies.
Coordinate site-specific permitting and approvals processes, tracking outstanding conditions, facilitating technical meetings and resolving design and regulatory conflicts to avoid delays.
Prepare performance monitoring frameworks and KPIs for implemented plans—density delivery, housing mix, pedestrian counts, tree canopy, travel-mode share—and report progress to leadership and stakeholders.
Facilitate steering committees and interdepartmental working groups to align capital works, utilities, parks, and community infrastructure with development and planning objectives.
Provide design review and technical guidance for public realm improvements, streetscapes, signage, lighting and accessibility to ensure high-quality, safe and inclusive urban environments.
Conduct site visits and field surveys to assess existing conditions, document issues, validate consultant assumptions and support decision-making during design development.
Advise elected officials and senior management on planning and urbanism matters, preparing presentations, briefing notes and policy options that balance technical evidence with political and community considerations.
Develop communication materials, infographics and clear narratives that translate technical planning concepts into user-friendly content for residents and stakeholders.
Implement monitoring and evaluation of pilots or demonstration projects (e.g., temporary plaza, curb reallocation), document lessons learned and recommend scalable rollout strategies.
Support heritage impact assessments and conservation planning to balance growth, infill development and protection of cultural values within urban renewal contexts.
Provide mentorship and day-to-day supervision for junior planners, interns and project coordinators, delegating tasks, reviewing deliverables and fostering a collaborative team culture.

Secondary Functions

Support preparation of grant reports, progress reports and funding compliance documentation for externally funded urban projects.
Maintain and update spatial datasets, planning databases and public portals to ensure transparent access to planning information and open data for stakeholders.
Contribute to procurement evaluation panels for urban design and engineering consultants to ensure quality and value for money.
Represent the organization at public forums, industry conferences and multi-agency working groups to share best practice and advance local urbanism priorities.
Assist with policy research and benchmarking of international best practices in transit-oriented development, compact city strategies and public realm activation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

GIS (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) — spatial analysis, map creation, catchment and accessibility modelling.
Urban design and masterplanning — massing, public realm design, streetscape standards and placemaking.
Planning policy, statutory planning and zoning interpretation — municipal code, land use bylaws and development approvals.
Transport and mobility planning fundamentals — TOD principles, active transport and parking strategies.
Software proficiency: AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint).
Environmental and heritage assessment knowledge — EIA processes, heritage impact statements, and conservation planning.
Project management — scope development, budgeting, contract management and procurement processes.
Data analysis and visualization — ability to analyze demographic, land use and travel data and produce clear visual outputs.
Grant writing and funding proposal development for capital projects and pilot programs.
Familiarity with building codes, accessibility standards (ADA/Local equivalents) and construction drawing review.
Experience with public consultation tools, online engagement platforms and facilitation techniques.
Performance monitoring and KPI development for urban projects (density tracking, mode share, public realm use).

Soft Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication — concise reports, persuasive presentations and clear community-facing materials.
Stakeholder engagement and facilitation — ability to build consensus among diverse interest groups.
Strategic thinking and policy synthesis — translate technical evidence into pragmatic policy options.
Problem solving and conflict resolution — navigate trade-offs between development, community and environmental priorities.
Leadership and team coaching — mentor junior staff and coordinate multidisciplinary teams.
Time management and prioritization — manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
Political acumen and diplomacy — present balanced advice to elected officials and senior management.
Adaptability and resilience — respond to evolving project requirements and public feedback.
Cultural competency and inclusive practice — engage effectively with diverse communities and vulnerable groups.
Attention to detail and quality assurance in technical documentation and design deliverables.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, Architecture, Geography, Civil Engineering or related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, Landscape Architecture or equivalent professional qualification (MUP, MSc City Planning, MLA).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning / City Planning
Urban Design / Architecture
Geography / GIS
Landscape Architecture
Civil Engineering / Transportation Planning

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 7 years of professional experience in urban planning, urban design or related fields.

Preferred:

5+ years coordinating planning projects, statutory approvals or urban regeneration programs, with demonstrable experience in public engagement, GIS analysis, and managing consultants.
Experience working within municipal government, planning agencies, or interdisciplinary consultancy teams is highly desirable.
Professional accreditation or membership with a planning institute or relevant professional body is a plus (e.g., AICP, RIBA, PPI, MRPII depending on jurisdiction).