Deputy Director of Southern California CAPS

As a senior role at the firm, the Deputy Director directly supports the Director of CAPS for Southern California by assisting in marketing, pursuit of work, client relationships, as well as training and oversight of staff. While the position would support the Director of CAPS for Southern California position, it is intended to be a collaborative position where responsibilities are shared between the positions. This position would also be anticipated to include contract staffing assignments to a particular jurisdiction or multiple jurisdictions functioning as a senior planner or potentially interim department or agency director. Such assignments may be at the jurisdiction, remote, or hybrid depending on the needs of the jurisdiction.

This position involves managing projects - scope, deliverables, schedule, consultants, billings – while working closely with a team of planners to manage government client relationships for assignments in diverse communities, developing project strategies, preparing reports, planning and project analyses, and presenting graphic materials for both public and private sector clients. Extensive public sector experience would be expected for this role. 

• Collaborative Teammate: You will work as part of a cross-office, cross-discipline team of urban designer/planners and environmental planners (CEQA/NEPA). These teams provide services and consultation to facilitate development entitlements and to implement planning programs and capital projects and create community and environmental plans and designs for public and private clients across the U.S.
• Managing Projects: You will provide overarching project direction to MIG staff and oversight of work products; lead internal and external subconsultant and client teams; and develop and manage projects including scopes of work, budgets, and schedules. In addition, Directors and Project Managers at MIG maintain client relationships; identify the correct course of action to the client; represent clients at public hearings and meetings; and set the standards for excellence, responsiveness, and accountability.
• Project Work: You will be leading teams and creating bold, innovative, and equitable design solutions while also managing larger scale, more complex projects of your own. In this capacity you will manage junior- and mid-level staff and work closely with clients, applicants, and community representatives to produce project deliverables, develop forward-thinking plans and strategies, prepare reports and analyses, and facilitate project and public meetings, to help communities implement their visions for the built and natural environments.
• Project Types: Typical projects you’ll work on as contract staff for a jurisdiction include managing the development entitlement process for residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use projects for compliance with community visions as expressed in General and Specific Plans, Zoning Codes, in compliance with California Land Use Laws, the Subdivision Map Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.  
• Client Relationships: You will help build and maintain strong and responsive client interactions by developing and maintaining relationships with current and potential clients for the purpose of providing services that address their needs by developing and implementing marketing strategies, preparing proposals, and helping to define market gaps and new opportunities.

While the position would be expected to be full-time, if a candidate would prefer part-time that may be considered. Due to the nature of contract staffing, commute times may vary depending on need for working in a jurisdiction office. However, we do coordinate with staff on their limitations on commute time and distance before selecting them for assignment at a given jurisdiction. Occasional nighttime for commission or council meetings would be expected based on the needs of the jurisdictions. Weekend work would not be common, but may occur if community meetings or other outreach meetings may occur. MIG encourages a work-life balance, and these excess hours can be offset during the week when possible.