The Project Special Projects Division is a new division within the Metro Planning Department.  The division is tasked with actively engaging with Metro departments and Nashville’s neighborhoods to anticipate and prioritize public property needs for Metro facilities, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, and rights-of-way.  Additionally, the division is responsible for advancing major projects on Metro-owned land, ensuring that use cases decisions are made early in the process and that projects are delivered to meet their intended purpose.

The Project Manager will:

• Reports to the City Architect for the support in the development and implementation of the Special Projects Committee, Infill Housing Strategy, “Choose How You Move” projects and subsequent development as required. Choose How You Move (CHYM) is Metro Nashville’s comprehensive transportation improvement program. It represents the city's largest infrastructure initiative to date, aiming to modernize and enhance mobility across Nashville and Davidson County. 
• Lead for multiple aspects of projects including contracts (scope documents, negotiation, management, schedule, budget, design/document review, and construction strategy). The Property Special Projects team will manage all feasibility, concept and preconstruction; however, in most cases, construction is transitioned to another Metro entity.
• Provide full administrative support for the Property Special Projects Division initiatives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Full review and strong familiarity with Special Projects, Infill Housing Strategy and CHYM program documents including timelines, budget, funding resources, zoning/entitlement schedule.
• Provides project management and feedback for financial analysis of the above list including regular status update reports of schedule, current issues, risks, and budget.
• Manages all pertinent consultants to ensure schedule and scope delivery in keeping with the overall plan and project objectives.
• Coordinates and evaluates, with project management team, professional planning projects through contracts with consultant teams, including outside consultant scope and tasks.
• Assists with scoping work, defining deliverables, identifying tasks and process, developing work methods, and identifying resource needs.
• Assists in ensuring work meets management and elected officials’ expectations and completed within specified budget and time frame.
• Consults and coordinates closely with other Metro agencies and departments, and with partner agencies and organizations at the local, state, and federal levels, to identify needs and goals and resolve technical issues
• Assists in the identification of stakeholders and the development of a dynamic and inclusive community engagement strategy for planning and implementation projects.
• Reviews professional planning work and deliverables for compliance with agreed upon goals, outcomes, and conditions.
• Generates status reports that include information, findings, and recommendations to appropriate parties.
• Performs various administrative duties such as writing correspondence, processing paperwork, shepherding contract approvals, assisting in the preparations of materials for the Metropolitan Planning Commission, and attends or speaks to the public at meetings.
• Serves as a project team leader as needed coordinating activities, assisting team members, and providing progress updates to management.
• Generates a Monthly Status Report in collaboration with management and the broader team.
• Supports the drafting and generation of the RFQ/RFP documents along with full selection criteria, bid process, subsequent negotiations, approvals and contract execution.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of urban planning, land use, zoning, and entitlement processes, particularly as they relate to public property and infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with infill housing strategies, affordable housing development, and transportation planning initiatives, including large-scale programs such as "Choose How You Move" (CHYM).
• Strong understanding of project management principles, including project scoping, budgeting, scheduling, and performance tracking across all project phases.
• Experience with public sector procurement processes, including the development and administration of Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
• Working knowledge of capital planning, public finance, and financial modeling to support project feasibility and implementation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling and budget tracking; familiarity with GIS, Tableau, or other data visualization tools is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing consultant contracts, including IDIQ task orders, and overseeing scope, schedule, and deliverable compliance.
• Familiarity with municipal and intergovernmental coordination processes, including collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders across government, community, and private sectors.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and outreach, with a focus on full community engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Proven leadership and coordination abilities, including task prioritization, team guidance, negotiation, and progress tracking.
• Ability to value and respect cultural differences, balance diverse perspectives, and actively support full community involvement in project processes.

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university and six (6) years of relevant experience, with progressively responsible experience in construction management, preconstruction, financial analysis, economic development, capital planning, or related project management in the public or private sector.

 Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

About Metro Nashville Planning

The Planning Department provides design guidance, reviews zoning and subdivision applications, and shapes public policy related to growth, preservation, and development. The Planning Department also provides recommendations to the Planning Commission. We are committed to proactive, community-based planning founded on public participation, and to the building of livable, sustainable communities.

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