KOUNKUEY DESIGN INITIATIVE | JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Planning Coordinator
LOCATION: Los Angeles
ORGANIZATION: Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)
CLOSING DATE: Until Filled

Kounkuey Design Initiative, an award-winning, non-profit design and community development organization, is currently seeking a Planning Coordinator who is passionate about community-driven development to work within our Planning Department. The position is based in our downtown Los Angeles office, but requires frequent travel to our projects in the Eastern Coachella Valley and other areas in Southern California.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
This is not a conventional position, because this is not a conventional organization. KDI works directly with residents living in very challenged environments, in the US and abroad, to design and build projects that improve physical, economic, and social quality of life. Much of our work takes place in Southern California in communities from Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley. We also have an office in Nairobi, Kenya that works extensively in the informal settlement of Kibera. In every place that we work, we use a participatory design and planning process to create neighborhood-scaled public space, building, and infrastructure projects that directly respond to residents’ priority needs. We also work on larger-scale urban planning and advocacy initiatives aimed at creating more equitable neighborhoods and cities.

The Planning Coordinator will work closely with the Planning and Design Departments to develop and implement a wide range of US-based projects that include transportation planning projects, public space projects, policy campaigns, tactical urbanism projects, and economic and social development programs. On all projects, the Planning Coordinator will be expected to learn and facilitate our participatory process and collaborate closely with our community partners. The Planning Coordinator reports directly to KDI’s Planning Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Fluency in English and Spanish (verbal and written)
• Masters degree in Urban Planning or related field
• 3+ years working experience in community development, economic development, or urban planning
• 1+ years working with underserved communities
• Proven track record of successful project management
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• Excellent writing and analytical abilities
• Strong graphic skills and command of Adobe Creative Suite and GIS preferred
• Strong commitment to social and environmental justice


HOW TO APPLY: Send electronic copy of cover letter, resume, and writing sample - portfolio optional, but preferred - to Jessica Bremner, Planning Director at mail@kounkuey.org

Salary commensurate with experience.

ABOUT KDI:
Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a non-profit design and community development firm that partners with people living in extreme poverty to design and implement solutions that permanently transform their communities and improve their quality of life. KDI began in 2006 as a two-week independent research project between six students from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Today it is an innovative design and community development firm that partners with communities in Africa, Latin America, and the United States to transform underserved neighborhoods into thriving communities. In response to each community’s unique priority needs, KDI works with residents to design and implement projects that improve the physical environment and simultaneously introduce new economic activity and social development opportunities.

KDI believes participatory design and long-term investment are key to sustainable development. Working collaboratively with communities from conception through implementation, KDI enhances their ideas with technical knowledge and creativity, and connects them to extant resources.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status or medical condition.