NJ Civil Service Navigator

URBAN DESIGNER TRAINEE

Code: 08076 Local Competitive

Urban Designer Trainee is a competitive local-government title, the kind you test for: the exam result, not a hiring manager's pick, decides where you land in line.

What it takes is a bachelor's degree.

How to apply

  • Exam

    This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.

  • Exam

    Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.

Definition

Under the close supervision of an Urban Designer 3 or other supervisor in a local government agency, as a trainee and productive worker, assists in the development of land use plans in conjunction with planners and architects concentrating on the physical development of a town or city with an emphasis on the public realm; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

  • Under close supervision, as a trainee and productive worker:
  • Learns to assist in the planning and design of public spaces and infrastructure Including redevelopment projects, public parks, transportation, and landscapes; focusing on the user experience of the projects.
  • Works with supervising staff to develop a working knowledge of multiple neighborhood districts through research, site visits, and meeting with community members.
  • Learns to assist with neighborhood planning projects and keeps the impacted community updated as the project proceeds, while also receiving community feedback.
  • Learns to prepare urban design strategies that clearly communicate planning principles.
  • Learns to assist with land use and zoning studies.
  • Learns to prepare written reports for zoning proposals.
  • Learns to conduct surveys in an area and gathers information on the residents.
  • Learns to prepare maps representing existing and proposed land use and other data for submission or presentation to state, municipality, or county.
  • Learns to design and prepare charts representing economic conditions.
  • Learns to organize and prepare written and graphic materials for internal presentations.
  • Learns to prepare proposals for potential redevelopment sites.
  • Learns to research design, construction, and market trends of cities and large scale mixed-use development.
  • Assists in the development and execution of public outreach and engagement plans and activities.
  • Learns to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and others involved with the land use, planning activities of the unit.
  • Maintains essential records and files.
  • Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in urban design, environmental design, architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Ability to learn to gather and analyze data.
  • Ability to learn to analyze and interpret drafting, designing and planning problems, organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
  • Ability to learn to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic laws and regulations.
  • Ability to learn to prepare maps, charts, graphs and plans.
  • Ability to learn to create three-dimensional digital models of potential development or proposed modifications to a site.
  • Ability to learn to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those involved in the work of the unit.
  • Ability to learn to identify and define planning goals and objectives.
  • Ability to learn to prepare correspondence.
  • Ability to learn to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative planning reports, studies, and surveys containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
  • Ability to learn to maintain records, reports, maps, plans, and files.
  • Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
  • Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
  • Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
  • <b>ADVANCEMENT</b>
  • Appointees who successfully complete the 12 month training period will be eligible for advancement to the following title under Civil Service Commission procedures: Urban Designer 1.
  • The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to one of the titles listed above shall be considered as cause for separation.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.