Project Associate / Project Assistant - Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI)

Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI)

Project Associate / Project Assistant

[Appointment period: 6 months initially, with opportunities for extension upon satisfactory performance]

The appointee will assist the project leader in the project - “PolyU Jockey Club Operation SoInno” and other community planning initiatives to support neighbourhoods in transition.

The appointee will assist the project leader in conceptualizing, planning, delivering and innovate spatial intervention projects to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of citizens.

Past projects include Transitional Social Housing, Intergenerational Play Space, Health and Wellbeing of Subdivided Flat tenants, Community Planning in an Age-friendly Community and transformation of under-utilized spaces in public rental housing estates.

He/She will also be required to:

(a) provide technical input from spatial design, user needs analysis and social innovation angles to develop creative inter-disciplinary solutions to the social issues raised;

(b) take lead in preparing topic-based research studies, project briefs, reports, briefing notes and related documentation to support knowledge dissemination and for funders’, collaborators’ and stakeholders’ reference;

(c) plan, organize and manage cross-sector, cross-disciplinary participatory design workshops, symposia and action projects with a view to generating implementable prototype designs and securing buy in from stakeholders through the processes to actualize the projects;

(d) steer project development with key stakeholders and design delivery models to realise conceptual design schemes developed through the co-creation processes;

(e) manage community outreach activities, including working with the Community Engagement Officer to manage Spatial Team’s social media outlets, coordinate promotion activities and develop PR pitch to increase the public’s awareness of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation’s projects;

(f) liaise with scholars, designers, researchers within the University and coordinate with our partners and external stakeholders to develop applied research and action research opportunities; and

(g) perform any other duties as assigned by the Director of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation or his delegates.

The appointee may be required to work occasionally outside normal office hours, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Qualifications

Applicants for the Project Associate post should have a master’s degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Surveying or Environmental Management with at least two years of research/relevant work experience or in one of the said disciplines with at least four years of research/relevant work experience.

Applicants for the Project Assistant post should have an honours degree in one of the said disciplines or an equivalent qualification.

Applicants should also:

(a) have passion in leading and managing stakeholder engagement activities;

(b) have experience in participating in and leading cross-sector, transdisciplinary collaborations;

(c) have an excellent command of both written and spoken English and Chinese, with fluency in Putonghua being an advantage;

(d) have excellent research and interpersonal skills to uncover user needs and identify service gaps;

(e) be competent in using the Adobe Creative Suite, with proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp and Rhino being a distinct advantage; and

(f) be adaptable, proactive, be able to multi-task and work under pressure.

Applicants MUST submit (a) curriculum vitae; (b) a portfolio demonstrating his/her relevant skills and experience to deliver the projects (10MB maximum); (c) one English and one Chinese writing samples; and (d) reference letters (if applicable).

Applicants are invited to contact Miss Nancy Chuenchai at Tel no. 3400 3433 or email disi.recruit@polyu.edu.hk for further information.

Conditions of Service

A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered.