Principal-level Urban Planner​/Designer

Principal-level Urban Planner/Designer - (51)

Job Title

Principal-level Urban Planner/Designer

Location

Santa Ana, CA - US (Primary)

Category

Job Type

Full-time Exempt

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Travel

Job Description

Job Description:

Place Works is seeking a full-time, experienced urban planner/designer to lead and expand the established Urban Planning and Design Practice Area in our Orange County office. We are seeking an individual with 10-15+ years of urban planning and design experience, ideally working for private-sector consulting firms, though public-sector experience may also qualify. In this position, you will have the opportunity to build on our portfolio of work in urban revitalization and development, working for both public- and private-sector clients, and will be expected to leverage your relationships and increase the visibility of Place Works’ design capabilities by winning new projects that complement the goals of Place Works and the firm's Design Team.

You will also be expected to mentor less experienced, aspiring professionals into leadership positions.

Our Design Team works in a cross-disciplinary, collaborative environment across multiple office locations on projects where urban design and site planning are integral components. Our work covers all types of urban infill and revitalization, including corridor and downtown revitalization, transit area planning, mall conversions, industrial area transition, residential infill, and objective design standards. Typical work includes preparing Specific Plans, Master Plans, visioning packages, site concepts, urban design analyses, active transportation and streetscape recommendations, design guidelines, and zoning recommendations.

In addition, our General Plan practice often requires urban design and form-based components as part of larger General Plan updates. An understanding of the real estate market, entitlement, and California laws related to planning and housing is important.

This is an Associate Principal-level or Principal-level position. Our firm's Associate Principals and Principals are perceived as innovators, thought leaders, and influencers in the industry. They also have a demonstrated ability to successfully lead, manage, and oversee staff, complex projects, high-level presentations, strategic marketing, business development, and client relations—all of which are key competencies the ideal candidate must possess.

You’re most likely a fit if:

• You are creative with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset, who can maintain a sense of camaraderie, and are passionate about urban planning and design work.
• You have at least 10 years of related work experience and project management experience.
• Managing multiple projects is second nature, and you have successfully overseen and coordinated major components of planning and design projects of all sizes within budget and schedule. Project management responsibilities include, but are not limited to, leading proposal strategy and preparation, budget development and management, staff and subconsultant coordination, team leadership, schedule oversight, billing and financial review, contract negotiation and administration, client communication, quality assurance/quality control, and stakeholder and community engagement.
• You are experienced in winning new clients and projects for the firms you have worked with and feel comfortable as a leader in the process of business development.
• You are experienced with preparing and providing direction for the scope and content of planning documents.
• You understand residential, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial products being built in California.
• You’re a highly motivated self-starter who can work both independently and in a dynamic, highly collaborative environment, including a hybrid work environment with regular in-office collaboration (minimum two days per week) and flexibility for remote work as needed. You are a good listener and have excellent verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to effectively engage clients, agency staff, stakeholders, and the public in a professional and confident manner.
• You are…