Planner : Urban Design & Community Planning

Description

Planner I - Rochester, NY

Rochester, NY offers a strong setting for planning and community design work, with ongoing needs around land use, neighborhood development, transportation, public spaces, environmental planning, and community revitalization. This role gives an early-career planner the opportunity to contribute to projects that shape the region's communities and built environment.

As a Planner I at Fisher Associates, you will support multidisciplinary teams delivering planning, placemaking, community design, and environmental planning services for public- and private-sector clients. You will contribute to research, analysis, mapping, graphics, technical documentation, public engagement, and project coordination under the direction of Project Managers and senior professionals.

This is an opportunity to build practical planning experience while developing your technical, visual, communication, and project delivery skills. You will have visibility into a range of planning initiatives and work alongside professionals across disciplines while helping translate community and client goals into actionable plans.

What You'll Do

• Conduct research, data collection, basic analysis, and statistical tasks related to planning and community development projects.
• Analyze land use, zoning, development patterns, demographic information, transportation systems, and community conditions.
• Assist with comprehensive plans, master plans, corridor studies, community plans, development studies, and other planning initiatives.
• Support land use, urban design, community design, and placemaking recommendations through research, mapping, graphics, and other visual materials.
• Review and interpret zoning codes, development regulations, planning policies, and related ordinances, including support for municipal entitlement processes.
• Assist with SEQRA, EIS, NEPA, and related environmental planning documentation and research.
• Support public meetings, stakeholder meetings, workshops, advisory committees, surveys, presentations, reports, grant applications, and other project deliverables.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, Community Planning, Regional Planning, Urban Design, Environmental Planning, or a related field from an accredited university.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
• Proficiency with or demonstrated ability to learn ArcGIS / GIS.
• Proficiency with or demonstrated ability to learn Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Proficiency with or demonstrated ability to learn Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time-management skills.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines, manage multiple assignments and priorities, and take ownership of assigned work.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2–5 years of relevant professional experience, with consideration given to candidates with strong internship, studio, or academic project experience.
• Master's degree in planning, Urban Design, or a related field.
• Experience with planning, urban design, community development, environmental planning, or public engagement.
• Experience with Sketch Up or other 3D visualization software.
• Understanding of Smart Growth, walkability, mixed-use development, public realm, sustainable development, and community design principles.
• Experience with data visualization, mapping, graphic communication, and presentation development.

Why Join Fisher

• Shape meaningful infrastructure, environmental, and community outcomes through work that has visible local and regional impact.
• Grow in a collaborative culture where accessible leaders welcome ideas, feedback, ownership, and professional development.
• Build your career through mentorship, technical learning, leadership opportunities, and exposure to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Thrive in a flexible, team-driven environment that values quality, accountability, work-life balance, and long-term success.

Compensation + Benefits

Salary range: $67,000-$74,000

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Company-paid life and disability insurance.
• Hybrid work schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and strong work-life balance.
• Shareholders program, professional development opportunities and reimbursement, supplemental benefits, and employee groups focused on community, inclusion, and employee voice.

Location Flexibility

This role is aligned to the Rochester, NY market for planning, placemaking,…