El Paso or San Antonio, TX (preferred)

Able City is a Texas based firm that integrates architecture, planning, urban design, economic development, and community engagement to enable cities to respond effectively to their challenges and opportunities.

We focus our work on contributing to the equitable evolution of cities by helping citizens define quality of life and responding to these community needs through our proven methodologies, planning, and design work.  We have a passionate office culture centered around our company’s value proposition to make cities great places for everyone.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, skilled, experienced, and creative professional planner/urban designer that strengthens our culture and will be a lead contributor in our planning and urban design projects that include some high profile catalytic projects. 

As senior personnel, this person will focus on and manage projects on land use regulation, housing initiatives, mobility and corridor plans, and comprehensive and master plans that strengthen communities.  

Functions

• Lead and Manage projects dealing with comprehensive plans, land use studies, neighborhood master plans, corridor transportation plans, municipal planning project, and other development codes/ordinances. 
• Thorough knowledge of GIS software and its application for plans mentioned above.
• Develops outlines for review for plans mentioned above.
• Serves as primary client liaison and manages the project team to design, program, facilitate, and manage projects and ensure final deliverables.
• Leads and Prepares project documents, reports, technical plans, and illustrations.
• Conducts research and prepares statistical reports on land use, physical, social & economic issues.
• Understands and can be lead coordinator for transportation plans, studies and analyses.
• Works in regional program areas relating to natural/water resources planning, community development, hazard mitigation, coastal zone management and others similar related projects.
• Presents reports and other findings to planning and zoning boards and commissions, and elected officials.
• Attends, leads, and facilitates evening and weekend meetings as necessary.
• Supervises more junior planners within the organization.
• Verify that projects and policies are in compliance with state, county, and local code, ordinances, and regulations. 
• Write ordinances and regulations relating to zoning, subdivision, and other development regulations.
• Assist in reviewing development proposals (RFPs/RFQs) and provide necessary information to complete proposals.
• Assist in the authoring of in-house planning assets such as: model libraries, graphic templates and standards, presentations, policy and ordinance libraries.

Knowledge Base

• Advanced knowledge of the philosophies, principals, practices & techniques of planning.
• Well-developed knowledge of one or more planning disciplines, such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, form-based codes, historic preservation or economic development.
• Demographics and economics data research in support of development activities such as market studies.  
• Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection.
• Knowledge and experience in construction processes.
• Knowledge and experience managing projects, subconsultants, and staff. 
• Effective and great writing skills. 
• Effective communication skills to include experience presenting in front of various audiences. 
• Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Google Suite, Internet applications econometric or transportation modeling, and database management.
• GIS programs and applications.
• Modeling and illustration software applications such as AutoCAD, Lumion, Twinmotion, SketchUp, Adobe Suite. 

Typical Skills 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected/appointed officials or other decision-makers.
• Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well- defined planning problems.
• Knowledge of urban design processes and principles.
• Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops.
• Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously.
• Ability to provide effective supervision and staff management.
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines.
• Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities.

Preferred qualities

• Passionate about affecting change at the local level; committed to empowering citizens — especially those who have been historically marginalized by the planning process — to steer and shape their city’s future.
• Ability to work with a diverse team.
• Detail-oriented and technical, yet experienced enough to see the big picture.
• Flexible and able to adapt to rapidly changing project requirements and deadlines.
• Confidence facilitating in-person and virtual public participation activities.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in planning-related fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering, or public policy.  Master’s in planning-related fields preferred.
• At least 6 years of experience.
• Experience with land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, and economic development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Project Management experience. 
• Out of town travel is sometimes required and attending meetings in the evenings and weekends will be required.
• AICP certification preferred.
• CNU Accreditation preferred.
• US citizen or US resident with permission to work in the US 

Salary Range

$75K – $85K

plus 100 % contributions to health insurance plan and access to 401k plan