Senior Planner / Urban Designer | Community, Campus & Placemaking

We are seeking a Senior Planner / Urban Designer to join our growing planning practice in either Charlotte, NC or Columbia, SC . This is an exciting opportunity for a creative, collaborative professional who is passionate about placemaking, community engagement, and designing environments that create lasting impact. The ideal candidate brings 5–8+ years of planning or urban design experience and enjoys working across a diverse portfolio that includes local governments, higher education campuses, faith-based organizations, preservation initiatives, and community development projects. You'll collaborate closely with clients, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams while helping shape meaningful places from vision through implementation. Role and Responsibilities • Collaborate with planning leadership to develop and execute planning and urban design projects. • Lead and support master planning, urban design, and community planning initiatives. • Conduct research, site analysis, and planning studies to inform design recommendations. • Facilitate public meetings, workshops, charrettes, and community engagement efforts. • Prepare compelling presentations, graphics, reports, and planning documents. • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, community stakeholders, and public officials. • Support business development efforts and contribute to proposal development. • Travel as needed to support project and client needs. • Contribute to a collaborative, creative, and design-focused studio culture. Experience and Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a related field. • Master's degree preferred. • 5–8+ years of professional planning, urban design, or architecture experience. • Experience working with municipalities, higher education, community development, or campus planning projects preferred. • Strong design, graphic communication, and presentation skills. • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Rhino, CAD and/or Revit; GIS experience is a plus. • Experience with comprehensive plans, design guidelines, zoning, form-based codes, or community planning initiatives preferred. • Excellent written, verbal, and public presentation skills. • Self-starter with the ability to manage multiple projects in a collaborative environment. • AICP certification (or pursuit of certification) or architectural licensure is preferred. Salary and Benefits • Competitive salary commensurate with experience. • Comprehensive benefits package. • Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development. • Collaborative, design-driven studio culture. • Opportunity to shape communities through meaningful planning and urban design projects across the Southeast.