Senior Planner

Join our team Our mission is BUILDING COMMUNITIES. IMPROVING LIVES. With a history spanning over 110 years, HR Green has consistently delivered on this mission, establishing ourselves as trusted partners for colleagues, clients, and communities alike. Each day, we work to find solutions that inspire our employees and fit our clients' needs, that build trust to exceed expectations. As an industry leader, we're proud to be ranked No. 168 on Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms in 2025. Our unwavering dedication to cultivating an exceptional workplace environment has earned us the distinguished honor of being recognized as a Best Place to Work.

Summary

The Senior Planner plays a critical role by leading the delivery of complex and often multi-jurisdictional planning projects. This role provides strategic direction, mentors junior staff, and contributes to thought leadership within the organization. The Senior Planner is also responsible for managing client relationships, identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, and representing the firm in high-level stakeholder and public meetings. With advanced expertise in planning and policy, the Senior Planner plays a crucial role in shaping long-term community visions and development strategies at local, regional, and national levels.

The Senior Planner will also lead long-range planning, infrastructure resilience, and readiness efforts for defense communities around the country. This role combines civilian planning best practices (comprehensive plans, zoning, land use) with Department of Defense (DoD) requirements, base master planning, environmental compliance, interagency coordination, and local/regional planning authorities. Preference working with the DoD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). The ideal candidate combines deep planning expertise with military installation operations, readiness, and regulatory frameworks. This role provides strategic direction, mentors junior staff, and contributes to thought leadership within the organization. The Senior Planner is also responsible for managing client relationships, identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, and representing the firm in high-level stakeholder and public meetings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex planning projects, providing strategic direction and technical oversight from concept through execution
• Collaborate with Project Managers to develop scopes, fees, and contracts that align with client expectations and project goals
• Serve as a subject matter expert, conducting in-depth research and analysis with defense communities conducting compatibility planning, development, and land management trends, land use, and demographic and economic indicators to inform data-driven planning solutions.
• Design and lead stakeholder engagement and facilitation initiatives to foster transparent, inclusive planning processes that incorporate stakeholder input
• Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships by anticipating needs and delivering thoughtful, customized planning solutions
• Represent HR Green at client/stakeholder meetings, industry conferences, and professional events to promote our expertise and expand our presence
• Contribute to thought leadership by publishing articles, presenting at conferences, and engaging with professional organizations
• Mentor junior and mid-level planning staff, offering technical guidance and career development support
• Assist with resource planning and staff assignments to ensure effective project delivery
• Provide detailed quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) for technical planning deliverables to ensure consistency, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and high-quality outcomes
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, support proposal development, and actively build a pipeline of future projects

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Design, or a related field from an accredited institution. Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience predominantly in the private sector, leading and managing complex planning projects across a variety of sectors, including defense community compatibility planning and military installation resilience/readiness planning
• Proven leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to mentor teams and guide project direction
• In-depth knowledge of defense community compatibility planning and military installation resilience/readiness planning, community planning, urban design, transportation planning, land use, economic development, and environmental planning
• Experience working with military leadership and planners, federal agencies, including the Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), state agencies, and demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams
• Proficiency in software such as Microsoft Office Suite, GIS, and Adobe Creative Suite. Knowledge/desire to learn/use new technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a strategic, detail-oriented approach
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas to a range of audiences, including clients, stakeholders, and the public
• Effective project management capabilities, including budget oversight, task prioritization, and schedule/deadline management
• Active American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred
• Willingness to travel nationally and possibly to U.S. Territories
• Ability to obtain and maintain required background security clearance (if needed)

Benefits

Not only does HR Green provide you with a place to grow, thrive, and enjoy your work, but we are also dedicated to delivering a comprehensive and multi-faceted benefits package. Visit our website for detailed total rewards information.

https://www.hrgreen.com/careers/benefits/

HR Green is proud to be an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

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