Senior Planner

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire a full-time employee at the Senior level in the Planning Division. We are interested in applicants in the field of planning with advanced planning knowledge in transportation mobility, local governance, and land use planning, with a specialized focus on bicycle and pedestrian planning to support CMAP's long-term planning needs and address current capacity gaps. They understand policies, engineering standards, and urban design principles that prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers. They have experience with how infrastructural changes influence how people travel and can be used to balance the needs of all roadway users, prioritizing safety and efficient mobility.


Successful candidates would be part of a large department and provide technical and professional support for CMAP's long-range comprehensive regional plan, technical assistance program, policy development, research, data analysis, and other activities as assigned to contribute to the agency's mission.


Experience leading and supporting planning projects and initiatives, including scope development, project tracking, and budgeting is preferred. Projects may include, but are not limited to, long-range land use and transportation planning, short-range planning services, policy development, multimodal transportation strategies, plan implementation support for partners, and similar planning activities. Senior planners typically fill project leadership and subject matter expert roles on these projects.


Work is typically performed under the supervision of a Principal Planner. This position requires travel throughout the region and candidates must have the ability and willingness to work with communities across the region.

Education and/or Experience Qualifications

Required is a bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field such as geography, architecture, sociology, public administration, public policy, or environmental science, and the following:

• A minimum 5 years of advancing experience, through professional practice, with urban planning projects including content development, research, advanced data collection and analysis, data mapping, field work, external partner engagement, consultant management, AND minimum 2 years of advancing project management experience is preferred.
• Preferred is a master's degree in planning, public policy, or a related discipline.
• AICP is also preferred

Hiring Range is $77,087.78 - $98,286.78

To be considered for this position please upload a cover letter in PDF format with the file labeled LASTNAMEFIRSTNAME_COVERLETTER_REQ1117.

CMAP employees work a reduced work week of 37.5 hours and a flexible hybrid work schedule at the Old Post Office located at 433 West Van Buren in Chicago, IL. This position is benefit eligible. To learn more about our compensation and benefit offerings please visit our career page here

CMAP is a mission-driven agency serving the 284 municipalities and 7 counties of northeastern Illinois as the region's comprehensive planning organization.