Senior Planning Project Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Are you an experienced planning professional who wants to lead meaningful projects, build lasting relationships, and help communities navigate growth, change, and opportunity?

We are seeking an innovative and driven Senior Community Planner / Project Manager to join our growing Planning & Economic Development team.

Why Ayres?

At Ayres, you’ll help shape communities, mentor emerging professionals, and contribute to the growth of a nationally respected multidisciplinary firm. We are a US Today Top Workplace for a reason! We believe great planning happens through collaboration. You’ll work alongside economic development specialists, designers, environmental scientists, and engineers to deliver practical solutions that communities can implement with confidence.

You’ll find meaningful work, professional growth opportunities, supportive teammates, and the flexibility to build a rewarding long-term career.

Join Ayres – a USA TODAY Top Workplace recognized in both 2025 and 2026 – where people-first leadership, collaboration, and professional growth create an environment where great teams do their best work.

Your Impact and Role

As a Senior Community Planner / Project Manager, you will help communities navigate their most important opportunities and challenges. You will lead projects, foster strong client relationships, mentor staff, and contribute to the continued growth of our planning practice.

Success in this role is defined by your ability to blend technical planning expertise with project leadership, strategic thinking, and exceptional client service. You will work closely with local governments, non-profit organizations, regional agencies, and community partners while collaborating with multidisciplinary professionals across Ayres.

This position provides an opportunity to lead a diverse portfolio of projects including comprehensive plans, housing studies, economic development strategies, downtown revitalization efforts, corridor and area plans, redevelopment initiatives, brownfield revitalization efforts, development regulations, and implementation programs.

On Any Given Day, You Will

• Lead projects from initiation through completion, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, quality management, and client communication.
• Manage a diverse portfolio of projects serving local governments, non-profits, special districts, and other community partners.
• Develop and oversee plans, studies, analyses, presentations, and implementation strategies that help communities achieve their goals.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, stakeholder discussions, and public engagement activities that build understanding and consensus.
• Collaborate with community leaders, staff, elected officials, boards, commissions, and stakeholders to develop practical solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary staff across the firm.
• Support redevelopment and revitalization initiatives, including brownfield assessment, reuse planning, funding strategy development, and implementation efforts.
• Translate technical information into clear, accessible recommendations and deliverables for diverse audiences.
• Lead or support business development activities including proposal preparation, project interviews, scope development, and client relationship management.
• Mentor emerging planners and contribute to a collaborative team culture focused on continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Participate in professional organizations and industry activities such as APA, ULI, Main Street, CNU, and related planning and economic development organizations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Community/Urban Planning, Regional Planning, or a closely related field.
• Eight (8) or more years of professional planning experience, or a combination of closely related experience with government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects for local governments, public agencies, or community organizations.
• Strong knowledge of community planning principles, land use, growth management, community engagement, housing, economic development, and implementation strategies.
• Experience managing project scopes, budgets, schedules, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to build and maintain positive client relationships.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to conduct and oversee qualitative and quantitative research and analysis.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and quality.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team environment.
• Valid driver's license with a good driving record.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in Community/Urban Planning or a related field.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
• Experience leading comprehensive plans, housing studies, economic development strategies, downtown plans, corridor studies, area plans, small area plans, redevelopment initiatives, or land use regulation updates.
• Experience facilitating public meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Experience supporting brownfield revitalization, redevelopment planning, EPA Brownfields programs, grant writing, or other community development funding initiatives.
• Experience with grant funding strategies, grant administration, and implementation programs.
• Working knowledge of local government operations, processes, and decision-making structures.
• Familiarity with GIS, graphic communication, visualization tools, and public engagement platforms.
• Experience developing scopes of work, preparing proposals, participating in project interviews, and supporting client development efforts.
• Interest in contributing to thought leadership, professional organizations, and advancing planning best practices.

Benefits of being part of the Ayres team

• Health, dental, and vision Insurance.
• Short and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and 401K with company match.
• PTO, paid holidays including two floating holidays, and a flexible work schedule.
• Professional development opportunities.

Please note, benefits vary depending on job status. To learn more about our great benefits, visit our website at -ayres-advantage/