Senior Associate

The Position Cascadia Partners seeks a Senior Associate with deep technical skills in spatial and quantitative analysis. The ideal candidate brings expertise in GIS and data analysis, strong visual storytelling instincts, and the project leadership to manage budgets, direct junior staff, and drive deliverables across multiple concurrent projects. Working knowledge of land use planning, zoning, and urban planning frameworks is expected. What You’ll Work On This role sits at the intersection of rigorous data analysis and consequential planning decisions. You will frame analytical approaches, lead technical production, and translate findings into clear stories for clients, elected officials, and the public. Work ranges from a parcel-scale pro form to a regional housing needs methodology — often on the same project team. Representative Technical Tasks Parcel-level zoning capacity modeling — Quantify the development potential unlocked by a rezoning proposal across thousands of parcels; brief city councils on the housing supply implications. Pro forma–driven housing policy testing — Build financial feasibility models to test whether proposed density bonuses, fee waivers, or inclusionary requirements actually pencile for the development types a city wants to produce. Housing affordability incentive calibration — Model the tradeoffs between affordability depth and unit count to help clients design incentive programs that maximize impact. Displacement and vulnerability analysis — Build the spatial story that determines where a city should prioritize anti-displacement investment and policy protection. Future land use scenario creation and modeling — Translate growth projections and policy alternatives into mapped, quantified futures that feed comprehensive plans and regional frameworks. Housing needs analyses and community data profiles — Synthesize demographic, economic, and housing market data into the baseline documents that drive statewide housing planning requirements. Middle housing financial feasibility assessment — Evaluate whether middle housing types (duplexes, triplexes, cottage clusters) are financially viable under current code conditions — and what it would take to change that. Parks and open space walkshed analysis — Assess equitable access to parks and green infrastructure at the neighborhood and citywide scale. Our Work Cascadia Partners is a multidisciplinary planning and urban design consultancy headquartered in Portland, OR. Our team of ~25 works on 40–50 projects annually — citywide comprehensive plans, neighborhood master plans, housing policy, zoning code reform, scenario planning, and real estate feasibility studies. We work across the country, at scales from a single corridor to an entire region, and we focus on plans that actually get built. Our Values We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team and in our work. We offer professional development stipends, frequent internal skill-building, every other Friday off, and 4 weeks starting paid vacation. Position Details You will serve as project manager and task leader across data-driven spatial planning projects — neighborhood master plans, transit-oriented corridor studies, regional plans, and real estate feasibility studies. Responsibilities include defining project approaches, managing technical production, coordinating subconsultants, and maintaining budgets. You will also be expected to synthesize complex analyses into polished, client-ready presentations and public-facing documents. Our projects are geographically and topically diverse. You will manage work in major cities, fast-growing regions, and small towns — developing deep expertise across housing markets, land use systems, and planning frameworks that most consultants never encounter in one place. Required Qualifications 4+ years of professional experience in urban planning, data analysis, geography, public policy, or a related field. Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Data Science, Geography, Real Estate, Economics, or a related field. Project Management: Demonstrated success managing projects and people — budgets, client meetings, and on-time, on-scope delivery. Spatial Thinking & GIS: Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS); ability to apply spatial reasoning to complex planning problems. Research & Data Sourcing: Ability to frame rigorous research questions and identify appropriate data and methods to answer them. Quantitative Reasoning: Fluency with quantitative and statistical concepts; ability to accurately interpret data, identify its limitations, and apply it to evidence-based decision-making. Technical Aptitude: Capacity to quickly learn and implement new tools and methodologies in a fast-paced environment. Land Use Planning: Working knowledge of land use theory, zoning regulations, and planning frameworks. Data Storytelling: Skill in translating multi-source, multi-type data analysis into compelling, actionable narratives for non-technical audiences. Communication: Clear, concise presenter — comfortable in client briefings and public settings. Desirable Qualifications Programming: Proficiency in R or Python for tabular and spatial data manipulation and mapping. AI Integration: Experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude) to automate workflows, accelerate data processing, or improve analytical efficiency. Work Location Preference for candidates based in Oregon or SW Washington; fully remote candidates will be considered. Portland metro–based staff work in our Pearl District office 2 days per week. Travel to client locations required (approximately once every 1–3 months). #J-18808-Ljbffr NCSL International