Master Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Master Planner – Architecture | Atlanta, GA | Permanent

Step into a pivotal leadership role as our Master Planner and shape city-defining projects across the Southeast. Based in Atlanta, you will lead complex master planning efforts from vision to implementation, guiding multidisciplinary teams and partnering directly with senior stakeholders. This is a high-impact role designed for an experienced planning professional who thrives at the intersection of design excellence, data-driven strategy, and client leadership. Candidates will see tangible career growth, portfolio elevation, and meaningful work-life balance in a supportive, design-forward environment.

Why this role is a career accelerator

• Elevate your portfolio with marquee mixed-use, higher-ed, and civic master plans that become reference work across Atlanta and beyond.
• Lead end-to-end planning—visioning, research, frameworks, entitlement strategy, and phasing—so your decisions directly shape outcomes.
• Partner closely with firm leadership and clients, gaining exposure that fast-tracks influence and title progression.
• Enjoy a flexible, people-first culture with resources to do your best work: robust design tech, research support, and dedicated marketing.
• Competitive total rewards: strong base salary, 401(k) with match, medical/dental/vision from day one, paid parental leave, generous PTO, professional development stipend, AICP/NCARB support, licensure/registration reimbursement, transit/parking benefits, and hybrid work flexibility.

What you will do

• Lead master planning engagements from pursuit to delivery: set vision, define goals/KPIs, and translate research into compelling frameworks.
• Direct urban design strategies—land use, density, mobility, streetscapes, open space networks, and blue/green infrastructure.
• Build implementable plans: pro formas at a planning level, phasing, infrastructure sequencing, entitlement and zoning pathways.
• Craft high-impact narratives and visuals: diagrams, frameworks, 3D massing, and presentation decks tailored to executive and community audiences.
• Manage client relationships, facilitate stakeholder and public meetings, and align diverse interests toward consensus and approvals.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams (architecture, landscape, transportation, sustainability, economic advisory) to deliver integrated solutions.
• Assure quality across deliverables—technical accuracy, graphic excellence, and clear storytelling that drives decisions.
• Mentor planners and designers, fostering a collaborative studio culture centered on learning, feedback, and growth.
• Support business development: strategy for pursuits, writing and reviewing proposals, level-of-effort scoping, and fee development.

What you bring

• 8–15 years of experience in master planning/urban design within the architecture industry, including leadership of large, complex projects.
• Direct experience in either multifamily or retail development contexts, with a track record aligning planning strategies to market realities in these sectors.
• Professional degree in Architecture, Urban Design, or Planning; advanced degree preferred. AICP and/or architectural licensure a plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in land use frameworks, mobility planning, development phasing, infrastructure coordination, and entitlement strategy.
• Fluency in communicating value—linking design moves to market demand, financial feasibility, and long-term operations.
• Portfolio that shows built or adopted master plans, mixed-use districts, campus plans, or comparable large-scale work in or adjacent to Atlanta markets.
• Tools: Revit or Archicad familiarity; strong Adobe CC; GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS); SketchUp/Rhino; Enscape/Lumion; and data/diagramming proficiency.
• Exceptional client leadership, facilitation, writing, and presentation skills; comfortable in executive rooms and public forums.
• A growth mindset—curious, proactive, and energized by mentoring talent and building lasting client partnerships.

Compensation and benefits designed for you

• Competitive base aligned to Atlanta market data.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one; HSA/FSA options.
• Paid parental leave.
• Generous PTO with paid holidays.
• Hybrid work flexibility, modern Atlanta studio, transit/parking benefits.
• Professional growth funding: conferences, AIA/AICP dues, licensure support, and structured mentorship.

Work environment

• Collaborative, design-centered studio with interdisciplinary partners embedded in project teams.
• Research-informed process leveraging data, human experience, and environmental performance.
• Tools, templates, and production support so leaders can focus on strategy, design quality, and client outcomes.

Location

• Atlanta, GA. This role is hybrid with regular in-studio collaboration and local site/client meetings. Limited travel for regional pursuits and presentations as needed.