Project Planner

Job Description:

Overview

The Project Planner leads and supports planning and design efforts for land-use, community planning, and municipal projects from concept through implementation. This role combines planning knowledge, advanced GIS and spatial analysis capabilities, research, writing, public engagement support, and interdisciplinary coordination to deliver high-quality planning solutions that comply with applicable regulations and meet client expectations.

This position serves as a key technical contributor within the planning team, with a specialized focus on GIS-based data sourcing, analysis, mapping, visualization, and presentation. Efficiently collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing community and project specific data is a core responsibility. The Project Planner works closely with project managers, planners, engineers, landscape architects, environmental professionals, clients, agencies, and stakeholders to translate technical findings into clear planning recommendations, implementation strategies, and client-ready deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support planning and design tasks for land-use and comprehensive plans, transportation corridors, streetscapes, recreation masterplans,  park design, downtown revitalization, and other community-based projects from conceptualization through implementation.
• Conduct site, community, and spatial analysis, including land suitability, existing conditions, environmental constraints, infrastructure, demographic, parcel, zoning, and market-related data analysis.
• Use GIS to source, organize, analyze, manage, and present spatial data in support of planning studies, public engagement, decision-making, and implementation strategies.
• Prepare and contribute to comprehensive planning documents, zoning analyses, policy assessments, design guidelines, implementation strategies, technical memoranda, exhibits, maps, dashboards, and presentations.
• Develop GIS-based workflows, mapping standards, datasets, and presentation formats that improve planning team efficiency, consistency, and competitiveness.
• Collaborate with engineering, landscape architecture, environmental, survey, transportation, and other technical teams to integrate multidisciplinary inputs into cohesive planning deliverables.
• Translate GIS analysis and technical findings into clear narratives, recommendations, graphics, and implementation actions for clients, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior staff members on planning research, GIS tools, mapping, data management, graphics, documentation, and quality standards.
• Support project managers with scope development, schedules, deliverable coordination, budget awareness, and quality control for planning and GIS-related tasks.
• Coordinate and participate in community engagement efforts, public meetings, client meetings, agency coordination, and stakeholder workshops.
• Stay current on zoning, environmental, land-use policy, community planning, GIS, and data visualization best practices.
• Contribute to business development efforts by supporting proposals, project approaches, graphics, exhibits, and demonstrations of GIS-informed planning capabilities.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Community/Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Geography, GIS, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Planning, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in planning, GIS, community development, land-use analysis, municipal consulting, or a related professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience applying GIS tools and spatial analysis to planning, community-based work, municipal projects, environmental planning, infrastructure planning, or land-use studies.
• Advanced proficiency with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, spatial data management, cartographic production, and related geospatial tools.
• Experience preparing maps, exhibits, planning graphics, reports, presentations, dashboards, or other visual materials for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Working knowledge of planning principles, zoning and land-use regulations, environmental considerations, public-sector planning processes, and community engagement practices.
• Ability to contribute to planning research, analysis, alternatives evaluation, recommendations, implementation strategies, and document production.
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, visual, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently, work independently, coordinate across disciplines, and contribute effectively within a team environment.
• Ability to mentor junior staff and support quality, consistency, and timely delivery of planning and GIS-related work.
• Progress toward AICP certification preferred.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, ESRI ArcGIS suite, MapInfo, Cadcorp, Fulcrum GIS Utility Mapping, SketchUp, Microsoft Office, data visualization tools, or other relevant planning/design software preferred.

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants for Pape-Dawson Engineers will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.