Job Description

Senior Urban Design Project Manager

The Senior Urban Design Project Manager at Smith Gee Studio (SGS) is a licensed design professional or certified planner (e.g., AIA, AICP, LEED) responsible for leading complex urban design and master planning projects for both public and private sector clients. This role blends creative leadership, project management, and strategic stakeholder engagement with a passion for sustainable and people-focused urban design. The position requires fluency in smart growth, traditional neighborhood design, zoning, entitlements, and form-based code development. The Senior Urban Design PM plays a pivotal role in client success, internal team development, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership

• Lead the conceptual design, graphics, publications, and deliverables across multiple urban design projects.
• Translate urban strategies into actionable design outcomes aligned with budget and stakeholder vision.
• Set and uphold high-quality standards in drawing, visuals, and narrative storytelling for master plans.

Project & Team Management

• Oversee team capacity, schedules, and scope execution to ensure projects meet goals and budgets.
• Coordinate staffing needs and resource alignment with studio leadership and cross-discipline teams.
• Monitor and manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously with a focus on clarity and accountability.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

• Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with clients, civic leaders, and project stakeholders.
• Lead or support community outreach processes including charrettes, public meetings, and visioning sessions.
• Communicate effectively across various personalities to maintain collaboration and project alignment.

Operational Excellence

• Prepare proposals, work plans, and schedules for new and ongoing urban design efforts.
• Support interdepartmental coordination and lead process improvements within the Urban Design Team.
• Contribute to business development initiatives and client retention strategies as needed.

Quality Assurance

• Conduct drawing and deliverable reviews prior to Quality Management Team submittals.
• Maintain high standards of technical precision and creative integrity across all touchpoints.
• Coach teams on best practices and quality documentation procedures.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, or related field. Industry credentials (e.g., AICP, AIA, LEED) preferred.

Experience: Minimum 8 years of experience in urban design and planning, including project and team leadership.

Skills: Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, AutoCAD, hand drawing, Office, and cloud collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace). Strong presentation, public speaking, and facilitation skills.

Attributes: Collaborative, organized, visionary, and people-centered with a strong design ethos and mentoring mindset.

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