Otak, Inc., an award-winning multidisciplinary firm, is hiring a Senior Planner and Project Manager of planning projects for our practice in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The position will be based in our Redmond, Washington office. You will work in a highly collaborative team environment on a variety of urban planning, long range and current planning projects for public and private sector clients.
We are looking for a highly organized, communicative and creative urban and land use planner, with a strong background in project management to help lead a variety of planning projects and mentor collaborative teams from inception to completion. The ideal candidate will be passionate and experienced with projects related to long range plans, comprehensive plans, subarea and neighborhood plans, code review and writing, public involvement and community engagement, permitting, environmental analysis, current planning and development review, and other similar assignments. We have a preference for candidates who are knowledgeable about Washington State’s Growth Management Act and Department of Commerce planning requirements.
Come join our great team and growing Planning & Landscape Architecture practice where sustainable and practical plans and designs enhance livability, equity, economic vitality, and accessibility for years to come!
What you’ll do:
- Support and lead a variety of planning, analytical, and research tasks including leading projects and project tasks.
- Take on the role of project manager and coordinate and interact with a variety of clients, members of the public, and diverse project interests and develop effective and engaging public and stakeholder involvement plans.
- Write and prepare plans, studies, staff reports, environmental analysis documents, land use code/design guidelines, and other publications.
- Provide support and lead development of long-range plans for local communities including comprehensive plans, subarea plans, neighborhood and district plans, corridor plans, or plans and assignments.
- Develop, lead, and facilitate public involvement and community engagement programs that offer a wide variety of interactive tools and methods to meaningfully engage the public and diverse interests in planning projects.
- Process entitlement documents including planning/zoning code analysis, performing technical and/or environmental review on behalf of clients, preparing application materials, and conducting feasibility-level analysis of code requirements.
- Oversee and develop mapping and analysis referencing GIS, geographic layers.
- Oversee the development of and develop analytical charts and tables, info graphics, and other types of graphic support to a wide variety of interdisciplinary projects.
- Collaborate with and mentor other planning team members, including planners and other disciplinary experts, in the development of plans and completion of other assignments.
As a project manager, you will regularly:
- Serve as the primary project contact on behalf of Otak and primary project partners.
- Lead regular project communications with all project partners and diverse interests, including City departmental staff, elected and appointed members of councils, commissions, and boards, community groups, local businesses, residents, other agencies and service providers.
- Develop and maintain project work plans including budgets, schedules, and tracking of all associated deliverables in conjunction with workload planning.
- Oversee and support production of project deliverables as needed.
- Lead and/or support digital and in-person, on-site engagement activities.
- Collaborate with other team members from Otak and our subconsultants and partners, as well as client teams on a variety of planning tasks.
- Lead project pursuits, business development, and marketing efforts, including proposal writing, developing interview presentations and leading interviews, developing budgets and schedules, and other related tasks.
What you’ll bring:
- Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in urban planning, land use planning, urban design or a related field.
- 5 to 10+ years of experience working in the field of urban/land use planning with an emphasis on experience working on projects for public agencies.
- Experience completing a variety of planning tasks, as well as leading and mentoring teams on planning projects on the development of written content, research and analysis, environmental documents, maps, graphics, engagement materials, presentations, staff reports, code amendments, and other products.
- Experience working in the State of Washington planning context, including GMA, SEPA, and SMA, as well as experience with regional and countywide land use and urban planning policies and initiatives.
- Experience aligning plans with Puget Sound Region and County plans (desirable).
- Knowledge of city and county plans, policies, zoning codes, applicable codes, and implications on planning and design.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills, including strong QA/QC abilities, and the ability to present planning and design concepts to the client, community, and others through compelling presentations and storytelling.
- Experience successfully managing complex planning projects, including managing sub-consultant teams, supervising planning work by other staff, providing technical feedback, and maintaining project plans, schedules, and budgets, in conjunction with workload planning.
- Experience leading business development efforts, including proposal writing and strategy, developing budgets, and leading interviews.
- Experience working with ArcGIS programs, as well as the MS Office and Adobe Creative Suite programs, Sketch-Up, and other graphic programs. Note: fluency in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, GIS, and InDesign is required.
- AICP certification (or on track to pursue) and active in APA (preferred).
Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications, and work location as well as market and business considerations.
Salary Range: $90,000 - $135,000 per year
Benefits
At our core, we believe that supporting our communities begins with supporting our employees. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, we have a comprehensive total rewards program to enhance your quality of life, help support your family, and assist you in achieving your personal and professional goals. Otak employees enjoy competitive salaries; discretionary performance bonuses; no-cost medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, HRA/HSA; a 401(k)-retirement match that is 100% vested immediately; a hybrid work schedule; Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual based on your industry experience rather than your seniority plus 9 paid holidays per year; a commuter allowance (based on your office location); support for your professional registration and/or certification fees; and much more! If you are out of the area and interested in relocating for this opportunity, relocation assistance may be provided. The successful candidate for this position may be eligible for a signing bonus!
Why work at Otak? Watch this short video: Our Why
We’re not just looking for skills and experience, having shared values is just as important! When you work at Otak, you aren’t just joining a firm — you’re joining a community. We believe our best work happens in a culture of collaboration and inclusion, where the expertise of diverse individuals can thrive in a foundation of teamwork. The work environment we create is built on a simple concept: working on interesting projects with interesting people. However, we don’t just believe in cultivating our own community; we’re also committed to enriching the communities around us with smart, creative solutions. We know our employees make an investment in us, so we’re committed to making an investment in them. Seasoned experts and young professionals work together to encourage personal growth and skill development at all experience levels. Plus, we’re expanding — and we’re dedicated to developing an internal infrastructure with the strength and talent to support that growth.
Equal Opportunity
Otak is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. The Equal Opportunity policy at Otak, Inc. provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, nation origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, protected veteran status or disability or any other status(es) protected by law. Otak ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and mandatory supplements to EEO (revisions).
At Otak, we recognize that inclusion is a practice and we are determined to lead our industry by embedding that practice into our work. Cultivating an inclusive workplace environment is ongoing and consistent work, requiring dedication and commitment from every member of the organization. This commitment is reflected in Otak’s promise to significantly increase employee diversity, impact the communities in which we work, and establish ongoing relationships within these communities.
Otak’s Vision for an Inclusive Environment includes the following:
- We embrace diverse identities, and willingly engage across difference
- All employees can experience the workplace safely and show up as their authentic selves
- Fostering unique perspectives and an open exchange of ideas
- Engaging one another with curiosity rather than judgment
- Relationships are built on mutual trust, dignity, and respect
- If you are a minority, veteran, person with a disability, or a member of the LGBTQA Community, we strongly encourage and welcome you to apply to any open position of interest.
If you want to learn more about Otak, this position, or the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, contact our Human Resources Department at GRPHumanResources@otak.com.
*Please note, Otak is not accepting resumes from 3rd party recruitment agencies at this time.