Senior Planning Lead / Project Manager

Overview

Michael Baker International’s Santa Ana Office has seen significant growth over the past few years.  In support of that success, and to position us for future growth, the Michael Baker is looking for an exceptional person to serve as a Senior Planning Lead/Project Manager (SPL/PM), who will focus on winning and managing great projects, hiring skilled planners, and mentoring staff.  

The SPL/PM will be responsible for leading and assisting with the growth of our robust team of experienced community planners, public engagement professionals, and project managers. The ideal candidate will have experience managing general plan updates, general plan amendments, specific plans, and similar long-range planning projects. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record illustrating drive, intellectual curiosity, commitment to excellence, and a desire to make a difference in the communities we serve. 

The SPL/PM will report to the Planning Department Manager. We are looking for a leader who will participate on the department leadership team, while also collaborating with our counterparts in other regional offices. The SPL/PM will be directly involved with development and implementation of a business strategy. The SPL/PM will help win work, expand our project portfolio and client base (primarily with municipal and state clients across California). As a leader, the SPL/PM will participate in senior managers’ meetings and coordinate with other discipline leads throughout the region and nation. The SPL/PM will also support programs and projects through our nationwide network of planners and will enjoy a diverse workload. 

The ideal candidate will possess extensive connections with targeted client groups including, local municipalities, counties, and state governments, as well as private sector clients. In addition to growing the department through winning new work and hiring associated planning support staff, the SPL/PM will lead task orders as well as independent multi-disciplinary community planning projects. 

The SPL/PM ’s responsibilities will include:

Lead, manage and grow Community Planning work in Santa Ana, CA.
Expand the reach of the Community Planning team through business development efforts, and successful RFP and task order responses.
Foster growth with existing and new clients through exceptional communication, collaboration, and problem solving.
Lead and participate in cross-discipline business development efforts.
Coordinate with planning industry contacts.
Champion high quality planning work within the group.
Perform Project Management for select projects including:Coordinating the facilitation of planning charrettes for clients as both a lead facilitator and as a member of a facilitation team
Coordinating the collection and compilation of a variety of quantitative and qualitative data to prepare reports and maps.
Coordinating and participating in field evaluations and assessments 
Coordinating research of requirements and standards 
Overseeing and providing quality review of reports and templates 
Acting as liaison between government agencies and other organizations in developing plans
Establishing/Implementing project plans/methodologies for complex projects
Maintaining scope, schedule, and budget for all projects. 
Managing financial aspects of projects including invoicing, resource allocation, and project status reporting
Other duties as assigned.

The SPL/PM should possess demonstrable:

Knowledge of planning principals, best practices, & techniques of planning. 
A well-developed knowledge of one or more planning disciplines, such as urban planning, community planning, facilities planning, economic development, or land use.
Ability to constructively teach techniques and planning best practices. 
Knowledge and experience in site plan review, construction, and zoning processes.
Ability to conduct research and prepare statistical planning reports on land use, physical, social & economic possibilities, and constraints. 
Experience and appropriate training in employing strategic planning and long-range planning techniques to develop long and short-range plans. 
Excellent oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and projects.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently as well as in multi-disciplinary teams.
Ability to conceptualize and think creatively.
Ability to manage large and interdisciplinary project teams comprised of internal members across multiple offices as well as subconsultants.
Establish clear lines of communications within project teams and with clients for free flow of information.
Intimate familiarity with client’s requirements, challenges, and key areas of interest for growth.
Ability to properly address and manage change.
Problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

5+ years related experience in professional planning and project management experience.
Four-year degree in Planning or related discipline. Master’s degree in professional planning or related discipline preferred, but not required.
AICP preferred.
Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project).
Familiarity with GIS, Bluebeam Revu and Adobe Suite (Acrobat, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.)
Moderate travel required.

COMPENSATION
The approximate compensation range for this position is $107,921to $169,991.  This compensation range is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting.  Actual compensation is dependent upon factors such as education, qualifications, experience, skillset, and physical work location.

BENEFITS
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:  

Medical, dental, vision insurance  
401K Retirement Plan
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability  
Professional and personal development
Generous paid time off  
Commuter and wellness benefits  

WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY: Whether you want to work in the office, at home, or in a hybrid model, we accommodate a variety of preferences. We recognize our employees face many factors when it comes to selecting the best work location, and we are passionate about providing options and flexibility.