Senior Planner/Urban DesignerLocation: Washington, DC
Firm: Torti Gallas + Partners
Salary: $90,000 - $100,000
Position OverviewTorti Gallas + Partners is seeking a Senior Planner/Urban Designer with 8-10+ years of experience to join the Retail Placemaking team in Washington, DC. This role will work closely with developer clients on dynamic mixed-use environments and thoughtfully designed communities that shape how people live, work, and connect.
The ideal candidate is both a master planner and project planner with strong experience in town center planning, neighborhood planning, and mixed-use development. Experience working within or closely with a design firm is preferred, along with the ability to lead and contribute to planning efforts across a range of project types and scales.
Key Responsibilities- Lead and contribute to master planning and project planning efforts across a range of project scales, from neighborhood developments to large mixed-use and town center destinations.
- Develop planning and urban design concepts for neighborhood planning, town center planning, and mixed-use environments.
- Collaborate with internal teams and clients to develop innovative, market-responsive design solutions.
- Participate in and help lead multi-day design charrettes, translating ideas into clear visual and planning concepts.
- Prepare high-quality graphics, presentations, and planning documents for client meetings and stakeholder engagement.
- Apply principles of urban design, placemaking, and traditional neighborhood development to create cohesive, functional environments.
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including architects, landscape architects, engineers, and other design professionals.
- Support project management efforts, including timelines, deliverables, and client communication.
Qualifications and Skills - Demonstrated strength in master planning, project planning, urban design, and placemaking.
- Experience with town center planning, neighborhood planning, and mixed-use development is required.
- Experience working with a design firm is preferred.
- Strong design sensibility with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative charrette environment.
- Excellent freehand sketching and visual communication skills.
- Solid understanding of urban form, building typologies, and placemaking principles.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
- Working knowledge of SketchUp and AutoCAD.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, high-quality work.
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across teams.
- Familiarity with Revit and ArcGIS is a plus.
Education and Experience - Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Planning, or a related field.
- 8-10+ years of relevant professional experience in master planning, project planning, and urban design.
- Experience working on mixed-use developments, retail environments, and Traditional Neighborhood Design communities is strongly preferred.
- Ability to travel 10-15% for multi-day charrettes, client meetings, and project-related engagements.
Work Environment - This is a full-time, in-office position with opportunities to participate in multi-day, collaborative design charrettes.
Compensation and Professional Growth - Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
- Collaborative, design-focused studio environment.
- Mentorship and career development opportunities.
- Exposure to diverse project types and phases.
- Opportunities for cross-office collaboration within a nationally respected design practice.
