Planning Manager

We are seeking an energetic and skilled senior-level planning professional to lead our Lacey, WA planning team and provide municipal, private, transportation, and environmental planning, permitting, and project management expertise as we develop and execute a wide variety of projects. Our planning work is varied, and we frequently delve into unfamiliar terrain with new opportunities and challenges. Most of our work is tailored to the individual needs of our clients and their communities; it often entails inquiry and exploration to identify optimal strategies, recommendations, and outcomes.

Who we are

Our mission is to serve our clients, communities, and each other with creativity, knowledge, insight, and perspective. As a 100% employee-owned company, at SCJ we value trust, compassion, freedom, stewardship, and integrity. We routinely and easily cross job description lines in order to be part of getting something done. Our fast-paced, fun, and flexible atmosphere offers the opportunity for meaningful work that challenges you, makes a difference, and improves communities. We specialize in civil engineering, transportation planning & design, environmental & urban planning, landscape architecture & design, and public outreach. With great projects and a fun-loving team, our firm has been named as both one of the nation’s fastest-growing and best places to work multiple times.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate independence and initiative and be able to work with our diverse clientele as well as provide leadership, supervision, and coordination of planning staff. They will be able to cultivate new relationships while sustaining and strengthening existing relationships.  Problem solving and consensus-building come naturally to them, along with an appreciation for pragmatic solutions even while stretching to reach aspirational goals. Working closely with our Lacey Office Principal and Planning Business Group Leader, they will manage staff, strategic initiatives, and administrative duties.  Coordination with planning staff in multiple offices will also be required to ensure appropriate delivery of project and business development commitments.

What our planning projects may include

• Current planning support for municipal clients
• Town center planning and/or redevelopment
• Comprehensive Plan updates
• Development regulation updates/code updates and rewrites
• Housing Plans
• Land use planning and permit review
• Parks and Trails planning
• Environmental analysis
• Transportation Planning
• Private development proposals

What you’ll be doing

• Manage local planning team and help them grow professionally. Participate in status meetings with company-wide planning group and/or project teams; communicate and keep project teams informed of changes within the organization; provide QA/QC review; work with Principal(s) on annual budgeting needs and training; challenge others to develop as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor; manage team development by ensuring that project tasks are in line with each employee’s skills and interests, and utilize each employee effectively; conduct effective performance evaluations and help team execute career development plans; manage workload, staffing and forecasting for the team; motivate team to work together in the most efficient manner and coordinate workload balancing/sharing with other offices as needed.
• Leading project work. Establish project objectives, policies, procedures, and performance expectations within the boundaries of company policy; comply with and help enforce company policies and procedures; suggest areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions. Pursue work by writing proposals and coordinating with team members.
• Manage complex and interdisciplinary projects. Manage project budgets; manage financial aspects of contracts to protect the company’s interest and simultaneously maintain good relationships with clients; complete project documents – initiate and complete any required documentation to support assigned projects.
• Valuing relationships both within and outside of SCJ. You will build professional relationships with clients, agencies, colleagues, and the public, communicate opportunities by sharing potential new business or resource information and competitive situations, create and deliver engaging, informative, and well-organized presentations, and resolve issues or request assistance in achieving resolution in a timely manner.
• Leading business development. You will look for new work opportunities with existing clients, suggesting relevant ideas or listening for upcoming projects or identifying add-on opportunities for existing projects, establish new clients and, where practical, work to form an ongoing relationship, seek opportunities to increase client satisfaction and deepen client relationships, including building a knowledge base of each client’s business, organization, and objectives, participate in the development of proposals for new projects, and participate in interviews and presentations.
• Be a public relations ambassador –proactively presenting and communicating the capabilities and strengths of the company to a wide variety of audiences, and participating in interviews and presentations as needed.
• Research, analysis, and writing. Effectively communicate information in both written and verbal forms and create and deliver engaging, informative, and well-organized presentations.
• Site visits and observations. We want you to get out of the office on occasion to walk and photograph the sites you’re working on.
• Support. SCJ’s planning team has completed a wide array of successful projects. As you work alongside your SCJ planning colleagues, you’ll have support from some of the best in the business!

What you bring

• A passion for serving others, communication, creativity, and a commitment to high-quality work.
• A Bachelor’s or Master's degree in an accredited engineering, planning, or related field or equivalent.
• AICP certification is strongly preferred.
• Experience and proficiency in planning and permitting work on behalf of private and public clients.
• Experience presenting to elected officials and facilitating public meetings.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Minimum of five years of experience in the consulting industry or related supervisory and management experience, including experience managing a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, planners, and technicians.
• Generally, at least five or more years of progressively more responsible planning experience. 
  

What we bring 

• An unbeatable culture: An autonomous and collaborative work environment, exceptional operational support, creative and supportive co-workers, and a compassionate leadership team. Plus other fun stuff including firmwide parties, mugshots, gold-medal virtual baking classes, fitness challenges, fantasy football league, trivia nights…and a variety of other creative ways we have found to come together and hang out. 
• Quality projects: We pursue work that improves communities, challenges us, and makes a difference.
• Community involvement opportunities and a charitable matching program. 
• Paid time off: vacation/sick time, holidays, personal floating holiday 
• Retirement benefits: 401(k) plan & employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
• Health, disability, and other insurance plan options to fit your needs. Including HSA & FSA.

This is not a remote position.