Planner II

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. Our employees are what make McAdams different. We bring experiences to the forefront of everything we do, and to do that takes special people.

Position Overview

The Planner II will produce due diligence reports, graphics, and submittal materials related to various projects across multiple markets. They will provide entitlement support to project team as necessary to prepare conceptual design, advance plans, construction documents, and other efforts for a wide variety of projects, including residential, commercial, mixed-use, public, institutional, and healthcare, with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

Planning

• Assist in the preparation of thorough due diligence reports ensuring the integration of relevant data, analyses, and findings that assess project feasibility and compliance with regulatory standards
• Assist in the preparation and development of comprehensive plans ensuring alignment with local policies and community goals
• Conduct research and gather data on demographic, environmental, and land use trends to inform planning processes and decision-making
• Perform site visits and assessments to evaluate existing conditions, land use patterns, and environmental factors that impact planning efforts
• Work closely with senior planners, landscape architects, engineers, and other professionals to ensure cohesive project development and integration of planning principles
• Participate in community outreach efforts, including public meetings and workshops, to gather input and feedback from stakeholders and residents regarding planning initiatives
• When required, perform statistical, development calculations (such as development summary data, density and FAR)
• Leverage advanced geometric knowledge to analyze spatial relationships and design layouts, applying this expertise to solve complex planning challenges and optimize land use in practical, real-world scenarios
• Interprets and applies applicable codes, ordinances, regulations and other planning documents

Entitlements

• Assist in researching and analyzing zoning regulations, land use policies, and permitting processes to inform project entitlements and approvals 
• Support the preparation of entitlement applications, including zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and variances, ensuring all required documentation is complete and accurate
• Maintain records and track the progress of entitlement applications, providing regular updates to senior planners and project managers

Design

• Play a larger role in supporting the development and refinement of comprehensive site plans and layouts that optimize land use while balancing environmental, social, and aesthetic considerations
• Conduct in-depth visual impact assessments to evaluate the potential effects of proposed developments on the surrounding landscape and community character, recommending design solutions to mitigate adverse impacts or better align with municipal requirements
• Work closely with architects, landscape architects, and engineers to ensure cohesive design integration across multidisciplinary projects
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills + Experience 

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited program in Landscape Architecture, City/Community /Regional Planning, Urban Planning, or related field required
• 1 – 3 years’ experience in planning or design required 
• Demonstrate proficiency with programs such as Adobe Creative Suite, internet applications and/or Microsoft Office
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills
• Self-starter with strong drive for personal growth and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to facilitate accurate, efficient, and quality project deliverables 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team
• Possess exceptional oral communication and interpersonal skills to present materials to clients, development team, stakeholders, general public, and municipal boards and committees

Work Environment + Physical Demands

The characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. When properly requested and when feasible (without undue hardship to the company), reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Work will primarily be in an office setting with limited opportunities to be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• Work will be primarily working with fingers by picking, pinching, typing, and grasping often with repetitive motion. 
• Must have visual acuity for viewing a computer screen, the ability to talk, hear and sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to carry, lift and push/pull up to 5 pounds frequently and up to 30 pounds occasionally. 
• Additional physical duties may be required as necessary.

McAdams is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status, or any other legally protected status.

If you need assistance with our online application system process, please contact the Human Resources Team at 919.361.5000 or hrteam@mcadamsco.com. 

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