Entry-Level Urban Designer/Planner

About the position

PlaceWorks is seeking a full-time Urban Designer/Planner to join our team in the Orange County (Santa Ana) office. We are looking for an entry-level individual or someone with a few years of urban design or planning experience within urban or urbanizing settings for public-sector and/or private-sector clients.

Relevant experience includes familiarity with site planning and urban design for areas such as, but not limited to, development along corridors, within downtowns, near transit, and other areas in transition. Experience with planning documents such as specific plans, general plans, and master plans are a plus.

Working in a collaborative and casual work environment under the guidance of principals, project managers and other senior staff, this designer/planner would work on a variety of design-related projects, providing support to both our Southern and Northern California offices and working with team members across the state.

Our firm is deeply involved throughout California in the acceleration of housing development and the revitalization of our built-out communities.

Responsibilities

• Collecting background documents, researching and summarizing information for existing conditions analysis.
• Writing and/or illustrating design standards and guidelines; how-to-guides and/or toolkits for both residential and non-residential development; and design-based zoning standards for specific plans or focused municipal code revisions.
• Supporting preparation of build-out scenarios to test and illustrate draft standards/codes.
• Traveling to and performing site visits as a project requires and attending client meetings with the project team.
• Supporting authentic engagement with diverse communities and participating in public outreach efforts, including evening, weekend, and multi-day design charrettes.
• Coordinating events or meetings, preparing and assembling materials/supplies for workshops.
• Assisting with and actively participating in marketing, business development, and proposal efforts to support the design team.
• Working both independently and in a highly collaborative environment with team members across the state.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in architecture, urban design, planning or landscape architecture.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suite, and SketchUp.
• Reliable means of transportation to and from work, and to perform site visits and attend meetings when needed.
• Ability to be in the office at least two days a week.

Nice-to-haves

• A few years of urban design or planning experience within urban or urbanizing settings for public-sector and/or private-sector clients.
• Familiarity with site planning and urban design for areas such as, but not limited to, development along corridors, within downtowns, near transit, and other areas in transition.
• Experience with planning documents such as specific plans, general plans, and master plans.
• Experience with opportunities/constraints mapping, site planning, and urban design framework plans.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Rhino and/or ArcGIS is desired, but not required.
• Hand drawing is a plus.