Senior Planner/Urban Designer, Washington

Senior Planner/Urban Designer

Location:

Washington, DC

Firm:

Torti Gallas + Partners

Salary:

$90,000 - $100,000

Position Overview

Torti 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.

Torti Gallas + Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The firm celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all employees and applicants.