Senior Urban Planning Project Manager

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a Senior Urban Planning Project Manager to support our growing Buildings & Places Business Line. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. AECOM’s Urbanism + Planning team is seeking a creative and experienced urban planner or urban designer to join its practice to manage and contribute to complex projects.

The role will lead transformative, large-scale urban design and master planning projects across the East Coast, with a focus on TOD, mixed-use development, placemaking, downtown revitalization, and public realm design in the Washington, DC region.

Working collaboratively with urban designers, planners, landscape architects, engineers, and economists, the urban planner or urban designer will provide planning and urban design leadership, project management, client engagement, and business development for municipal, state, and private-sector clients.

Our teams have worked on transformative planning and urban design projects for high profile clients through the United States, including for major transit, transportation, economic development, and planning agencies.

The job responsibilities for the position will include but are not limited to:

Project Management & Leadership

• In partnership with various Urbanism + Planning studios, lead complex, multidisciplinary projects from concept through implementation, including master plans, economic development strategies, land use and built form studies, public realm strategies, placemaking initiatives, and urban design guidelines.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, work plans, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects, project phases, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Establish and maintain planning and urban design direction, quality, and consistency throughout project delivery while balancing innovation, feasibility, budget, and schedule.

Technical Support & Plan Production

• Prepare conditions assessments, land use and real estate analysis, diagrams and renderings, and high-quality presentations and reports that effectively communicate planning concepts, economic development considerations, and urban design vision for complex projects.
• Lead and coordinate interdisciplinary teams, integrating civil, structural, transportation, environmental, landscape, and other technical disciplines into cohesive and viable planning and urban design solutions.
• Translate complex planning and urban design concepts into clear, compelling diagrams, visualizations, reports, and presentations for a range of audiences.
• Lead stakeholder engagement strategies and creative outreach efforts, including brand development, professional templates and style guides, event planning, meeting facilitation, online forums, and digital tools.

Client Relationships & Business Development

• Lead and support client presentations, workshops, stakeholder meetings, and public engagement sessions with confidence, enthusiasm, and clarity.
• Lead and support proposal development, scopes of work, fee and budget development, work plans, and project interviews.
• Support client relationship-building efforts, identifying opportunities to expand existing relationships and develop new business.
• Represent AECOM by presenting at industry conferences and through participation in organizations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• BA/BS in Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture or related field + 8 years of related experience or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
• Demonstrated project management experience on complex, multidisciplinary, large-scale planning, urban design, and economic development projects, especially in urban and mixed-use contexts

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters Degree in Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture or related field
• Business development experience, including supporting and leading urban design and planning proposals for public sector and private sector clients
• Significant experience producing high-quality written narrative and graphics for reports and presentations, with the ability to present ideas effectively to internal and external audiences
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign).
• Advanced proficiency directing and reviewing urban design production, including 2D and 3D site plans, building massing studies, diagrams, and renderings
• Proficiency in GIS and map-based data analytics
• Positive, proactive approach to teamwork and problem-solving
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• AICP certification or active pursuit of certification preferred

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for US employment authorization is not available now or in the future for this position.
• Relocation is not available for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management.

AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned.

Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

AECOM’s Urbanism + Planning practice is a continuum of design vision and strategic advisory that transforms communities. We lead through integration, shaping the social infrastructure that connects us all. U+P’s primary focus includes urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, workplace strategy, business transformation, asset advisory, economics, and environmental planning.

With a range of expertise from strategy and design through project realization, we create better outcomes to grow economies, protect natural systems, conserve natural resources, make societies more equitable, and connect and engage people through innovative, sustainable design solutions.