Urban Designer – Senior

Your Role

Gensler is the world’s largest architecture, design and planning firm with offices in over 50 locations globally. As a natural outgrowth of Gensler’s core business of creating great places, our Cities + Urban Design (C+UD) practice area delivers a range of performance focused design strategy and planning services to an ever-expanding group of cities, institutions, developers, governments, and international organizations.

Gensler’s team in Washington D.C. is seeking an experienced Urban Designer join our Cities + Urban Design practice area to deliver on a range of both local/regional and international high-profile public and private sector projects including: large-scale master plans, conceptual design, site-specific plans, urban design guidelines, development standards and other planning studies. Ideal candidates will possess a background in urban planning, particularly urban design, or architecture; and have demonstrated experience leading, organizing and coordinating project teams and team assignments to deliver successful large-scale planning and mixed-use projects. This role is intended specifically for design leadership, with the candidate possessing strong design talent and sensibilities, sophisticated graphic aptitudes, award-winning projects, global insights, and an innovation mindset for 21st century cities.

What You Will Do

• Lead and elevate design, and envision transformational projects through client leadership, design leadership, and mentorship
• Project team leadership in preparation of planning and design documents, including large-scale master plans, design guidelines, design standards, renderings, illustrations and other planning studies
• Collaborate with team and clients to generate creative planning and design solutions
• Preparing and making presentations to clients, community stakeholders, and city planning staff
• Support C+UD practice area with business development efforts
• Conduct site visits and meet on-site with client teams

Your Qualifications 

• 10-15 years of experience related to urban planning, policy, design and/or strategy
• Working knowledge of planning laws, policies, and regulatory tools
• Experience preparing and managing planning projects, including: large-scale master plans, public entitlements, design guidelines and other planning studies, large scale international urban design and planning projects
• Experience leading community workshops and public presentations
• Experience successfully responding to public RFPs and winning projects
• Bachelor’s degree in City/Regional Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or other closely related field
• Excellent written, verbal and graphic communication skills
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and communication skills are critical
• Comfort in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Candidates should be self-starters, collaborative, and eager to supervise, train and mentor teammates
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign)
• Basic skills in AutoCAD and/or Revit
• Basic skills in Sketch-Up, Rhino and/or other 3D and multi-media technologies

Preferred qualifications:

• AIA (Registered Architect, RA) and/or AICP certified
• Leadership in urban planning professional organizations
• Proficiency in GIS and Mapping tools
• Real estate development experience and/or education

*This role is not remote, we look forward to working with our new Urban Designer in our dynamic Washington, D.C. office.

**The estimated base salary range for this position is $95,000 - $128,000, plus eligibility for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, with final compensation contingent on relevant experience. To learn more about our compensation philosophy and full benefits offerings, please visit Great People, Great Rewards | Gensler.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

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