Planning Service Lead  

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Planning Service Lead to join our team. The position will work in a collaborative and integrated team of professionals that include landscape architects, civil engineers, planners, surveyors, environmental scientists, and transportation engineers.

The Planning Lead is a senior technical and team leadership role within Westwood's Planning group, responsible for overseeing complex land planning projects, managing competing project schedules, and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the planning team. This role requires a high level of technical expertise in land planning, regulatory requirements, development standards, and entitlement processes, while balancing multiple projects, deadlines, and client expectations. The Planning Lead provides technical direction and quality oversight throughout the planning process, from initial site analysis and conceptual design through entitlement approvals and construction support. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients.   

• Lead the daily operations of the Planning team, including managing workloads, coordinating staff assignments, establishing priorities, and balancing competing project schedules and deadlines. 
• Provide advanced technical oversight and direction for land planning projects, including constraints analyses, conceptual land plans, master plans, site plans, feasibility studies, and development exhibits. 
• Manage and coordinate a high volume of active planning projects, ensuring timely, accurate, and efficient delivery while adapting to changing client needs and project priorities. 
• Review and provide technical guidance on land planning designs, including lot layouts, roadway networks, development densities, open space, drainage considerations, and site-specific constraints. 
• Research, interpret, and apply municipal and county development regulations, zoning ordinances, subdivision requirements, comprehensive plans, and thoroughfare plans. 
• Oversee the quality and consistency of planning deliverables through regular design reviews, technical feedback, and established quality control procedures. 
• Coordinate closely with Project Managers, civil engineers, landscape architects, surveyors, and other disciplines to address design challenges, communicate project progress, and maintain schedules. 
• Evaluate current and anticipated project workloads, forecast resource needs, and identify staffing or scheduling adjustments necessary to maintain team efficiency and meet project demands. 
• Lead and mentor planning staff, providing technical training, professional guidance, and opportunities for increased responsibility and career growth. 
• Develop and improve planning workflows, design standards, and internal processes to increase efficiency, consistency, and overall team productivity. 
• Participate in client and municipal meetings, providing technical expertise and recommendations related to development concepts, regulatory requirements, and project challenges. 
• Assist Project Managers with developing project scopes, fee proposals, and schedules by evaluating technical requirements, anticipated planning efforts, and available resources. 
• Support business development and client relationships through technical expertise, responsive project delivery, and identifying opportunities to expand Planning services. 
• Promote collaboration across Westwood's offices and service lines, supporting resource sharing, consistent planning practices, and continued growth of the Planning team. 
• Demonstrate strong leadership, accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment while upholding Westwood's values and standards. 

Required Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning. 
• 5-10 or more years of progressive experience in land planning, with demonstrated expertise in regulatory interpretation, entitlement management, and complex project delivery. 
• Deep knowledge of land planning theory, design principles, entitlement procedures, and regulatory approval processes across varied jurisdictions. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead project teams, manage concurrent project assignments, and take full accountability for schedule, budget, and deliverable quality. 
• Active participation in and contributions to business development, proposal development, and client relationship management. 
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), GIS, and Microsoft Office applications. 
• Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with demonstrated effectiveness in agency presentations, client meetings, and community engagement settings. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and exercise independent professional judgment. 

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. 

We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make. 

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work. 

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2024, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #13 and #40, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood one national 1st place award for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #83 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2024. The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.