Associate (Planning and Development Advisory)

Brailsford & Dunlavey; Atlanta, Northern (GA, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental, and

Job summary

Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) invites experienced professionals to join a leadership team that shapes campus planning, housing, and mixed-use developments. Located in Atlanta on a hybrid schedule, you will lead complex engagements, mentor analysts, and drive critical decisions alongside institutional leaders.

We seek senior-level expertise in planning, development economics, and capital planning with a track record of delivering strategic, executable recommendations for higher education and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, architecture, finance, economics, construction management, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of experience managing complex projects in planning, development, consulting, or real estate advisory.
• Strong understanding of development economics, financial modeling, and capital planning.
• Proven ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Project.
• Strong written, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring ability.
• Commitment to ethical practice and client service excellence.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple comprehensive planning and development advisory projects.
• Serve as the primary client contact and trusted advisor.
• Oversee research, market analysis, financial modeling, space planning, and stakeholder engagement efforts.
• Synthesize analytics into clear, implementable recommendations.
• Direct and mentor analysts, elevating the quality of their thinking and deliverables.
• Manage scope, pricing, invoicing, and overall project financial performance.
• Ensure quality control, documentation integrity, and client satisfaction.
• Contribute to business development efforts, including relationship cultivation and new opportunity identification.
• Strengthen internal analytical tools, models, and methodologies.
• Operate with ownership and accountability across engagements.
• Guide clients through ambiguity with clarity and structure.
• Develop analysts into thoughtful advisors, not task executors.
• Maintain disciplined project management while encouraging strong analytical exploration.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, architecture, finance, economics, construction management, or related field (Master’s preferred)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Project

Job description

Working at B&D means more than just having a job; it means building a career. Explore a future with B&D, which offers exceptional benefits, a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, an inclusive environment, and ample opportunities for career advancement.

Brailsford & Dunlavey and PMA have integrated hiring operations after our recent merger . Explore all of our open opportunities below.

If you're ready to manage complex planning engagements, guide clients through structured decision-making, and confidently manage processes, projects, and people, this role offers that opportunity.

Named the #17 fastest-growing AEC firm in the U.S. and Canada by Zweig Group's Hot Firm Awards, B&D is entering an exciting period of growth—creating new opportunities for ambitious professionals to take on meaningful work and accelerate their careers.

The Opportunity

At Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), we lead the planning, development, and management of the places that shape and strengthen communities—where people live, learn, work, and play. B&D partners with institutions, municipalities, and organizations to shape and deliver complex real estate and capital projects, providing strategic insight and end-to-end advisory services across the full project lifecycle.

B&D recently joined forces with Project Management Advisors, bringing together two nationally recognized leaders in program management and real estate advisory services. Together, the combined firm offers expanded capabilities across industries and throughout the full project lifecycle—from early-stage strategy and planning through execution and beyond.

This associate will lead complex planning and development advisory engagements for higher education and mission-driven institutions. This is a client-facing leadership role responsible for guiding institutions through strategic decisions that shape campus housing, recreation facilities, student unions, mixed-use developments, and other transformative assets.

You will manage projects from analysis through implementation strategy, directing internal teams, advising institutional leaders, and ensuring deliverables reflect both analytical rigor and practical execution.

Located in Atlanta, GA on a hybrid basis, 2-3 days in office per week

How You'll Contribute

Lead multiple comprehensive planning and development advisory projects

Serve as the primary client contact and trusted advisor

Oversee research, market analysis, financial modeling, space planning, and stakeholder engagement efforts

Synthesize analytics into clear, implementable recommendations

Direct and mentor analysts, elevating the quality of their thinking and deliverables

Manage scope, pricing, invoicing, and overall project financial performance

Ensure quality control, documentation integrity, and client satisfaction

Contribute to business development efforts, including relationship cultivation and new opportunity identification

Strengthen internal analytical tools, models, and methodologies

Operate with ownership and accountability across engagements

Guide clients through ambiguity with clarity and structure

Develop analysts into thoughtful advisors, not task executors

Maintain disciplined project management while encouraging strong analytical exploration

What We're Looking For

Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, architecture, finance, economics, construction management, or related field (Master’s preferred)

5+ years of experience managing complex projects in planning, development, consulting, or real estate advisory

Strong understanding of development economics, financial modeling, and capital planning

Proven ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously

Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Project

Strong written, presentation, and facilitation skills

Demonstrated leadership and mentoring ability

Commitment to ethical practice and client service excellence

Willingness to travel as required

What Sets You Apart

You balance analytical depth with practical implementation.

You bring intellectual rigor to real estate and institutional strategy.

You are comfortable advising senior stakeholders.

You take pride in developing others while continuing to elevate your own professional maturity.

You exercise sound judgment, financial fluency, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable direction.

Ultimately, if you are looking for a leadership role where strategy, development economics, and institutional mission intersect, we welcome the conversation!

Why People Chooose B&D

Impactful Mission
Be part of meaningful work that helps shape the places where people live, learn, work, and connect.

Learning & Growth
We invest in mentorship, leadership development, and continuous learning at every stage of your career.

Strong Culture
Entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, integrity, and excellence drive how we work together.

Robust Benefits
Comprehensive benefits include 100% company-paid medical, dental, and prescription coverage, a targeted 7% employer-contribution 401(k), generous PTO, and more.

Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. participates in E-Verify.

Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e‑mail [e-mail].

Each person who joins the B&D team has demonstrated excellence in his or her field.

We recruit project managers, construction managers, planners, architects, economists, finance specialists, management consultants, and other experts. The merging of these diverse skill sets and backgrounds helps us meet—and often exceed—our firm’s goals. We are committed to every employee’s rapid professional development and provide many opportunities for everyone to stretch their intellectual capacities.

“I appreciate B&D’s commitment to inclusivity. As a woman in the real estate development space, all too often, I’m the only minority or woman in the room. It feels great to know that I have the B&D family behind me to make me feel appreciated.”

B&D Employee

OUR COMMITMENT

B&D’s benefits are second to none in any industry.

We believe that a comprehensive benefits package is critical to supporting our employees’ personal and family needs, and demonstrates our true commitment to work-life balance.

Whether you are looking for a company that shares the burden of health care costs, permits occasional working-from-home flexibility, or invests heavily into each employee’s 401(k), B&D delivers a complete package.

B&D provides a complete package to our full-time employees.

• 100% company-paid medical, prescription, and dental insurance premiums for employees and their children
• Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
• Company-paid contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts
• Flextime and telecommuting
• Parental leave
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Company-paid disability and life insurance
• Vacation, sick, and holiday pay
• Adoption assistance program
• Reimbursement for professional memberships/certifications
• Learning & Development department dedicated to providing in-house training
• Employee assistance program
• Corporate fitness center access at most locations
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Wellness Committee and wellness-based programming

Our collaborative approach relies on passionate and ambitious individuals.

Each B&D employee embodies these attributes:

• Willing to take intellectual, emotional, & financial risks
• Committed to excellence for excellence’s sake
• Predisposed to initiate deliberate, disciplined actiona>
• Intellectually curious
• Of high personal integrity
• Ambitious for the firm
• Engaging
• Able to endure to achieve excellence

INCLUSION

We are invested in providing an inclusive environment where everyone has a voice.

Throughout B&D’s history, firm leaders have shown a commitment to creating positive, inclusive, and diverse environments for both our client communities as well as the firm. Inclusion is an essential part of our purpose.

In addition to making concerted efforts to hire and retain a diverse group of employees, we have an active Inclusion Committee that is dedicated to ensuring we all feel connected and included at B&D. As a firm, we are examining our biases together, which makes us all better and allows us to make smarter decisions for our clients. Working for B&D means making inclusion a top priority in your day-to-day words and actions.

FOSTERING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Employee Resource Group (ERG)

At B&D, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture. This is why we are proud to have an Employee Resource Group, which was formed organically through the efforts of many individuals passionate about equity in the workplace.

In the true spirit of inclusion, this group is open to all employees. The ERG meets regularly to discuss issues, host events, provide peer support and advise HR and senior leadership on matters related to the workplace and the broader community. Our ERG helps expand representation to include new perspectives at all levels of the organization. Interest groups represented within our ERG include, but are not limited to, LGBTQ+ employees, black employees, women employees, employees who are parents, health and wellness initiatives, and more.

Read Paul & Chris's statement on B&D's commitment to inclusion

Brailsford & Dunlavey is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e‑mail [e-mail].

This role's target base annual salary range is currently $100,000-125,000. Pay scales are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, relevant education, experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate, and pay relative to other team members.

The company benefits listed above are a summary of the benefits. Specific details, availability, and eligibility requirements apply in accordance with company policies.