Campus Planning Leader

Perkins&Will; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) & PTO

Professional development

Bonuses

Affinity groups

Studio culture

Job summary

Perkins&Will seeks a visionary Campus Planning Leader to grow our higher education campus planning practice within the Urban Design group. You will partner with institutional leaders to translate academic missions into transformative campus strategies that support sustainability, equity, and resilience.

With 15+ years of higher education planning experience on the West Coast, you will mentor teams, lead complex studies, and drive business development while leveraging tools like Adobe

Qualifications

• 15+ years leading higher education campus planning and master planning on the West Coast
• Strong design, facilitation, and communication skills to convey ideas across scales
• Established relationships within the higher education sector, preferably with major research universities and public systems
• Proven success in business development, practice building, and leading multidisciplinary teams

Responsibilities

• Lead transformative campus planning initiatives for colleges and universities, translating institutional vision and data-informed insights into campus strategies
• Serve as a trusted advisor to institutional leadership, facilitating engagement and guiding strategic decisions
• Grow the campus planning practice through business development, client relationships, thought leadership, and pursuit leadership
• Lead high-performing teams and project delivery, mentoring planners and designers, while overseeing scope, quality, and risk management

Skills

Campus planning

Stakeholder facilitation

Business development

Team leadership

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Rhino

GIS

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture/urban planning

Master's degree preferred

Architectural license / AICP / PLA

Tools

Rhino

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

GIS

Job description

Colleges and universities are reimagining how their campuses support learning, research, community, and long-term resilience. Perkins&Will is seeking a visionary Campus Planning Leader to build and grow our higher education campus planning practice within our Urban Design group. In this role, you will partner with institutional leaders to translate academic mission, strategic priorities, and data-driven insights into transformative campus strategies, shaping environments that inspire innovation, strengthen community, and create lasting impact. Guided by our Living Design principles, you'll help define the future of higher education through planning solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and visionary.

What You'll Do

• Lead transformative campus planning initiatives for colleges and universities, translating institutional vision, academic priorities, and data-informed insights into campus, district, and site strategies that advance sustainability, resilience, mobility, and equity.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to institutional leadership, facilitating engagement processes, building consensus among stakeholders, and guiding strategic decision-making.
• Build and grow the campus planning practice through business development, client relationship management, thought leadership, industry engagement, and pursuit leadership.
• Lead high-performing teams and project delivery, mentoring planners and designers while overseeing scope, financial performance, quality, and risk management.

What You'll Bring

• 15+ years of experience leading higher education campus planning and master planning efforts on the West Coast, and particularly California, with a strong understanding of enrollment, space utilization, capital planning, research, housing, and student life.
• Strong design, facilitation, and communication skills, with the ability to convey ideas across scales through sketches, diagrams, presentations, and digital tools.
• Established relationships within the higher education sector, preferably with major research universities and public systems.
• Demonstrated success in business development, practice building, and leading, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in design and visualization tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Rhino, GIS, and related platforms.

Education and Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, or a related field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Architectural license, AICP, PLA, or equivalent credential preferred.
• LEED GA within 6 months of hire, and professional accreditation in one area of Living Design (e.g., LEED AP with Specialty, WELL AP, SITES AP, CPHC/CPHD, or ILFI Living Future Accreditation).

Location and Travel

Bay Area residence preferred, West Coast residence required. Hybrid work flexibility is available and relocation will be considered. Occasional travel as required by projects.

What You'll Get

Salary range: $154,400–$207,300, commensurate with experience, education and skillset.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off
• Professional development stipend and dedicated continuing education time
• Performance-based bonuses
• Access to firmwide affinity groups and leadership development programs
• Studio initiatives and events; a team that actually likes each other

Our Commitment

Our culture is grounded in a firmwide commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) — not as a tagline, but as how we hire, promote, and build teams. We conduct annual pay equity audits and train all managers on pay practices. We believe inclusion drives creativity.

Perkins&Will is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Pay Transparency: We are committed to pay equity. Compensation decisions are based on qualifications, skillset, and experience. Employees may discuss their own compensation without fear of retaliation. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)