Master Planning Manager

Workshop/APD; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Health and wellness benefits

401(k) with profit sharing

Stocked office pantry

Company events

Job summary

Workshop/APD seeks a seasoned Site and Master Planner to lead strategic planning and design integration for large-scale projects in New York. You will translate client goals and zoning realities into master plans and implementation roadmaps, coordinating with architects, landscape designers, engineers, and consultants.

The role combines leadership, design thinking, and research with client engagement and project management.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of master planning experience.
• Professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning or related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing project scope, schedule, and fee.
• Strong understanding of urban design principles, zoning, land use, entitlements, and permitting processes.
• Strong graphic, visualization, and presentation skills at multiple scales, from district plans to street-level studies.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Rhino and Grasshopper, GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS), Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead master plans for mixed-use, multi-phase developments and urban transformations.
• Translate client objectives, planning policy, and site data into clear frameworks and phased delivery plans.
• Integrate land use, mobility, public realm, sustainability, and infrastructure strategies.
• Lead site analysis, land use programming, and yield and feasibility studies with consultants.
• Develop and manage project briefs, matrices, performance criteria, and design guidelines for schematic handoff.
• Oversee master plan docs, zoning, mobility networks, phasing, and implementation roadmaps.
• Lead entitlement and approvals strategy with regulators and clients.
• Prepare planning studies, analyses, and design guidelines for reviews and boards.
• Plan stakeholder engagement, meetings, workshops, and supporting materials.
• Write planning narratives, reports, and design guideline documents.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Education

Professional degree in architecture/landscape/urban design/planning

Tools

AutoCAD

Rhino

Grasshopper

GIS

ArcGIS

QGIS

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Microsoft Office

Revit

SketchUp

Enscape

Job description

Workshop/APD is an award-winning, multidisciplinary architecture and design firm. From dramatic penthouses and seaside retreats to luxury residential developments and groundbreaking hotels and restaurants, our projects are uniquely defined by a sense of place and purpose and a desire to ultimately enhance users experience through exceptional design. Our aesthetic is timelessly modern but site-specific, unbound by project type or a singular style. Our diverse and collaborative team of creative architects, interior designers, and product designers leverage vast and highly varied experiences to solve complex design challenges, resulting in holistic spaces, products and experiences that are exceptionally beautiful and accessible.

About the role

We are seeking a seasoned Site and Master Planner to lead strategic planning and design integration across large-scale and complex projects. The ideal candidate will have established experience in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or planning, with demonstrated capability to translate client goals, regulations, and site realities into coherent master plans, strategic frameworks, and implementation roadmaps. This role combines leadership, design thinking, research, and collaboration with clients, design teams, engineers, and stakeholders.

What you'll do

Planning and design

• Lead the development of master plans for mixed-use, multi-phase developments, and urban transformations.
• Translate client objectives, planning policy, and site data into clear frameworks and phased delivery plans.
• Integrate land use, multimodal mobility, public realm, sustainability, and infrastructure strategies.
• Lead site analysis, land use programming, and yield and feasibility studies, coordinating with development and real estate economics consultants where needed.
• Develop and manage project briefs, program matrices, performance criteria, and design guidelines to guide the handoff into schematic design.
• Oversee master plan documentation, including zoning and layout plans, mobility networks, phasing, and implementation roadmaps.

Approvals and engagement

• Lead entitlement and approvals strategy, and coordinate regulatory and environmental review with the project team and consultants.
• Prepare and present planning studies, analyses, and design guidelines to clients, review boards, and public agencies.
• Plan and lead stakeholder and community engagement, including meetings, workshops, and supporting materials.
• Write clear planning narratives, reports, and design guideline documents.

Project management

• Serve as day-to-day lead and primary client contact on assigned projects.
• Manage project scope, fee, schedule, and staffing with the Principal in Charge.
• Coordinate consultant scopes and contracts, and track project budget and invoicing.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and manage collaboration between architects, landscape architects, engineers, and consultants.

Business development and studio

• Contribute to proposals, fee estimates, and client interviews.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to firm-wide knowledge sharing and standards

Qualifications

Required

• 7 to 10 years of experience in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or planning, with significant master planning experience.
• Professional degree in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing project scope, schedule, and fee.
• Strong understanding of urban design principles, zoning, land use, entitlements, and permitting processes.
• Strong graphic, visualization, and presentation skills at multiple scales, from district plans to street-level studies.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Rhino and Grasshopper, GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS), Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, and Microsoft Office.

Preferred

• Master's degree in urban design, planning, architecture, or landscape architecture.
• Professional licensure (RA or RLA) or AICP certification.
• LEED AP or LEED ND accreditation.
• Working knowledge of Revit, SketchUp, and a real-time rendering tool such as Enscape.
• Experience presenting to public agencies and leading community engagement.

About Us

At Workshop/APD, we believe great design begins with great people. Our studio is a collaborative, supportive community where architects and designers can do their best work while enjoying a flexible hybrid schedule, generous time-off policies, and comprehensive health and wellness benefits. We offer a 401(k) with profit sharing, a stocked office pantry, and regular company events that keep us connected and inspired. Our culture is rooted in growth: from structured mentorship and performance coaching to cross-team design reviews and continued-education opportunities, we invest deeply in every team member’s development. We're committed to fostering creativity, community, and a workplace where people feel supported, empowered, and excited to grow their careers.

The pay range for this role is:

100,000 - 135,000 USD per year (New York)