Mid-Career Planner (Indianapolis, Cincinnati or Louisville)

MKSK; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MKSK is an employee-owned planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm that addresses economic, social, environmental, historical, and cultural challenges. With over 100 talented professionals across 12 offices, MKSK creates exceptional public spaces that inspire and thrive.

The ideal candidate will be based in the Indianapolis, Louisville or Cincinnati metropolitan areas and collaborate in-person at the Indianapolis studio.

Qualifications

• Degree in planning, urban design, or landscape architecture required.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional practice with at least 3+ years of project planner or project manager experience.
• Past public sector experience is a plus.
• AICP certification or ASLA, PLA license, or willingness to achieve it is strongly desired.

Responsibilities

• Guide planning processes, develop analyses and recommendations, and collaborate directly with clients and consultants.
• Lead project teams and manage budgets, scopes, schedules, and coordination.
• Produce outstanding client-based deliverables and technical solutions for each project.
• Empower individuals to serve our clients in a professional, productive, and collaborative manner.
• Collaborate with the team regularly to ensure deadlines are met.

Skills

Project management

Client collaboration

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Degree in planning/urban design/landscape architecture

AICP/ASLA/PLA certification desirable

Tools

GIS

Rhino

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

MKSK is an employee-owned planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm that addresses economic, social, environmental, historical, and cultural challenges. With over 100 talented landscape architects and urban planners across 12 offices in 8 states, we create exceptional public places and spaces that inspire and thrive.

Our Indianapolis studio helps shape the future of communities across Indiana and the Midwest through work that connects big ideas with practical outcomes. Based in downtown Indianapolis, our engaging, collaborative studio brings together 12 planners, urban designers, and landscape architects. Team members work closely across disciplines, exchange ideas, and learn from experienced colleagues and principals. This position offers the opportunity to lead meaningful projects, build lasting client relationships, mentor emerging professionals, and help shape communities across Indiana and the Midwest.

Examples of projects we work on include:

• Land Use Planning
• Area Planning
• Campus Planning
• Downtown Planning
• Trail Planning
• Transit Oriented Development Planning
• Development Planning
• Design Guidelines
• Zoning
• Community Engagement

We offer competitive compensation, generous benefits, and a commitment to work-life balance. We are seeking a talented planner with demonstrated project management experience to support our work primarily throughout Indiana, collaborating with our Indianapolis studio and its team of professionals.

The ideal candidate will be based in the Indianapolis, Louisville or Cincinnati metropolitan areas. This position primarily supports the Indianapolis studio’s planning projects and clients and requires in-person collaboration in our Indianapolis studio. Some travel throughout Indiana and the Midwest is required, including occasional overnight trips and participation in evening and weekend engagement activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Guide planning processes, develop analyses and recommendations, and collaborate directly with clients and consultants.
• Work with the Principal in Charge to lead project teams and manage budgets, scopes, schedules, and coordination.
• Produce outstanding client-based deliverables and technical solutions for each project.
• Empower individuals to serve our clients in a professional, productive, and collaborative manner.
• Collaborate with the team regularly to ensure deadlines are met.
• Take initiative for internal firmwide activities and committees.
• Translate analysis and community input into thoughtful recommendations, compelling plans, and practical implementation strategies.
• Lead the production of high-quality deliverables, including planning documents, presentations, maps, urban design concepts, site plans, and development standards.
• Ability to foster a healthy workplace environment that promotes belonging for all.
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment across multiple offices.
• Experience in some or all of the following specialties desired: comprehensive planning, downtown and area/district planning, neighborhood planning, development planning, corridor planning, trail planning, and design guidelines and/or zoning, and urban design.
• Ability to communicate clearly through writing, presentations, graphics, and conversations with clients, community members, and colleagues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with GIS, Rhino, SketchUp, or other 3D modeling and visualization software is a plus.
• Support preparing proposals and developing or delivering project interview presentations is a plus.

Education and Experience:

• Degree in planning, urban design, or landscape architecture required.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional practice experience with at least 3+ years of project planner or project manager experience.
• Past public sector experience is an added benefit.
• AICP certification or ASLA, PLA license, or willingness to achieve it is strongly desired.

MKSK is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, appreciating the diverse strengths individuals from various backgrounds bring to our workplace.