Office Director - Senior Planner, Transportation

Toole-Design-Group; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Paid holidays

20 days PTO annualy

Employee-ownership

Competitive pay

Job summary

Toole Design seeks an experienced Office Director for the Los Angeles office to lead a talented team, set strategy, and win meaningful multimodal transportation projects.

You will mentor staff, foster an inclusive culture, and collaborate with leadership and external partners across the West while delivering high‑quality, equity‑centered work that advances safe streets and sustainable design.

We value diverse backgrounds and offer a hybrid schedule, competitive pay, and employee ownership.

Qualifications

• Degree in Planning or related field is required or strong technical understanding of Architecture/Engineering.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a consulting firm or similar.
• Recent experience and active relationships with Los Angeles-area public sector agencies.
• Experience managing staff and mentoring.
• Experience pursuing and winning competitively bid work.
• Strong problem solving and client service skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a talented team of professionals and liaise with company leadership and external partners.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture and maintain productive, collaborative environments.
• Oversee projects and ensure high-quality, equity-centered deliverables.
• Mentor and recruit staff and grow the practice across the West.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Client service

Entrepreneurial mindset

Diversity & inclusion

Public sector experience

Staff mentoring

Bid / pursuit

Problem solving

Education

Planning degree

Architecture/Engineering knowledge

Job description

At Toole Design, we're leading the way in creating safer, more connected communities through sustainable multimodal transportation design. We're looking for an experienced leader with a multimodal transportation background to join our Los Angeles, CA team, as the Office Director. If you're a Transportation Planner who has a knack for big-picture strategy, building and leading talented teams, winning meaningful work, exceeding client expectations, and mentoring the next generation of professionals, we would love to hear from you.

Why You'll Love Working Here

We are an employee-owned, purpose-driven team of engineers, planners, landscape architects, and urban designers who believe streets and public spaces should work for everyone. At Toole Design, you'll work alongside thought leaders and industry experts who are committed to mentoring and helping you grow your expertise. We offer:

• A collaborative, inclusive culture that supports your growth and advancement
• A hybrid schedule with shared team days in office, Tues/Wed/Thurs
• 8 paid holidays; and at least 20 days PTO accrual annually
• Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and transportation perks:
• Projects that truly improve lives through safe, inclusive design rooted in ethics, empathy, and equity
• Employee-ownership, so we all share in the success we build together -- and the financial security that comes with it

What You'll Do

As Director of our Los Angeles office, you will lead a talented team of professionals and serve as a key liaison with company leadership and external partners. You'll foster a positive, inclusive culture and strong team morale while maintaining a productive, collaborative work environment, and you'll play an active role in managing and overseeing projects. You will pursue and win work that makes a meaningful impact on communities and ensure your team consistently delivers high-quality, equity-centered projects. You will have an active role in mentoring and recruiting staff. Working on exciting initiatives throughout Los Angeles, California, and across the West, you'll collaborate with colleagues across the region and nationwide. As a leader in one of our growing Western offices, you'll have a tremendous opportunity to shape and strengthen our practice, with strong support from our operations teams and company leadership.

What You Bring:

• A passion for working with a dynamic and diverse team, and an inclusive approach to achieving success
• A degree in Planning, or related, or a very strong technical understanding of the Architecture and Engineering industry
• A minimum of 1 2 years of experience
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a consulting firm or similar
• Recent experience in and active relationships with Los Angeles-area public sector agencies
• Experience managing staff
• Experience pursuing and winning work that is competitively bid
• Experience solving problems, providing a high level of client service, and helping others navigate tricky situations

You'll be great here if you're passionate about transforming communities through multimodal transportation and sustainable design, communicate effectively, think entrepreneurially, push the practice forward, collaborate across disciplines, mentor and motivate diverse teams, and consistently deliver high-quality, on-time, on-budget work with strong analytical judgment.

Join Us. Make an Impact.

We're proud to be an ENR Top 500 design firm with one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry. If you're ready to do meaningful work with a supportive, talented team.

For this role, we are targeting a salary of $150,000-$185,000. Placement within this range will vary by technical discipline, experience, and qualifications. Candidates invited to interview are welcome to inquire where they may fall within the range, as we value transparency.

Questions, assistance or accommodations? Contact [e-mail] or call 301-927-1900, press 5.

At Toole Design, we foster a collaborative culture and welcome people of all backgrounds to help build more inclusive communities. We strongly encourage women and applicants from underrepresented communities – people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, first-generation college students/graduates, those with disabilities and people at all the intersections in between – to apply. We're proud that about half our managers are women and we are committed to diverse leadership that reflects the communities we serve. Toole Design is a woman-owned, equal opportunity employer (EO/AA/VEV/Disabled employer).

For more information about Toole Design, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.