Planning Practice Lead, Southwest Region

Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers and Architects; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects is seeking a full-time Planning Practice Lead for the Southwest Region to join our Albuquerque, NM or El Paso, TX offices. You will lead a growing planning team, mentor staff, win work, and manage diverse projects with federal, state, local and tribal clients.

You will collaborate with national planning professionals to grow the practice and deliver high-quality plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor level degree in Civil Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, or related field.
• AICP or PE certification preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience leading a team of professionals and allocating staff resources.
• 10+ years’ experience in transportation, land use, and/or multimodal infrastructure planning.
• 10+ years’ experience managing planning projects for federal, state, local and/or tribal clients.
• Project and task management skills with ability to meet schedules and budgets.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience with winning and executing projects for state DOTs, MPOs and local municipalities.
• Ability to coordinate with planners, engineers and technicians.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and mentor staff; develop leadership pipeline and allocate resources.
• Serve as Senior Project Manager for a variety of projects and clients.
• Oversee and coordinate team efforts to ensure quality and design meet client expectations.
• Communicate directly with federal, state, local, tribal, and private clients.
• Mentor staff and ensure team resources to accomplish goals.
• Manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
• Prepare project proposals, scopes of services, and fee proposals.
• Develop and nurture strong client and peer relationships.
• Represent Wilson & Company at professional or industry meetings.
• Attract and retain quality team members.
• Collaborate with regional and national managers on goals and business planning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Project management

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Analytical skills

Time management

Mentoring

Education

Civil Engineering / Urban & Regional Planning degree

AICP or PE certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects, a national multi-disciplined engineering and architecture consulting firm, is currently seeking a full-timePlanning Practice Lead for the Southwest Region to join our team in Albuquerque, New Mexico or El Paso, Texas. We’re looking for someone who is ready to jump in and lead a growing team of professionals, build relationships with both internal and external clients, win work, and manage projects. This role on our Planning team has potential to scale in accordance with your direct experience. Whether you’re an experienced team/program lead or an experienced project manager ready to take the next step, we would be excited to talk with you.

We’re offering you the chance at Higher Relationships with Wilson & Company, your coworkers, and our clients. In this role, you will collaborate with our larger, national team of planning & mobility professionals across the country in the execution of work firmwide. You’ll be joining a dynamic team of planning & mobility leads who work closely together to mentor our staff, grow our practice, and do great work for our clients. If you’re looking to be a part of building something great, we want to talk to you.

Region Practice Leads are responsible for leading, supervising and mentoring staff, developing and maintaining a leadership pipeline within the planning program, and delegating/allocating staff resources to ensure that all project milestones are met by the team. Management, supervisory, and leadership experience are required along with strong communication skills. All Wilson & Company planning & mobility staff work collaboratively with professionals in a variety of disciplines across the firm (including federal, transportation, municipal services, and water resources) to build relationships both locally and in all states where Wilson & Company is conducting planning & mobility project work.

This position is also responsible for managing planning projects through all phases, from initial marketing and scope of work/fee development through approval of final deliverables. Specific tasks include marketing and business development, client coordination, management of schedules and budgets, coordination and oversight of project teams (task leads, resource specialists, subconsultants, etc.), and collaboration with staff in a variety of industry disciplines. The ideal candidate will have experience as principal author of planning documents to support project approvals for a variety of federal, state, local and tribal clients. Strong writing skills are required.

Job Duties Include:

• Lead, supervise and mentor staff, develop and maintain a leadership pipeline, and delegate/allocate staff resources
• Serve as Senior Project Manager for a variety of projects and clients
• Oversee and coordinate work efforts of the team to ensure accuracy, quality, and design to satisfy client expectations/requirements
• Communicate directly with federal, state, local, tribal, and private industry clients.
• Mentor and train staff and ensure team members have sufficient resources to accomplish goals/projects
• Have successful experience overseeing multiple clients and projects simultaneously
• Prepare project proposals, scopes of services, and fee proposals for diverse project types
• Successfully develop and nurture strong relationships with clients and peers
• Represent Wilson & Company at professional organization meetings and/or other industry meetings
• Attract and retain quality team members
• Collaborate with regional and national managers regarding meeting company goals and visions, client development, and business planning.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Civil Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, or related curriculum. Advanced degrees will be given due attention.

• AICP or PE certification preferred

• 10+ years’ experience leading a team of professionals, including supervising/mentoring staff and being responsible for allocating staff resources.

• 10+ years’ experience in transportation, land use, and/or multimodal infrastructure planning.

• 10+ years’ experience managing planning projects for federal, state, local and/or tribal clients.

• Project and task management skills with proven ability to complete work on schedule and within budget.

• Effective oral and written communication skills.

• Proficiency in software systems, including the Microsoft suite of programs.

• Specific experience with winning and executing projects for state DOTs, MPOs and local municipalities.

• Proven ability to manage multiple team members and coordinate effectively with other planners, engineers and technicians.

• Self-starter with the ability to multitask and pay close attention to detail.

• Ability to effectively communicate thoughts and ideas to direct reports, peers, senior staff and clients.

• Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills

Annual Salary Range: $125,000 – 175,000+ (depending on experience)

Please note that Wilson & Company is not currently sponsoring applicants for work visas.

About Us:

For nearly a century, Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects, has provided award-winning engineering, architecture, planning, environmental, surveying, geospatial, and construction management services. With employees across multiple offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Western regions in the United States, we bring people together to practice their craft, create value, and accomplish great things.

Guided by our purpose, we help clients move from concept to completion, transforming unused spaces into productive places, underutilized facilities into efficient ones, and rural or urban challenges into achievable solutions.

At Wilson & Company, we focus on your specific needs, delivering excellence with lasting Higher Relationships in mind. By employing our core values—discipline, intensity, collaboration, shared ownership, and solutions—we create genuine experiences and lasting connections for our clients, employees, and communities.

We support our employees’ success and well-being with a comprehensive benefits package, including options for health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, and retirement savings plans. We are proud to be an EEO employer and maintain a drug‑free workplace, conducting pre‑employment background checks.

Join us and be part of a culture committed to helping you achieve personal and professional success.