Project Manager II – Planning

Fisher Associates; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

PTO and holidays

401(k) plan

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Fisher Associates in Buffalo, NY is seeking a Project Manager II – Planning to lead multidisciplinary planning and placemaking projects for public- and private-sector clients. You will coordinate teams, manage client relationships, and guide projects from pursuit through completion.

You will develop scopes, schedules, budgets, and engagement plans, while mentoring staff and expanding the firm’s planning and community design practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, community planning, regional planning, urban design, or related field.
• 8-12 years of progressively responsible experience in planning, urban design, placemaking, or related field.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary projects, including scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships.
• Experience working with municipal clients, public agencies, community stakeholders, or private-sector clients.
• Strong understanding of land use, zoning, development regulations, and public-sector processes.
• Experience with public engagement, facilitation, and presentation to diverse audiences.
• Experience preparing proposals, scopes of work, schedules, and project fees.
• AICP certification.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office, and other planning software.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and competing client needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, placemaking, and community design projects from proposal and contracting through completion.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, work plans, contracts, deliverables, and project resources.
• Serve as the primary project contact and day-to-day advisor for assigned clients while managing expectations, risks, changes, subconsultants, and project quality.
• Lead comprehensive plans, downtown plans, corridor studies, waterfront revitalization plans, neighborhood plans, land-use studies, zoning initiatives, and community development strategies.
• Develop land-use, zoning, urban design, placemaking, transportation, economic development, and community development recommendations and implementation frameworks.
• Lead client, stakeholder, and public engagement activities, including meetings, workshops, presentations, and facilitation with elected officials, agencies, community organizations, property owners, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop client relationships, pursue new opportunities, lead or support RFQs, RFPs, proposals, interviews, and presentations, and mentor planners and project managers.

Skills

AICP certification

Excellent communication

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Leadership & mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Master's degree in planning or urban design (preferred)

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

ArcGIS

Microsoft Office

SketchUp (preferred)

Job description

Description

Project Manager II – Planning - Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY presents a strong setting for planning and community design work, with projects tied to neighborhood revitalization, downtown and waterfront development, land use, transportation, economic development, and community investment. As a Project Manager II, you will help clients turn complex community priorities into practical strategies and implementable projects.

At Fisher Associates, you will lead multidisciplinary planning and placemaking assignments for public- and private-sector clients. You will guide projects from pursuit through completion, coordinate technical teams, manage client relationships, and bring together planning, transportation, landscape architecture, engineering, environmental, and other disciplines as project needs require.

You will have the opportunity to influence projects at both the strategic and implementation levels. From facilitating community conversations to developing scopes and pursuing new work, you will help clients make informed decisions while building strong teams, developing staff, and expanding Fisher's planning and community design practice.

What You'll Do

• Lead planning, placemaking, and community design projects from proposal and contracting through completion.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, work plans, contracts, deliverables, and project resources.
• Serve as the primary project contact and day-to-day advisor for assigned clients while managing expectations, risks, changes, subconsultants, and project quality.
• Lead comprehensive plans, downtown plans, corridor studies, waterfront revitalization plans, neighborhood plans, land-use studies, zoning initiatives, and community development strategies.
• Develop land-use, zoning, urban design, placemaking, transportation, economic development, and community development recommendations and implementation frameworks.
• Lead client, stakeholder, and public engagement activities, including meetings, workshops, presentations, and facilitation with elected officials, agencies, community organizations, property owners, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop client relationships, pursue new opportunities, lead or support RFQs, RFPs, proposals, interviews, and presentations, and mentor planners and project managers.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, Community Planning, Regional Planning, Urban Design, or a related field.
• 8-12 years of progressively responsible experience in planning, urban design, placemaking, community development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary projects, including scope, schedule, budget, and client relationships.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with municipal clients, public agencies, community stakeholders, and/or private-sector clients.
• Strong understanding of land use, zoning, development regulations, community planning, and public-sector processes.
• Experience with public engagement, facilitation, and presentation to diverse audiences.
• Experience preparing proposals, scopes of work, schedules, and project fees.
• AICP certification.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, ArcGIS, Microsoft Office, and other planning and presentation software.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and competing client needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in planning, Urban Design, or a related field.
• Experience with SketchUp, visualization, or other design/presentation tools.

Why Join Fisher

• Shape meaningful infrastructure, environmental, and community outcomes through work that has visible local and regional impact.
• Grow in a collaborative culture where accessible leaders welcome ideas, feedback, ownership, and professional development.
• Build your career through mentorship, technical learning, leadership opportunities, and exposure to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Thrive in a flexible, team-driven environment that values quality, accountability, work-life balance, and long-term success.
• Lead with influence by developing people, strengthening client relationships, and helping guide the growth of a multidisciplinary practice.

Compensation + Benefits

Salary range: $116,000-$120,000

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Company-paid life and disability insurance.
• Hybrid work schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and strong work-life balance.
• Shareholders program, professional development opportunities and reimbursement, supplemental benefits, and employee groups focused on community, inclusion, and employee voice.

Location Flexibility

This role is aligned to the Buffalo, NY market for planning, placemaking, community design, and multidisciplinary project leadership. Fisher may also consider strong candidates located near Rochester, NY based on project needs, client alignment, team growth priorities, and business development opportunity.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Fisher Associates is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are respected, valued, and empowered to thrive. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law.

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