Senior Occupancy & Design Strategy Lead

JLL; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

JLL is seeking a Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager to lead strategic occupancy planning and design governance for a major financial services client across workplace and retail portfolios.

You will translate business requirements into space solutions, develop feasibility studies, and guide projects from programming through construction, shaping a scalable workplace strategy that enhances employee experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or related field.
• 7-10+ years of experience in workplace planning, occupancy planning, architecture, interior design, or related disciplines.
• Experience supporting financial services institutions, retail banking environments, or large corporate portfolios is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading corporate workplace renovations, workplace transformation initiatives, and/or retail design projects.
• Strong understanding of occupancy planning methodologies, workplace standards, utilization analytics, and portfolio planning.
• Proven ability to create and evaluate feasibility studies, scenario models, test fits, and space allocation plans.
• Experience working directly with architects, designers, and project managers throughout project lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of workplace guidelines, spatial relationships, furniture planning, and building systems.
• Knowledge of WELL Building Standard, LEED certification, and sustainability initiatives preferred.
• Strong PowerPoint skills with ability to develop executive-level presentations and planning recommendations.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, and Matterport platforms.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Corporate Real Estate, Workplace Experience, Project Management, and business leaders to identify workplace requirements and translate them into planning solutions.
• Develop stack plans, test fits, feasibility studies, capacity analyses, and scenario modeling to support business and real estate decisions.
• Analyze occupancy, utilization, and portfolio data to identify optimization opportunities and drive strategic recommendations.
• Establish and uphold workplace standards, planning guidelines, and brand governance requirements.
• Review and guide architectural and design deliverables from programming through construction.
• Support workplace transformation initiatives, relocations, consolidations, and portfolio optimization projects.
• Develop executive-level presentations and recommendations for client stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Collaborate with project teams to ensure occupancy requirements, design standards, budgets, and schedules remain aligned.

Job description

JLL is seeking a Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager to lead strategic occupancy planning and design governance for a major financial services client across workplace and retail portfolios.

You will translate business requirements into space solutions, develop feasibility studies, and guide projects from programming through construction, shaping a scalable workplace strategy that enhances employee experience.