Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager

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 has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager supporting a key financial services client across its workplace and retail portfolios.

This highly visible role combines strategy, occupancy planning, portfolio optimization, and design management responsibilities to deliver innovative, efficient, and future-forward environments that support business objectives, employee experience, customer engagement, and operational excellence.

As a trusted advisor, you will translate business requirements into physical space solutions by leading occupancy planning initiatives and providing standards and branding governance for real estate’s renovation and new build projects from programming through construction. You will play a critical role in contributing to their workplace strategy and design solutions that support business objectives to enhance the employee experience. You will leverage data, workplace trends, and strategic planning expertise to develop innovative and scalable workplace solutions across a diverse portfolio.

Key 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or related field.
• Minimum 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.
• Working knowledge of local building codes, ADA requirements, and accessibility standards.
• 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.

Key Relationships

Success in this role requires building strong partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups and ensuring accurate communication of planning recommendations and business requirements.

You will regularly collaborate with:

• Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Portfolio Planning teams to support real estate objectives and portfolio initiatives.
• Workplace Experience teams to align planning solutions with employee experience goals.
• Project Management teams to support project scope development, delivery, budgeting, and scheduling.
• Facilities Management teams to ensure operational requirements are incorporated into planning solutions.
• Architecture, Design, and Construction partners to validate planning concepts and FF&E standards.
• Business leaders and lines of business to understand operational needs, growth forecasts, and workplace requirements.

Sound like you? Before you apply, it is also worth knowing what we are looking for:

Strategic, Analytical, and Innovative

You are a planning professional who combines strong analytical skills with strategic thinking. You can interpret occupancy and utilization data, identify trends, and develop practical recommendations that support business outcomes.

You are comfortable presenting information to stakeholders at all organizational levels and can clearly communicate complex planning concepts through reports, visualizations, and presentations.

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, AutoCAD, and presentation development is highly valued. Your ability to connect data, workplace strategy, and business objectives enables you to deliver innovative planning solutions that maximize portfolio performance.

Organized, Collaborative, and Adaptable

You thrive in a dynamic environment and are comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously. You are proactive, detail-oriented, and able to adjust quickly as business needs evolve.

Excellent relationship-building skills are essential, as you will regularly engage with executive leaders, cross-functional partners, and project stakeholders. You are a collaborative team player who values diverse perspectives and contributes to a positive and inclusive work environment.

What You Can Expect From Us

You will join a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive culture where we succeed together across teams, functions, and geographies. Our Total Rewards program reflects our commitment to helping you achieve your professional and personal goals through competitive compensation, career development opportunities, well-being programs, and comprehensive benefits.

At JLL, you will have the opportunity to gain experience your expertise, expand your impact, and help shape the future of the workplace.