Senior Planner / Planning Leader

Verdantas; Pawtucket (RI); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Environment

Paid Parental Leave

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life and AD&D Insurance

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off + Holidays

Job summary

Verdantas, a sustainability-focused environmental and civil infrastructure firm, seeks a Senior Planner/Planning Leader to launch and grow a Northeast planning group. You will lead municipal and state projects, mentor staff, and integrate planning with Verdantas’ engineering disciplines.

Strong client relations and public engagement are essential. Ideal candidates bring 8–15+ years in public-sector planning, proficiency with ArcGIS Pro/Online and InDesign, and a collaborative, growth-oriented

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s with significant planning experience.
• 8–15+ years of professional planning experience, with strong public-sector focus.
• Experience leading planning projects and managing client relationships.
• Experience with State and Local governments in Northeast area.
• Strong understanding of municipal and state planning processes, zoning codes, and public engagement.
• Proficiency with planning/visualization tools such as ArcGIS Pro/Online and Adobe InDesign.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present to boards and officials.
• AICP certification is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex planning projects for municipal, county, regional, and state government clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on land use planning, zoning, and policy initiatives.
• Work with market leaders to identify and execute capture planning for government work.
• Provide technical oversight and quality control for planning studies, plans, and reports.
• Collaborate with civil, transportation, environmental, and water teams for integrated solutions.
• Support business development, client relationships, scopes, and fee estimates for government projects.
• Mentor planners and support staff development and growth.
• Participate in public meetings and stakeholder engagements.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Public engagement

Strategic thinking

Written & verbal communication

Education

Master's degree in Urban Planning or related field

Bachelor’s degree with significant planning experience

Tools

ArcGIS Pro/Online

Adobe InDesign

Job description

Hybrid

Wilmington DE

Remote-PA

Newmarket, NH

Littleton NH

Remote-NY

Bedminster NJ

Remote-NJ

Syracuse NY

Remote-NH

New York NY

Ossipee, NH

New London, NH

Newport VT

Conway NH

Remote-MD

Remote-MA

Lehigh Valley PA

Wilkes Barre PA

Somerville NJ

Pawtucket RI

Easton MA

Remote-DE

Remote-CT

Yarmouth ME

Middletown CT

Holden MA

Manchester NH

Freeport ME

Dover DE

Warren NJ

Philadelphia PA

Vestal NY

Long Island NY

Beacon NY

Harrisburg PA

Full time

R-100727

Welcome to Verdantas, where innovation meets sustainability, and your career finds purpose!

At Verdantas, we’re redefining environmental consulting and sustainable engineering through our use of cutting-edge modeling and digital technology and our genuine commitment to people. Our work spans high-growth sectors like water resources, resilient land use, energy transformation, and civil infrastructure.

Our commitment to excellence, across more than 90 offices, is championed by a team of over 2,000 experts, scientists, engineers, geologists, and technical specialists, embedded in a people-focused culture, prioritizing the well-being of our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We partner with clients to deliver smart, data-driven solutions to complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. We don’t just solve problems; we help shape a more sustainable future.

Join a people-first culture that values your well-being, empowers your growth, and amplifies your impact. At Verdantas, your career goes beyond the expected, and your work helps build a better world.

Ready to shape the future of resilient communities?

Verdantas is seeking a Senior Planner / Planning Leader to launch and grow a new planning group across the Northeast , working side by side with our established environmental, water, energy, and civil infrastructure teams. Preferred location is within the Northeast Area (i.e., New England, New York, and the MidAtlantic), with flexibility across Verdanta's office locations.

This role offers a unique opportunity to build a team from the ground up while embedding planning expertise into integrated solutions for public-sector and government clients. This position plays a key role in connecting planning services with Verdantas’ existing technical disciplines, strengthening our ability to deliver integrated, client-focused solutions for public-sector and government agencies.

As a Senior Planner, you will support complex planning projects, mentor planning staff, and support strategic growth of Verdantas’ government-focused planning services in the Northeast. This role will work closely with engineers, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and market sector leaders to deliver integrated solutions for municipalities, counties, state agencies, and regional authorities.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and manage complex planning projects for municipal, county, regional, and state government clients
• Serve as a trusted advisor to public-sector clients on land use planning, zoning, comprehensive plans, redevelopment, transportation planning, and policy initiatives
• Work with Area Market Sector Leaders to identify, lead, and execute capture planning efforts as part of active business development
• Provide technical oversight and quality control for planning studies, plans, and reports
• Collaborate with civil, transportation, environmental, and water teams to deliver multidisciplinary solutions
• Support business development efforts, including client relationships, proposal development, scopes, and fee estimates for government projects
• Mentor and guide planners and emerging professionals; support staff development and team growth
• Participate in public meetings, stakeholder engagement, and elected-official presentations
• Help shape the strategic direction of Verdantas’ planning group in the Northeast, with a focus on government growth, long-term contracts, and trusted-client relationships

What You Bring:

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Geography, or a related field; or a Bachelor’s degree with significant progressive planning experience
• 8–15+ years of professional planning experience, with a strong emphasis on public-sector work
• Demonstrated experience leading planning projects and client relationships
• Experience and established relationships with State and Local governments in one or more of the states within the Northeast Area
• Strong understanding of municipal and state planning processes, zoning codes, land development regulations, and public engagement
• Proficiency with planning and visualization tools (ArcGIS Pro/Online, Adobe InDesign, and related platforms)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to boards, commissions, and elected officials
• Ability to think strategically, manage multiple priorities, and support market growth initiatives
• AICP certification is preferred but not required

Salary Range:

The compensation range for this position is $100,000 - $115,000, with final compensation determined based on years of experience, qualifications, and licensing status.

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Environment
• Paid Parental Leave
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off + Holidays

Verdantas strives to develop new ways to increase diversity awareness within our organization. We recruit and reward our employees based on capability and performance — regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, educational background, national origin, religion, or physical ability. For us, it is imperative to build balanced teams from all walks of life and we believe that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.

Verdantas is an EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet

Ready for what’s next?

Your future starts here.