Senior Planning Associate - Puget Sound Market Leader

Mannik Smith Group; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid schedule

Hybrid work model

Office in Seattle

Job summary

Alta Planning + Design is seeking a Senior Planning Associate to lead Puget Sound market initiatives from Seattle, WA. You will oversee transportation projects, mentor staff, and drive business development while collaborating with the NW team and Trilon Group partners.

The role emphasizes sustainable transportation, active mobility, and community impact, with a hybrid work schedule and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• 8–14 years as a Transportation Planner; 4+ years as a Project Manager.
• Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field; master’s preferred.
• Strong interest in active/non-motorized transportation.
• Ability to guide staff and manage internal teams.
• Willingness to travel and lead business development.
• Proficient in MS Excel, Project and Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional and city transportation projects from planning to concept development.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, and scopes; mentor staff.
• Drive business development and client relationships in NW region.
• Coordinate with cross-office teams and Alta/Trilon groups.
• Present at industry events and professional associations.

Skills

Project management

People management

Business development

Presentation skills

Leadership

Travel readiness

Decision making

Active transportation knowledge

MS Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Urban and Regional Planning or another relevant field

Master’s degree in Urban/Regional Planning

Tools

MS Project

Deltek VantagePoint

MS SharePoint/Teams

Job description

Senior Planning Associate - Puget Sound Market Leader

Department: Planning

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Seattle, WA

Compensation: $120,000 - $160,000 / year

Description

Alta Planning + Design is looking for an experienced Planning Associate or Senior Planning Associate to join our team in Seattle, and serve as a Puget Sound Market Leader. This is a unique opportunity for somebody passionate about sustainable transportation and positively impacting our communities; an experienced practitioner who’s ready to take the next step in their career with a rapidly growing company in the Seattle metro area. In this role, you will work on a variety of sustainable transportation projects, focused on making a positive impact on communities around the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest.

If you are looking for a mission-focused company that is an industry leader in active transportation planning and design, TDM, analytics, multimodal safety, greenways, and sustainable mobility, apply with us today!

About Alta Alta is a mission-driven company working to mitigate climate change and advance safety and social justice by shaping sustainable, people-centered communities. We bring together expertise across planning, design, engineering, education and encouragement programs, and community engagement to help communities thrive. Our work is grounded in the belief that how places are designed and experienced has a profound impact on equity, health, and opportunity—and that people should always be at the heart of those decisions.

Founded in 1996, Alta was at the forefront of the active transportation movement and has spent 30 years partnering with communities to imagine a more connected, resilient, and inclusive future. Today, with more than 225 staff across the United States and beyond, we are a global leader in creating environments that support everyday life, strengthen human connection, and respond to the challenges of a changing world. As one of Alta’s oldest and most established offices, our Seattle team and an enduring commitment to helping to shape the active transportation networks of communities across the Puget Sound region, Washington State and beyond. Alta offers the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines and service areas, contribute to meaningful work at every scale, and be part of a team committed to making lasting, positive change for people and the places they call home.

Day to Day

This role will be leading important projects including regional/city/district-wide transportation and safety plans, corridor studies and site-level concept development, analysis, engagement, and/or other service areas depending on the individual’s specific areas of expertise. Day to day responsibilities for this role would include:

• Project management for a variety of transportation projects from planning and analysis to preliminary design. Drive the success of planning projects and provide technical guidance on the sustainable projects we work on.
• Implementing best practices and process improvements to enhance project delivery efficiency and effectiveness.
• Prepare and manage schedule, budgets, and scope of services for projects.
• Contribute to workload balancing across NW planning staff.
• Lead business development and marketing activities within the NW and other relevant service areas, nurturing relationships with clients and partners.
• Attend industry conferences and professional organization meetings to conduct business development and present on Alta’s work.
• Direct staff management of 1-2 staff in our Downtown Seattle office.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to staff across offices, helping their professional development and career growth.
• Collaborate closely with staff from Alta’s other offices and services areas, as well as Alta’s colleagues within the Trilon Group of companies.

Qualifications

Required

This position requires a combination of skill, experience and education, including but not limited to:

• 8-14 years of experience as a Transportation Planner in a consulting environment or public entity; 4+ years as a Project Manager; experience or interest in managing staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in Community Development, Urban and Regional Planning or another relevant field.
• Strong interest, knowledge, and experience in the field of active, non-motorized transportation.
• Experience with project management principles, methods, and techniques. Ability to manage competing priorities, multiple simultaneous projects involving cross-functional project teams within budgetary and schedule constraints.
• Ability to guide staff members and manage internal team expectations.
• Exhibits strong initiative and ability to create and capitalize on opportunities to enhance Alta’s position in the marketplace. 3+ years experience in business development and marketing.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Excellent professional ethics, leadership skills, accountability, and decision-making capabilities.
• Good presentation skills.
• Working knowledge of MS Excel, Word, MS Project or equivalent.

Additional skills, experience and education that would be beneficial to this position include:

• Master’s degree in Urban/Regional Planning, or a related field of study. Candidates with this or the same Master’s degree credentials would not necessarily need to meet the specific Bachelor degree requirement listed above.
• Experience using Deltek VantagePoint, MS Sharepoint/Teams.
• Active participation in industry-relevant professional associations and committees.

What We Offer

Flexible Schedule

Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In-office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values. Our Seattle office is located in Belltown.

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $160,000 per year, and is not inclusive of additional performance bonuses. This range reflects the company’s good faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location.

Benefits

• Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans, Alta pays 75% of the cost.
• Dental/Vision: PPO, Alta pays 90% of the cost.
• Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation.
• 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%.
• PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start.
• Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability.
• Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, a 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities.