Senior Planning Project Manager — Urban & Land Use

Pape-Dawson; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pape-Dawson Engineers in Chattanooga is seeking a Project Manager, Planning to lead community and land-use planning projects for federal, state, and local clients. This role blends technical planning with project leadership to deliver on time and on budget.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in planning, 6+ years of experience, and an active AICP certification. You will coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, manage scopes and budgets, and engage stakeholders to shape Chattanooga’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Community/Regional Planning, Urban Planning, or related field.
• 6+ years of professional planning experience.
• Active AICP certification required.
• Demonstrated experience managing planning projects and small teams.
• Strong knowledge of zoning, land-use regulations, and community engagement processes.
• Strong financial management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and client-facing communication skills.
• Ability to work Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with overtime and occasional evening public meetings as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage planning projects from scope development through final adoption and implementation.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and staffing plans.
• Serve as primary point of contact for clients, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination with engineering, environmental, and related teams.
• Oversee preparation of comprehensive plans, zoning updates, land-use studies, corridor plans, and related planning documents.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal land-use and environmental requirements.
• Monitor financial performance, including forecasting, invoicing support, and budget tracking.
• Lead community engagement efforts including workshops, public meetings, and stakeholder coordination.
• Mentor and supervise planners and technical staff, providing guidance and performance feedback.
• Support business development efforts through proposal preparation, interviews, and client relationship building.
• Uphold QA/QC standards and ensure high-quality deliverables.

Skills

Project management

Zoning knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Community/Regional Planning, Urban Planning, or related field

Job description

Pape-Dawson Engineers in Chattanooga is seeking a Project Manager, Planning to lead community and land-use planning projects for federal, state, and local clients. This role blends technical planning with project leadership to deliver on time and on budget.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in planning, 6+ years of experience, and an active AICP certification. You will coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, manage scopes and budgets, and engage stakeholders to shape Chattanooga’s