Senior Project Manager - Community Planning

Mannik Smith Group; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Schedule

Medical plans

Dental/Vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

Mannik Smith Group is seeking a Senior Project Manager for its Community Planning team in Los Angeles. The role involves leading community planning efforts, managing project scopes and budgets, and fostering client relationships. Ideal candidates have over 10 years of urban planning experience and a commitment to sustainability and equity. Offering a flexible work schedule with an annual salary range of $120,000-$140,000, along with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in urban planning.
• Experience managing general plans and specific planning documents.
• Commitment to sustainability, health, and equity.

Responsibilities

• Manage large community planning efforts.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Nurture client relationships and communication.

Skills

Urban Planning

Community Engagement

Sustainability

Business Development

Client Relationship Management

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Community Planning

Department: Community Planning

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Compensation: $120,000 - $140,000 / year

Description

Alta is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join our Community Planning team in Los Angeles. In this role, you will lead multiple concurrent general plans, specific plans, housing elements, and related planning projects as part of our expanding planning and urban design practice.

About Alta Alta Planning + Design is a climate-friendly community planning and design firm that prioritizes people, advances equity, and creates a safer, more resilient future. Alta acquired Raimi+Associates in 2026. As an Alta company, the R+A team offers expanded services to plan futures, shape places, and design movement. We are dedicated to creating active, healthy communities through planning, landscape architecture, engineering, and education/encouragement programs.

Since its founding in 2006, R+A has served dozens of communities in California and across the nation as trusted advisors, skilled practitioners, imaginative problem solvers, and effective communicators. The R+A team now comprises Alta’s Community Planning business line, specializing in helping communities achieve their long-term visions by listening to and learning from ordinary people, partnering closely with our clients, and relying on our keen eye for place.

Alta’s core values and work bring about positive change by creating places geared toward moving people rather than cars, connecting community, and empowering every person to live an active healthy life. As a national leader in creating healthy communities for 30 years, we are dedicated to connecting people to places by working across disciplines and scale to address social justice, safety, sustainability, and environmental resilience.

Day to Day

• Managing large community planning efforts, such as general plans, specific plans, housing elements, and other related planning documents updates.
• Developing project scopes of work, schedules, and budgets, and managing these effectively over the course of multi-year planning processes.
• Nurturing client relationships, overseeing client communication and management.
• Managing teams of subconsultants and technical experts.
• Leading inclusive public engagement efforts.
• Preparing proposals and supporting advanced marketing.

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years of experience in urban planning in the public or private sector including demonstrated experience managing general plan, specific plan, housing element, and/or other planning documents.
• Experience preparing community engagement plans and leading successful public outreach and participation programs, especially in diverse communities.
• Commitment to incorporating sustainability, health, and equity into planning and design.
• Experience with business development including proposal writing and advanced marketing for new projects. Ability to cultivate lasting relationships with clients.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and flexible environment, while remaining organized and focused within the demands of consulting.

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.

Compensation

The pay range for this job in Los Angeles is $120,000-$140,000 annually. Placement within the range is based upon experience, skill-sets, and qualifications.

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, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities

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