Senior Project Manager - Community Planning

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Schedule

Medical and dental plans

Life insurance

401(k) with match

PTO and paid holidays

Wellness reimbursement

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Mannik Smith Group is seeking a Senior Project Manager for Community Planning in Oakland, CA. The role involves managing large-scale community planning projects and ensuring success in public engagement efforts. With 10+ years of urban planning experience, candidates should be adept at fostering client relationships and developing project strategies. The position offers a flexible hybrid work schedule, competitive compensation between $120,000 and $140,000, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, life insurance, and PTO.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in urban planning.
• Experience in managing general plan, specific plan, and housing elements.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and flexible environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage large community planning efforts.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Nurture client relationships and manage communication.
• Lead public engagement efforts and manage subconsultants.

Skills

Urban planning

Community engagement

Sustainability

Business development

Organizational skills

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Community Planning

Department: Community Planning

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Oakland, CA

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

Description

Alta is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join our Community Planning team in Oakland. 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 Oakland 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