Senior Urban Design & Planning Leader

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking an energetic, team-oriented urban design principal to join our Northern California studio in San Francisco. You will lead the development of an urban design and planning practice, guiding interdisciplinary teams and pursuing new opportunities to shape vibrant, sustainable urban spaces.

With 15+ years in the field and an AICP certification, you will drive design excellence from concept through implementation, mentor staff, and collaborate across HDR’s global practice to deliver

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional work as an urban designer, with leadership of commercial-scale projects
• AICP certification with regional experience
• Proven track record in pursuing and winning large-scale planning and urban design projects across disciplines
• Strong master planning and design skills for urban and institutionally scaled projects
• Collaborative experience in an interdisciplinary design studio across planning and design phases
• Ability to recruit and retain staff
• Experience integrating sustainable design processes early in projects

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of an urban design and planning practice in the SF studio
• Direct interdisciplinary teams across civic, institutional, campus, transit-oriented, and mixed-use projects
• Lead public realm design and planning from concept to implementation
• Apply sustainability principles to diverse project types
• Mentor junior, mid-level, and senior staff
• Develop new business opportunities with clients leveraging HDR’s multidisciplinary expertise
• Maintain client relations and present proposals to stakeholders
• Provide design leadership for infrastructure, urban development, and public realm in urban environments

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Business development

Public speaking

Concept design

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in urban design/landscape architecture

AICP certification

Tools

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Rhino

Adobe Creative Suite

RiNo

Grasshopper

Lumion

Enscape

V-Ray

Job description

HDR is seeking an energetic, team-oriented urban design principal to join our Northern California studio in San Francisco. You will lead the development of an urban design and planning practice, guiding interdisciplinary teams and pursuing new opportunities to shape vibrant, sustainable urban spaces.

With 15+ years in the field and an AICP certification, you will drive design excellence from concept through implementation, mentor staff, and collaborate across HDR’s global practice to deliver