Sr. Project Manager - PLA

LJA Engineering, Inc.; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Time Off

Comprehensive Benefits

Family Support

Education Support

Referral Bonuses

Community Impact

Professional Development

Career Growth

Fun Culture

Job summary

LJA Engineering, Inc. is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the Public Planning team within the Placemaking + Resilience Group.

You will manage professionals delivering community planning, urban and landscape design, and graphics production, while mentoring staff and driving project profitability for public sector clients. Role requires strong leadership, client relationship skills, and the ability to coordinate with councils, boards, and agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in City Planning or related field required.
• Minimum 10 years in municipal planning and design, with leadership.
• Experience leading public planning and design projects and teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership within the Placemaking + Resilience Group.
• Lead a team delivering community planning and urban design projects.
• Advise councils and officials on planning and design issues.
• Develop business by marketing to existing and new clients.
• Prepare scope, budget, and schedule for projects.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Public planning

Client relationship management

Communication with gov agencies

Budgeting & profitability

Resource planning

Education

Bachelor's Degree in City Planning or related field

Master's Degree preferred

AICP Certification or ability to acquire

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative

ArcGIS Pro

GIS mapping

Job description

WHAT PHARIS DESIGN AN LJA COMPANY HAS TO OFFER

Pharis Design an LJA Company is offering an exciting opportunity that will allow you to reach your full career potential. The structure of our organization is designed to amplify your capabilities while gaining the benefits of being an employee-owner. What truly sets this opportunity apart is the chance to collaborate every day with dedicated, skilled, and supportive leaders. Whether you are in the office, in the field, or behind the scenes, working at LJA gives you the chance to grow through hands‑on experience and exposure to a broad range of clients and services.

WHAT MAKES PHARIS DESIGN AN LJA COMPANY DIFFERENT

At Pharis Design an LJA Company , our employee‑owners take pride in their work and their workplace. We’re guided by leaders who foster a culture of respect, collaboration and a shared vision of success. Our difference is evident in the experiences and opportunities we provide:

• Employee‑owned. Client‑focused
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Consistently ranked as a Top Workplace
• Internal recruitment team, in‑house training, and a marketing department specific to our industry
• We celebrate flexibility, allowing every team and office to lead with their proven approach
• Our culture champions continuous learning and personal growth
• We believe success comes through constant evolution and communication
• We are passionate about having fun and making money, all while creating impact

POSITION OVERVIEW: As a Sr. Project Manager at Pharis Design an LJA Company, you will be responsible for managing members of the Public Planning team and participating in advanced, professional planning and design activities. The Senior Project Manager will also lead strategic efforts and mentoring within the Placemaking + Resilience Group. Candidate must have experience in project management,business development, team building, and project profitability forPublic Sector City Planning and Design projects. Requires strong leadership and communication skills with team members, clients, and governmental agencies.

A TYPICAL DAY MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Provide overall strategic leadership within the Placemaking + Resilience Group to enhance client relationships, work products, and team skills.
• Lead a team of public planning professionals responsible for producing community planning, urban and landscape design, and graphic & technical production.
• Advise various councils, boards, commissions, and elected/appointed officials on planning and design-related issues.
• Serve as liaison and perform necessary functions in support of public client planning and development departments.
• Evaluate and prepare reports on operations & activities, recommend improvements and modifications.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration.
• Create, administer, and supervise public outreach campaigns for planning and design efforts.
• Develop business by marketing company to existing clients and identifying and marketing to new clients.
• Support technical efforts for business development such aspreparation of responses to RFPs and RFQs, preparation for presentations, and interfacing/coordinating the efforts of the Placemaking and Resilience Group.
• Develop and assist in preparation of scope, budget, and schedule.

REQUIRED EDUCATION/LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in City Planning, Public Affairs, Public Administration, or other related fields.
• Masters Degree preferred.
• AICP Certification or ability to acquire.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning and design
• Minimum seven years of experience as a practice leader and manager with direct reports
• Problem-solving ability
• Creative and innovative design skills
• Reading comprehension skills to understand complex technical and legal materials
• Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative, and ArcGIS Pro software; social media and website design and development
• Advanced GIS mapping skills
• Create advanced graphics and layouts in Adobe Creative

LEVEL UP WITH LJA

At LJA, we’re 100% employee‑owned. This drives results, rewards ambition and supports long‑term success for every team member. With almost 100 locations and 3,000+ employee‑owners (and growing), we’re building something big! We want you to be part of it. Your future grows here.

• Generous Time Off: PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets. Along with mental health support.
• Family Support: Paid maternity and parental leave to help you focus on what matters most.
• Education Support: Tuition reimbursement and in‑house courses provided by our Learning and Development team.
• Referral Bonuses: Know great talent? Get rewarded for helping us grow.
• Community Impact: Company‑sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
• Professional Development: Memberships to industry organizations to keep you connected and growing.
• Career Growth: Great internal mobility opportunities to advance your career.
• Fun Culture: LJA social events, employee sports teams, bring your kid to work day, etc.

To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: LJA Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered LJA's property. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting LJA's Human Resources Talent Department.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.