Urban Planner

Kimley-Horn; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two to one retirement match

Health coverage

Paid time off and flexible scheduling

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Parental leave and family benefits

Job summary

Kimley-Horn is seeking an Urban Planner in Orange, CA, with 3+ years of experience to support a growing team. You will integrate land use, mobility, housing, and environmental planning into forward-thinking policies and deliver holistic solutions with multidisciplinary teams.

The role involves preparing reports, engaging stakeholders, and contributing to General Plans and zoning updates while advancing client goals and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in policy planning, urban planning, environmental planning, or related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Environmental Science, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Strong understanding of land use, mobility, housing policies, and environmental planning frameworks.
• Experience supporting General Plans, specific plans, zoning code updates, and housing elements.
• Familiarity with California planning laws and state statutes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for reports and presentations.
• Experience with public engagement processes, including workshops, outreach campaigns, and community meetings.
• Proficiency with GIS, Adobe products, Microsoft Office, and other planning tools/software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and interpret data to inform city, county, and regional plans.
• Prepare technical reports, impact analyses, and presentations for decision-making.
• Develop and implement plans and policies for local and regional projects including land use, mobility, housing, and environmental sustainability.
• Collaborate with agencies, stakeholders, and communities to align policies with client needs and regulations.
• Support public outreach efforts, including workshops and hearings, to foster engagement.

Skills

Policy planning

Urban planning

Public policy

Land use

Mobility

Environmental planning

Communication

Public engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Environmental Science

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GIS

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Kimley-Horn is seeking a motivated Urban Planner with 3+ years of experience to support our dynamic and growing team in Orange, CA. This role offers exciting opportunities to shape forward-thinking policies, work on impactful planning projects, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team.

As an Urban Planner, you’ll help communities plan for the future by integrating innovative solutions in land use, mobility, housing, environmental planning, and urban policy. Guided by Kimley-Horn's commitment to excellence, you’ll play a pivotal role in developing creative strategies that improve the quality of life for the people we serve.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and interpret data to provide actionable insights for city, county, and regional plans.
• Prepare technical reports, impact analyses, and presentations to guide decision-making at the municipal and regional levels.
• Develop and implement plans and policies for local and regional projects, including land use, mobility, housing, and environmental sustainability.
• Collaborate with agencies, stakeholders, and communities to craft policies aligned with client needs and regulatory requirements.
• Support public outreach efforts, including workshops, stakeholder meetings, and hearings, to foster community engagement and consensus.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and other applicable statutes.
• Identify and integrate best practices and policy trends into planning projects.
• Work collaboratively with other urban planners, designers, environmental planners, and engineers to deliver holistic solutions.
• Contribute to client relationships through excellent communication and exceptional service delivery.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in policy planning, urban planning, environmental planning, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Environmental Science, or a closely related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Strong understanding of land use, mobility, housing policies, and environmental planning frameworks.
• Experience supporting General Plans, specific plans, zoning code updates, and housing elements.
• Familiarity with California planning laws and state statutes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare concise and impactful reports and presentations.
• Experience with public engagement processes, including workshops, outreach campaigns, and community meetings.
• Experience supporting proposal developmentsProficiency with GIS, Adobe products, Microsoft Office, and other planning tools/software.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build relationships with clients, stakeholders, and interdisciplinary team members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, or Environmental Studies.
• Experience supporting General Plans, specific plans, zoning code updates, and housing elements.
• Support proposal developments
• AICP certification or progress toward certification.
• Familiarity with visualization software such as Adobe Creative Suite or SketchUp a plus.

Salary Range:

$100,000 to $115,000

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it— that’s why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn’s placement on the Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work” list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.