Urban Designer/Planner Level 1

Able City is a firm that integrates architecture, planning, economic development, and community engagement to enable cities to respond effectively to their challenges and opportunities. Able City is contributing to the equitable evolution of cities by helping citizens define quality of life and responding to these community needs through our proven methodologies, planning, and design work. We have a passionate office culture centered around our company’s value proposition to make cities great places for everyone.

In order to achieve our shared value proposition in a sustainable manner and strengthen our award-winning team, we are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled Designer for our Planning Studio.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and passionate Designer to join our team and assist in urban design, GIS, economic development, community engagement, comprehensive planning, and/or environmental planning. They can expect challenging assignments and will be afforded the opportunity to work on both public and private projects, gaining experience on both sides of the development process. Although they will work closely with senior planners and supervisors, planners at this level can expect a certain degree of autonomy.

Location: This role is open to San Antonio, TX or El Paso, TX.

Key Responsibilities:

As an Urban Designer/Planner Level 1, you will be asked to:

Contribute to Comprehensive Plans, land development projects, long-term planning, and economic development strategies.
Independently apply advanced planning concepts and designs.
Assist in the authoring of in-house planning assets such as: model libraries, graphic templates and standards, presentations, policy and ordinance libraries.
Research and assist in writing technical reports.
Assist in community engagement activities — sometimes held on evenings and weekends.
Model and design at the neighborhood scale.
Illustrate plans and 3D visuals for presentations and reports.
Participate and/or facilitate community meetings, design charrettes; start and sustain community engagement from a place of learning and listening.
Create customized maps using GIS.
Convert GIS maps for presentations and reports (includes graphic post-processing on Adobe suite).

Knowledge Base

Familiar with planning urban design, housing, historic preservation.
Space planning
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Statistical skills and knowledge of GIS.
Experience with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and other presentation graphic software.
Travel is sometimes required

Preferred Qualities

Passionate about affecting change at the local level; committed to empowering citizens — especially those who have been historically marginalized by the planning process — to steer and shape their city’s future
Ability to work with a diverse team
Detail-oriented and technical, yet experienced enough to see the big picture
Flexible and able to adapt to rapidly changing project requirements and deadlines

Qualifications

Minimum 2 years of experience
BArch and/or Masters in Architecture or Landscape Architecture
Proficiency with graphic software programs such as Sketch Up, Photoshop, or other industry-recognized software, and Adobe Creative Suite to develop design documents, 3D renderings and presentation graphics.
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Highly motivated self starter with a strong attention to detail and accuracy of work
Ability to work with a diverse team, be flexible and adapt to changing project requirements and schedules
Ability to work at a variety of scales from the big picture to the detail-oriented
A passion and commitment to the equitable and sustainable development of cities

Salary Range and Benefits

$55k – $65k
100% contribution to health insurance plan and access to 401(k) plan

Contact information

[email protected] / [email protected]