Urban Designer / Planner (Junior Level) - Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC

We are seeking a talented Urban Designer + Planner with 1-3 years of experience to work in our Philadelphia office. The position requires willingness to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams on design, research, site analysis, graphics, and writing for master planning and design projects. Applicants should have strong graphics, analysis, synthesis, research, verbal and written communication skills, and interest in comprehensive, neighborhood, district and corridor plans, housing and Choice Neighborhoods planning, resiliency planning, and community engagement. This position offers growth potential for a creative problem solver and motivated individual willing to work collaboratively in an inter-disciplinary team with designers and planners.

To ensure that the issues and concerns most important to our clients are effectively addressed, we guide the development of projects through a process that depends upon a sound understanding of community values and aspirations, obtained through early and continuous citizen involvement, and a commitment to understanding the site-specific opportunities and challenges as a basis for strategic decision-making. We’re looking for a highly motivated candidate that shares WRT’s values and collaborative spirit to work on a variety of planning and urban design assignments.

Responsibilities include:

• Perform planning and design assignments with limited supervision
• Collaborate with and support multidisciplinary teams on planning-related tasks  
• Assist in public participation processes and stakeholder facilitation
• Write summary memos and detailed reports
• Synthesize and analyze results of community engagement exercises and community feedback   
• Develop planning-related presentation content and graphics (analysis maps, diagrams, infographics)
• Support the design and layout of engagement materials, presentations, reports, and plans
• Assist in developing design sketches, renderings, models and graphics for presentation and reports
• Assist with marketing and business development initiatives  

The ideal candidate will have:

• Master’s degree in planning and/or Urban Design or a 5-year accredited undergraduate professional degree.
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, landscape architecture, sustainable design or related field is a plus. 
• 1 to 3 years of experience working on planning and urban design projects.
• Excellent interpersonal communication (verbal, written, and graphic), research and collaboration skills.
• Passion for synthesizing complex data into clear ideas and ability to tell a story through excellent visual and written communication.
• Adobe Creative Suite / Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign proficiency required.
• Experience in ArcGIS Pro and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required.
• Proficiency in Rhino and/or AutoCAD, Grasshopper and widely used rendering software such as Lumion, Enscape is a plus.
• Experience in animation, website design, photography, and video editing (e.g., Adobe Lightroom and AfterEffects) is a plus.
• Strong organizational and management skills and ability to work on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Capacity for project-related travel.  
• Interest/willingness to contribute to the full range of our project types within the planning and urban design group

Compensation & Benefits Include*:

• The expected pay range for this position is between $50,000-$60,000 annually, dependent upon education, skills, experience, skillset
• Hybrid/telecommuting work schedule
• 401k plan
• Health benefits (medical, vision, dental, life insurance, EAP, etc.)
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, personal days, parental leave, 7 holidays)
• 8 hours of paid volunteerism
• Licensing Exam Assistance
• Transit benefits
• HSA or FSA Accounts are available based on eligibility requirements

* Above is partial list of benefits provided

How to Apply:  We are passionate about making an impact, and welcome candidates who share our passion and bring diverse experience or non-traditional backgrounds. If you are a driven, creative professional, we welcome you to apply.  Qualified candidates should use the following link:  http://www.wrtdesign.com/contact/careers.  Please submit your cover letter, resume, and portfolio/work samples.  The size limit is 20mb.

Who We Are

As an interdisciplinary team of planners, designers, and strategists, WRT works across scales to create transformative and lasting impacts in social equity, climate resilience, and learning environments. Our clients value our collaborative approach, leadership, and ability to design meaningful solutions that are responsive to their challenges, values, and aspirations. Founded in 1963, WRT was formed on the environmental ethos of designing with nature. In the 60 years since, WRT has remained a mission-driven practice with offices in San Francisco and Philadelphia.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.  We strongly value diversity and an inclusive workplace.