Associate, Environmental Land Use Planner

Ramboll • Princeton, NJ

1d • $58,416 - $73,020

About The Position

Ramboll is seeking a highly motivated early-career land use planner to support zoning, entitlement, land use, and development strategy initiatives for clients. The planner will assist senior planners and project managers with zoning research, ordinance analysis, permitting strategy, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of land use approvals for development projects. The position is suited to a planner with strong research, writing, and analytical skills and an interest in municipal land use regulation, economic development, and project entitlements. The role is based in Ramboll’s Princeton, New Jersey; Blue Bell, Pennsylvania; or Binghamton, New York office.

The position supports research and analysis of zoning ordinances and planning regulations, preparation of entitlement materials and applications, monitoring regulatory developments, and coordination with project teams and stakeholders. The successful candidate will help communicate findings, track project and entitlement progress, and support due diligence and implementation for development projects.

Ramboll describes sustainability, inclusion, and flexibility as part of its approach to work. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States full-time; sponsorship is not available. The stated annual base salary range is $58,416 to $73,020. Actual pay may vary based on factors including experience, location, internal equity, market conditions, education, training, and skills; the range excludes bonuses, overtime, and other compensation or benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Land Use Planning, Geography, Public Administration, Environmental Studies, or a related field.
• 0–3 years of professional planning, land use, GIS, development, or related experience.
• Strong research, technical writing, and analytical skills.
• Ability to read and interpret zoning ordinances, municipal codes, planning documents, and development regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Interest in infrastructure development, economic development, data centers, energy projects, and municipal planning processes.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with GIS, ArcGIS, or mapping software.
• Curiosity and attention to detail in research.
• Comfort navigating complex zoning and regulatory documents.
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise, actionable recommendations.
• Self-motivation and willingness to learn from senior planners and project managers.
• Interest in how zoning, permitting, and entitlement strategies support large-scale development projects.
• Collaborative approach and ability to support multiple projects across municipalities and jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research and analysis of municipal zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans, subdivision and land development regulations, and related planning documents under senior planning staff guidance.
• Prepare entitlement matrices and jurisdiction-specific guidance documents for project teams and clients.
• Support applications for rezonings, zoning text amendments, conditional uses, special exceptions, variances, and land development approvals.
• Monitor municipal meetings, ordinance amendments, moratoria, and other regulatory developments that could affect development timelines and entitlements.
• Assist with developing and maintaining project tracking tools, zoning databases, schedules, and status reports.
• Prepare technical memoranda, briefing materials, maps, presentations, and reports communicating planning and zoning findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support due diligence reviews for prospective project sites, including analysis of land use regulations, utility considerations, development standards, and approval requirements.
• Coordinate with engineers, environmental professionals, legal counsel, surveyors, and development teams to support project implementation and entitlement strategies.
• Maintain organized project records and accurate documentation of regulatory requirements, municipal decisions, and entitlement milestones.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level