Early Career Federal Planner/Landscape Designer

WSP • Pittsburgh, PA

5d

About The Position

WSP is seeking a full-time Early Career Federal Planner/Landscape Designer to work from Arlington, Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; or Tacoma, Washington. The role is suited to candidates with backgrounds in landscape architecture, planning, architecture, civil engineering, or geographic information systems who want to apply design thinking, site analysis, and visualization skills to complex Federal planning projects.

As part of WSP’s Federal Planning Team, the employee will assist with planning and design for military installations, Federal campuses, and other partner locations in the United States and internationally. Working with planners, architects, engineers, GIS specialists, and other technical professionals, the employee will support stakeholder engagement and help develop master plans, feasibility studies, and conceptual designs. Work includes site analysis; preparation of maps, plans, infographics, and other visualizations; development of planning and design recommendations; and translating technical information into clear planning documents and presentations. Candidates must submit a portfolio or work samples demonstrating planning/design, graphics, and writing skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Architecture, or equivalent.
• 0 to 1 years of relevant post-education experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship, due to client requirements.
• Ability to communicate planning and design ideas through writing, graphics, maps, and presentations.
• Familiarity with discipline-specific software, including AutoCAD and ArcGIS.
• Familiarity with graphic design software, including Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.
• Strong technical writing, research, and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret and analyze spatial data, including site features, environmental and infrastructure data, buildings and structures, land use, and demographic data.
• Familiarity with 3D modeling and visualization software such as Rhino, SketchUp, or Lumion.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple assignments in a dynamic team environment.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision and collaboratively as part of multidisciplinary teams.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office and other business communication and productivity tools.
• Commitment to workplace safety and adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Ability to travel, including overnight stays, to support project workshops and charrettes; travel may be within the continental United States or internationally.
• Submission of a portfolio or work samples demonstrating planning/design, graphics, and writing skills.

Nice To Haves

• Prior internship or professional experience related to master planning, campus planning, military planning, landscape architecture, urban design, site planning, architecture, or community planning.
• Participation in professional organizations such as ASLA, APA, SAME, ULI, or related associations.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparing installation master plans, area development plans, campus plans, facility programming studies, conceptual designs, feasibility analyses, and other planning documents for Federal clients.
• Support field investigations, planning charrettes, stakeholder workshops, and site assessments to document existing conditions and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct site, land use, infrastructure, environmental, and spatial analyses to evaluate existing conditions and inform planning and design recommendations.
• Develop maps, diagrams, renderings, infographics, reports, and other visual communication materials to convey planning concepts, data, and recommendations.
• Help prepare planning reports, technical memoranda, presentations, and other written deliverables communicating user needs, project findings, and planning recommendations.
• Collaborate with landscape architects, urban designers, architects, engineers, environmental specialists, and other technical professionals on multidisciplinary project teams.
• Support Federal projects involving military installations, airfields, ports, industrial facilities, administrative campuses, healthcare facilities, and recreation areas.
• Use CAD, GIS, 3D or 2D design, visualization, and analytical tools to support project studies and planning efforts, while maintaining quality standards for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Complete training on assigned tasks and demonstrate responsible, ethical decision-making in accordance with WSP policies and professional standards.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Disability coverage
• Life coverage
• Retirement savings
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation or other personal time
• Paid parental leave
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings

What This Job Offers

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