Principal Planner

Apex Companies • Naples, FL

12h

About The Position

Apex Companies is seeking an experienced Principal Planner to lead and grow its Planning practice. This senior leadership position is responsible for the group's overall success, including team leadership, project delivery, client relationships, business development, financial performance, and long-term practice growth. The Principal Planner provides strategic and technical leadership across public- and private-sector projects such as comprehensive planning, land development codes, corridor and area plans, master planning, entitlements, residential and commercial development, parks and recreational facilities, institutional projects, and other community development initiatives.

The role oversees the planning team and projects from proposal and scope development through completion. It includes staff development, workload planning, technical quality, project financial management, client relationship development, and business growth. The Principal Planner coordinates with clients and multidisciplinary teams, reviews planning and entitlement documents, represents projects before public agencies and community stakeholders, and reports performance to company leadership.

Apex describes itself as a growing consulting and engineering firm that invests in employee development and offers autonomy and flexibility. The position is eligible for annual bonus opportunities and a $20,000 sign-on bonus, subject to the company's program terms and conditions.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible planning experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Current AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification through the American Planning Association (APA).
• Demonstrated experience leading planning projects, teams, and client relationships.
• Strong knowledge of comprehensive planning, zoning, land development regulations, entitlements, and development review processes.

Nice To Haves

• Planning experience in consulting, land use planning, community development, entitlements, or municipal planning.
• Experience with business development, proposal development, client management, and practice growth.
• Florida planning and land development experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide strategic direction for the Planning practice, including staff development, workload planning, technical quality, financial performance, and long-term growth.
• Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing team of planners, designers, technicians, and supporting professionals.
• Promote a collaborative, accountable, client-focused team environment and support recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and career growth.
• Lead preparation and review of comprehensive plans, land development codes, plan amendments, corridor and specific area plans, master plans, feasibility studies, conceptual site plans, and entitlement documents.
• Provide senior-level planning guidance for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, institutional, transportation, and other public- and private-sector development projects.
• Research and evaluate land use, zoning, development standards, infrastructure, environmental conditions, transportation access, permitting history, and other factors affecting project feasibility and entitlements.
• Coordinate with clients, engineers, architects, attorneys, municipal staff, developers, and other stakeholders to establish objectives and develop planning and development strategies.
• Oversee Comprehensive Plans, Plan Amendments, and Plan Updates in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes and local land development regulations.
• Review site plans, zoning applications, comprehensive plan amendments, and other planning and entitlement documents for technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality.
• Represent clients and projects before municipal staff, planning boards, elected officials, community organizations, and other public agencies.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with municipalities, developers, property owners, architects, engineers, attorneys, and other industry partners.
• Identify and pursue new clients, projects, markets, and strategic opportunities to support Planning practice growth.
• Lead or contribute to proposals, presentations, interviews, professional organizations, and other business development and industry activities.
• Collaborate with engineering, environmental, surveying, transportation, water resources, and other technical practices on multidisciplinary projects.
• Oversee planning projects from initial proposal and scope development through successful completion.
• Prepare and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, fee proposals, and client deliverables.
• Conduct project kick-off and coordination meetings to establish responsibilities, communication protocols, deliverables, schedules, and execution plans.
• Monitor project financial performance, including budgets, staff utilization, scope changes, invoicing, collections, and profitability.
• Identify scope creep, scheduling concerns, project risks, resource needs, and performance issues, and implement corrective actions when needed.
• Communicate regularly with clients and stakeholders to coordinate information, resolve challenges, evaluate performance, and identify additional opportunities.
• Ensure projects meet contractual requirements, technical and quality standards, client expectations, schedules, and financial objectives.
• Provide senior-level quality assurance and technical oversight while mentoring project managers and staff in project delivery.
• Report project, client, staffing, and financial performance to company leadership and recommend improvements to strengthen the Planning practice.

Benefits

• Company-subsidized medical and dental.
• Company-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability.
• 401(k) match.
• Tuition assistance.
• Cross-training and the ability to work on a variety of projects.
• Performance-based bonuses or other incentives.
• Annual bonus opportunities.
• $20,000 sign-on bonus, subject to the terms and conditions of the company's sign-on bonus program.

What This Job Offers

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