Senior Higher Education Campus Planner/Designer

Nbbj Lp • Columbus, OH

94d • $120,000 - $145,000

About The Position

NBBJ is seeking a Senior Higher Education Campus Planner/Designer to join our Campus Planning/Urban Environments Practice. In this role, you will lead transformative campus planning projects for top-tier colleges, universities and healthcare institutions, integrating design thinking with institutional strategy and data analytics. This is an opportunity to work within one of the most respected interdisciplinary design firms in the world, where planners, architects, strategists, and researchers collaborate to shape the future of higher education and healthcare.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in higher education planning, healthcare and institutional strategy.
• Proven experience leading campus planning efforts for higher education and healthcare institutions.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and build consensus.
• Proficiency in analog or digital sketching skills.
• AICP, PLA, AIA or other relevant professional certifications.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools or dashboards is a plus.
• Travel required (20-30%) to facilitate on-site client workshops, campus assessments, and presentations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to higher education and healthcare clients, leading the planning process from early engagement through final delivery.
• Present plans and recommendations to senior leadership and stakeholder groups.
• Translate client vision into actionable and inspiring spatial strategies and conceive these spatial ideas through hand-drawn or digital plans, diagrams and sketches.
• Conceptualize ideas at varying scales - from large (campus-wide) to medium (districts) to small (site-specific).
• Collaborate cross practice with NBBJ architects, designers, and strategists to translate client goals into planning insights.
• Advocate for integrated sustainability, resilience, and equity in all planning recommendations.
• Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities to expand the firm's planning portfolio.
• Contribute to business development efforts, including proposals, client interviews, and relationship-building across the higher education and healthcare sector.
• Support the advancement of NBBJ's thought leadership through speaking engagements, white papers, and participation in industry forums.
• Stay at the forefront of trends and emerging pedagogies.

Benefits

• Annual base pay range of $120,000 to $145,000, based on skills, qualifications, and experience.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree