Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager
About The Position
JLL is hiring a Senior Occupancy Planner / Design Manager to support a key financial services client across workplace and retail portfolios. This highly visible role combines strategy, occupancy planning, portfolio optimization, and design management to deliver environments that support business objectives, employee experience, customer engagement, and operational excellence. The position translates business requirements into physical-space solutions, leads occupancy planning, and provides standards and branding governance for renovation and new-build projects from programming through construction. It uses data, workplace trends, and strategic planning expertise to develop scalable solutions across a diverse portfolio. The role partners with corporate real estate, workplace experience, project management, facilities management, design and construction partners, business leaders, and other stakeholders. It supports workplace strategy, transformation, relocations, consolidations, and portfolio optimization, while developing planning recommendations and executive-level presentations. The position is remote, based in Chicago, Illinois. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or a related field.
- Minimum 7–10+ years of experience in workplace planning, occupancy planning, architecture, interior design, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience leading corporate workplace renovations, workplace transformation initiatives, and/or retail design projects.
- Strong understanding of occupancy planning methodologies, workplace standards, utilization analytics, and portfolio planning.
- Ability to create and evaluate feasibility studies, scenario models, test fits, and space allocation plans.
- Experience working directly with architects, designers, and project managers throughout project lifecycles.
- Strong understanding of workplace guidelines, spatial relationships, furniture planning, and building systems.
- Working knowledge of local building codes, ADA requirements, and accessibility standards.
- Strong PowerPoint skills and ability to develop executive-level presentations and planning recommendations.
- Experience with AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam, and Matterport platforms.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, AutoCAD, and presentation development is highly valued.
- Strategic and analytical thinking, clear communication of complex planning concepts, organization, adaptability, attention to detail, and strong relationship-building and collaboration skills.
- Authorization to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting financial services institutions, retail banking environments (preferably branch banks), or large corporate portfolios.
- Knowledge of WELL Building Standard, LEED certification, and sustainability initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Partner with Corporate Real Estate, Workplace Experience, Project Management, and business leaders to identify workplace requirements and translate them into planning solutions.
- Develop stack plans, test fits, feasibility studies, capacity analyses, and scenario models to support business and real estate decisions.
- Analyze occupancy, utilization, and portfolio data to identify optimization opportunities and make strategic recommendations.
- Establish and uphold workplace standards, planning guidelines, and brand governance requirements.
- Review and guide architectural and design deliverables from programming through construction.
- Support workplace transformation initiatives, relocations, consolidations, and portfolio optimization projects.
- Develop executive-level presentations and recommendations for client stakeholders and leadership teams.
- Collaborate with project teams to keep occupancy requirements, design standards, budgets, and schedules aligned.
- Coordinate with Corporate Real Estate Strategy and Portfolio Planning, Workplace Experience, Project Management, Facilities Management, architecture, design and construction partners, and business leaders to understand and address their requirements.
Benefits
- 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
- Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay
- Career development opportunities
- Well-being programs
- Comprehensive benefits package supporting mental, physical, and emotional health
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
