Senior Project Manager / Campus Planner

Steinberg Hart•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager / Campus Planner is a firmwide planning leader responsible for managing complex campus and institutional planning projects while also providing hands-on planning expertise in Space Planning/Programming and Urban/Campus Design. This role operates across functions and departments to uphold a culture of design excellence, strengthen client relationships, and ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and at a consistently high standard. The position requires a service-focused mindset, strong leadership and mentoring abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple project teams and deliverables simultaneously with only intermittent oversight.

Requirements

9+ years of relevant experience in campus/institutional planning, urban design, or space planning/programming (or closely related work).
Holds a graduate degree in a related field or offers equivalent professional experience.
Demonstrates design leadership, motivating teams and delivering strong planning outcomes with only intermittent oversight.
Excels at organization and time management, consistently balancing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
Produces high-quality planning graphics and narratives with strong visual storytelling and production skills.
Communicates clearly and persuasively in writing and verbally, including facilitation and client-facing presentations.
Has a track record of leading client meetings, managing expectations, and building trusted relationships.
Successfully coordinates multidisciplinary consultant teams and integrates inputs into cohesive deliverables.
Is comfortable managing project budgets/financials while maintaining scope, schedule, and profitability.
Has expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Adobe InDesign; working proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop; and familiarity with (recommended) GIS, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, and Enscape.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in Space Utilization: Apply institutional priorities, benchmarking, and best practices to guide space management strategy.
Expertise in Space Planning: Lead complex space allocations and optimize configurations based on programmatic requirements and benchmarks.
Expertise in Programming: Lead client programming workshops and translate needs into clear planning deliverables grounded in space standards and innovative solutions informed by pedagogy and evolving operational requirements.
Expertise in Urban/Campus Design: Lead large-scale campus and district planning, policy frameworks, infrastructure strategy, and cross-disciplinary coordination.
Expertise in Site Analysis: Conduct complex site evaluations, including sustainability considerations, infrastructure planning, and multidisciplinary integration.
Expertise in Data Analysis: Apply advanced data modeling, scenario planning, and predictive analytics to inform planning direction and decision-making.
Expertise in AHJ / Regulatory: Lead zoning analysis and support code/CEQA compliance; understand approval processes and ensure alignment with local/state/federal regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead planning efforts from programming and concept through documentation and client presentations, driving high-quality outcomes with minimal direction.
Manage multiple projects concurrently, including large, complex projects with varied scope, stakeholders, and consultant teams.
Establish and maintain project workplans, schedules, meeting cadence, and deliverable tracking to ensure reliable execution.
Lead quality oversight for planning deliverables, including narratives, diagrams, graphics, and presentation materials.
Serve as the primary day-to-day client interface, leading meetings and guiding decision-making to achieve client satisfaction at the project level.
Lead consultant coordination across disciplines (e.g., engineering, landscape, cost, sustainability, mobility), ensuring alignment of inputs and schedules.
Communicate clearly and confidently with stakeholder groups, facilitating workshops and working sessions as needed.
Organize planning efforts across teams and departments, supporting a firm culture of design excellence.
Coordinate internal resources and planning support, helping teams stay aligned on priorities and deadlines.
Partner with design leadership to drive great planning outcomes and cohesive presentations.
Provide motivation, mentorship, and design leadership to planning staff through all phases of work.
Mentor planning and architectural staff, helping build technical proficiency and leadership skills.
Support team development through coaching, feedback, and modeling best practices for planning process and communication.
Manage internal project financials, including budgets, labor planning, and progress tracking.
Operate with a service-focused approach while maintaining accountability to client requirements, expectations, and budget.
Support scope clarity and change management to protect schedule and profitability.
Actively participate in proposal development to win new work (writing, coordination, schedules, resumes, and work plans).
Attend interviews and contribute to interview strategy and presentation quality.
Engage in both internal and external business development efforts, supporting relationship building and opportunity cultivation.
Help develop and elevate planning marketing collateral and project narratives as needed.