Community Planning Lead

Description

• Lead urban planning, land use, and multimodal transportation projects that support fast-growing municipalities, research institutions, and regional transit agencies.
• Support business development by preparing proposals, cultivating relationships with local and regional decision-makers, and staying active in Raleigh-area industry organizations.
• Design and execute meaningful public engagement processes, including stakeholder meetings, workshops, and pop-ups, with a sensitivity to historically underserved communities.
• Lead the development of comprehensive plans, corridor studies, TOD frameworks, housing strategies, and small area or station area plans tailored to the Triangle's needs.
• Collaborate with public sector clients, private developers, MPOs, and regional agencies to address growth management, infrastructure planning, and equitable access.
• Grow and lead interdisciplinary teams of planners, engineers, and environmental scientists to develop context-sensitive and implementable recommendations.
• Expand VHB’s planning practice across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, and surrounding communities, with a focus on client relationships and high-quality project delivery.
• Oversee zoning and land use research, demographic analysis, and plan implementation tools such as overlays, form-based codes, and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) amendments.

Requirements

• Deep understanding of the regional development patterns, particularly Triangle region initiatives, and evolving land use and transportation priorities.
• Familiarity with local planning regulations, and community engagement best practices in Raleigh and the surrounding region.
• 11–15+ years of progressive planning experience, preferably with some focus on North Carolina or Southeast U.S. markets.
• Demonstrated success in business development, proposal writing, and client relationship management.
• Comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders, from elected officials and agency staff to residents and business owners.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and highly organized.
• Strong project management, team leadership, and mentoring skills.
• Experience in a private consulting firm strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Urban Studies/Design, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven leadership in managing project teams and mentoring junior staff.
• Expertise in smart growth, transit-oriented development, housing equity, and sustainability planning within the North Carolina context.
• Present to planning commissions, town councils, and community groups across the region.
• AICP certification or eligibility strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), and presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Miro. Experience with SketchUp, AutoCAD, or statistical tools a plus.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical information to both professional and non-technical audiences.

Benefits

• Focus on learning, development, and career growth
• Best-in-class benefits, including flexible, hybrid workplace
• Opportunity to work on complex, transformational projects
• Diverse and inclusive culture of collaboration and innovation

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance