Senior Planner/Urban Designer

Senior Planner/Urban Designer

Location: Washington, DC

Firm: Torti Gallas + Partners

Salary: $90,000 - $100,000

Position Overview

Torti Gallas + Partners is seeking a Senior Planner/Urban Designer with 8-10+ years of experience to join the Retail Placemaking team in Washington, DC. This role will work closely with developer clients on dynamic mixed-use environments and thoughtfully designed communities that shape how people live, work, and connect.

The ideal candidate is both a master planner and project planner with strong experience in town center planning, neighborhood planning, and mixed-use development. Experience working within or closely with a design firm is preferred, along with the ability to lead and contribute to planning efforts across a range of project types and scales.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to master planning and project planning efforts across a range of project scales, from neighborhood developments to large mixed-use and town center destinations.


• Develop planning and urban design concepts for neighborhood planning, town center planning, and mixed-use environments.


• Collaborate with internal teams and clients to develop innovative, market-responsive design solutions.


• Participate in and help lead multi-day design charrettes, translating ideas into clear visual and planning concepts.


• Prepare high-quality graphics, presentations, and planning documents for client meetings and stakeholder engagement.


• Apply principles of urban design, placemaking, and traditional neighborhood development to create cohesive, functional environments.


• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including architects, landscape architects, engineers, and other design professionals.


• Support project management efforts, including timelines, deliverables, and client communication.

Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated strength in master planning, project planning, urban design, and placemaking.


• Experience with town center planning, neighborhood planning, and mixed-use development is required.


• Experience working with a design firm is preferred.


• Strong design sensibility with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative charrette environment.


• Excellent freehand sketching and visual communication skills.


• Solid understanding of urban form, building typologies, and placemaking principles.


• Strong verbal and written communication skills.


• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.


• Working knowledge of SketchUp and AutoCAD.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.


• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, high-quality work.


• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across teams.


• Familiarity with Revit and ArcGIS is a plus.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Planning, or a related field.


• 8-10+ years of relevant professional experience in master planning, project planning, and urban design.


• Experience working on mixed-use developments, retail environments, and Traditional Neighborhood Design communities is strongly preferred.


• Ability to travel 10-15% for multi-day charrettes, client meetings, and project-related engagements.

Work Environment

• This is a full-time, in-office position with opportunities to participate in multi-day, collaborative design charrettes.

Compensation and Professional Growth

• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.


• Collaborative, design-focused studio environment.


• Mentorship and career development opportunities.


• Exposure to diverse project types and phases.


• Opportunities for cross-office collaboration within a nationally respected design practice.

Torti Gallas + Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The firm celebrates diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all employees and applicants.