Mend Collaborative is seeking a curious, creative, and motivated senior urban planner to join our Austin office. We are particularly interested in candidates who are passionate about community development, small area, downtown and neighborhood planning, public realm design, urban design, active transportation, and public engagement.

The successful candidate will work on and lead a variety of projects in Texas, Minneapolis, the upper Midwest, and nationally. Our typical projects include neighborhood and small area plans, parks and public realm planning,  community development, downtown revitalization, public engagement, anti-displacement strategies, and active transportation.

What You'll Do

As a senior-level planner you will lead and manage project teams in research, analysis, community engagement, and the development of plans and recommendations. Depending on the project, your responsibilities may include:

• Project management: Lead projects, manage budgets and schedules, coordinate staff and subconsultants, and serve as a primary point of contact for clients. Set clear expectations and ensure deliverables meet project goals and Mend’s standards for quality.

• Planning and strategy development: Lead small area plans, public realm plans, neighborhood and downtown plans, active transportation, and other planning efforts. Develop actionable projects, programs, and policies supported by realistic implementation steps, partnerships, and funding strategies.

• Writing and visual communication: Shape compelling narratives and oversee the preparation of reports, presentations, maps, and graphics. Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to community members, clients, elected officials, and other audiences.

• Research and analysis: Guide and conduct demographic, housing, health, economic, land use, and spatial analysis. Connect findings to community experiences and translate complex information into clear implications for planning and policy.

• Public engagement: Develop and lead accessible, creative, and culturally responsive engagement processes. Facilitate community meetings, workshops, and stakeholder discussions, navigate differing perspectives, and ensure community priorities meaningfully shape recommendations.

• Marketing and business development: Build relationships with clients and collaborators, identify opportunities aligned with Mend’s mission, and contribute to proposals, scopes of work, fee estimates, and interviews.

• Internal leadership: Mentor planners and emerging project managers, provide constructive feedback, and support staff development. Help improve internal processes and foster a collaborative, inclusive working environment.

• Thought leadership: Bring new ideas, emerging practices, and lessons from project work into Mend’s planning approach. Share expertise through presentations, writing, professional networks, and team learning.

• Project collaboration: Integrate the expertise of planners, landscape architects, and other disciplines. Build productive partnerships with community organizations, public agencies, and collaborators to move shared priorities toward implementation.

Essential qualifications

• An undergraduate or graduate degree in urban planning, landscape architecture, geography, public policy, community development, urban studies, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• At least four years of relevant professional experience, including at least one year experience managing planning projects, leading teams, and coordinating directly with public sector clients, stakeholders, and project partners. Candidates who have experience managing projects in the public sector are also encouraged to apply.

• Demonstrated experience and passion for community planning, public realm planning, urban design, neighborhood planning, or related areas.

• Experience managing project scopes, budgets, schedules, and deliverables, with the ability to balance competing priorities and maintain high standards of quality.

• Strong community engagement and facilitation skills, including experience designing inclusive engagement processes, navigating differing perspectives, and translating community priorities into planning recommendations. Availability for occasional evening and weekend engagement activities.

• Strong visual communication skills, including proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and ArcGIS Online and the ability to guide the development of clear, compelling maps, graphics, and presentations.

• Strong writing, research, and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations and communicate effectively with community members, clients, and decision-makers.

• A commitment to equity and experience building relationships with diverse communities, including people whose perspectives are underrepresented in traditional planning processes.

• A collaborative leadership style, with experience mentoring staff, providing constructive feedback, and coordinating interdisciplinary teams.

• Experience contributing to proposals, scopes of work, or business development efforts and an interest in building lasting client and partner relationships.

• Curiosity, sound professional judgment, and a commitment to continued learning and improving planning practice.

Salary: $75,000 to $95,000 dependent on experience

Read the full job description here.