Planning Manager

Preferred Location: San Antonio,  TX (with expected travel across the US)
Firm: Able City (www.able.city)
Salary (can vary DOE): $95,000 and up
Benefits: 100% health insurance coverage, 401k plan access and matching contributions
Send CV’s and qualifications statements to:  

• Bryan Chavez | bryan@able.city
• Or the form section

Be Part of the Movement to Design Better Cities

Able City is a Texas-based firm at the forefront of urban transformation, integrating architecture, planning, urban design, community engagement, and economic development to help cities respond effectively to their challenges and opportunities. With over 40 years of experience, our teams have delivered 200+ Comprehensive Plans and led more than 300 Community Engagement Sessions across the US.

We are deeply committed to enabling communities to grow equitably, sustainably, and with civic purpose. Our work supports the equitable evolution of cities by helping citizens define quality of life—and then responding to those needs through thoughtful planning, design, public policies and economic strategies and tools. Our passionate office culture is grounded in a shared value: to make cities great places for everyone – by everyone.

Join us, and help redefine how planning can serve people, place, and purpose.

We’re looking for a Senior Urban Planner with a passion for people, place, and purpose. This is a rare opportunity to lead a collaborative team of urbanists working at the intersection of design, policy, and equity. As a Planning Manager, you will guide a talented team of 4–6 planners to deliver transformative projects rooted in the principles of New Urbanism. If you’re a CNU-A planner—or have deep experience applying CNU principles, and are ready to shape walkable, vibrant communities, we want to meet you.

Key Responsibilities

As Planning Manager, you will:

• Lead and manage the planning studio, cultivating a collaborative and mission-driven culture
• Oversee and deliver a wide range of planning and urban design projects, including comprehensive plans, form-based codes, neighborhood master plans (public and private), corridor mobility studies, and housing initiatives
• Integrate CNU principles into design and policy recommendations, advancing place making, walkability, and urban resilience
• Serve as primary client liaison on planning projects and facilitate community engagement processes virtually and in-person
• Provide mentorship, support, and oversight to junior and mid-level planning staff
• Collaborate across disciplines architecture, engagement, and economic development to ensure holistic project outcomes
• Present findings and recommendations to city councils, planning commissions, and community groups
• Contribute to high-level proposal strategy and participate in business development efforts
• Ensure high-quality, on-time deliverables across concurrent projects

Required Qualifications

• CNU-Accredited (CNU-A) or equivalent experience applying New Urbanist planning and design principles
• 10+ years of progressive planning experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or project management role
• Strong Urban Design knowledge and experience to shape new walkable street networks and public places around which people can live work and play
• Strong knowledge of zoning (especially form-based codes), land use policy, mobility, and urban design
• Exceptional writing, speaking, and visual communication skills
• Proficiency in tools such as ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, and/or related software
• Strong project management experience, including budget, staff, subconsultant, and timeline oversight
• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• Ability and willingness to travel out of town and attend some evening/weekend meetings

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• AICP certification
• CNU Accreditation
• Experience working with public sector clients and participatory community engagement
• Passion for community-driven change and inclusive city-building
• Strategic, entrepreneurial mindset
• Knowledge of development processes
• Familiarity with ordinance and code writing