Campus Planner/Project Manager

We aspire to create a legacy of inspiring places that enhance the environment and enrich the human spirit.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan office of SmithGroupJJR is looking for an experienced Campus Planner / Project Manager to join our professional team. You would be part of a dynamic higher education planning and design practice, working with our offices and clients across the country. The position will provide significant travel opportunities, along with a chance to help shape the future of leading U.S. academic institutions.

• Manage diverse teams of higher education professionals to complete campus master planning projects, coordinate the overall work plan and maintain staffing, schedule, deliverables, and budget.
• Organize and lead team meetings involving consultants and/or clients; present findings and recommendations to client representatives and/or design review committees.
• Work closely and collaboratively with clients to communicate planning issues and recommendations to a wide variety of stakeholders – including provosts, presidents, trustees, faculty, staff, students and community groups.
• Coordinate effectively with all technical professionals – including subconsultants and client technical staff – to assemble, process and analyze a highly diverse range of institutional data.
• Oversee and participate in the production and quality of project presentations, master plan reports and all project deliverables to ensure an integrated and cohesive outcome; evaluate project performance and communicate needs and priorities to team; provide oversight and monitoring of work performed by junior staff.
• Create/coordinate graphics for inclusion in marketing proposals and materials; participate in business development efforts and client interviews, including assistance in the preparation of proposals, writing of project approach/philosophy, and the development of relationships with current/new clients.
• Act as an ambassador for the office/practice/firm – helping to maintain client relationships beyond the duration of the project.

• A master’s or bachelor’s degree (foreign equivalent degrees accepted) in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, urban design or a related field of study;
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working on large-scale planning initiatives, preferably with higher education, healthcare, and other relevant institutional and/or municipal clientele;
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
• Experience managing diverse teams and complex data sets for master planning projects;
• Experience creating and/or managing highly graphic deliverables using 2D programs including: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Adobe Suites and ArcGIS; and 3D programs including: Sketchup, Rhino, Lumion, Grasshopper, 3Ds Max; along with MS Office suite and New Forma.
• A passion for higher education and a high level of independent organization and motivation for project leadership.