Project Manager, Planning

About the role

Join Pape-Dawson's Chattanooga team and build your career in one of the city's most distinctive office settings-inside the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo, a former train station transformed into a vibrant mixed-use destination. Located in a space that once housed a guitar museum, the office is full of character and reflects the creativity and community spirit of downtown Chattanooga. For nearly 15 years, our team of approximately 35 professionals and field staff has provided trusted local expertise and responsive service across the region.

Our multidisciplinary team delivers civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, surveying, construction engineering and inspection, and environmental services. From the transformation of former industrial land into The Bend, a dynamic mixed-use downtown neighborhood, to multifamily developments such as One Riverside, our professionals contribute to projects that are shaping Chattanooga's future.

Team members have the opportunity to make a visible impact, collaborate with clients and public agencies, and work alongside experienced project managers in an office that brings together meaningful work, strong relationships, and an exceptional downtown location.

Overview

The Project Manager, Planning leads the delivery of community and land-use planning projects for federal, state, and local/municipal clients. This role balances technical planning expertise with project leadership responsibilities, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with regulatory requirements and client expectations.

Responsibilities

• Manage planning projects from scope development through final adoption and implementation.
• Develop and manage project scopes, schedules, budgets, and staffing plans.
• Serve as primary point of contact for clients, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination with engineering, environmental, and related teams.
• Oversee preparation of comprehensive plans, zoning updates, land-use studies, corridor plans, and related planning documents.
• Ensure regulatory compliance with local, state, and federal land-use and environmental requirements.
• Monitor financial performance, including forecasting, invoicing support, and budget tracking.
• Lead community engagement efforts including workshops, public meetings, and stakeholder coordination.
• Mentor and supervise planners and technical staff, providing guidance and performance feedback.
• Support business development efforts through proposal preparation, interviews, and client relationship building.
• Uphold QA/QC standards and ensure high-quality deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Community/Regional Planning, Urban Planning, or related field.
• 6+ years of professional planning experience.
• Active AICP certification required.
• Demonstrated experience managing planning projects and small teams.
• Strong knowledge of zoning, land-use regulations, and community engagement processes.
• Strong financial management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and client-facing communication skills.
• Ability to work Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with overtime and occasional evening public meetings as needed.

Additional information

If you need an accommodation or assistance with completing your application due to a disability or special need, please contact our team at or call.