Your future position: Senior Urban Planner
Location: Mokena, Chicago, Crystal Lake, or Naperville, IL offices

Why you should join our team! Why Baxter & Woodman?

At Baxter & Woodman, both seasoned professionals and recent graduates find more than a job; they uncover a long-lasting, fulfilling career with a distinguished leader in technology and innovation. Our work environment is extraordinary and being honored as one of the 2025 Zweig Best Firms to Work For exemplifies our appreciation and respect for our dedicated staff.

About the role, Your Impact

We are hiring a talented Senior Urban Planner professional to join the Municipal Services team in our Mokena, Chicago, Crystal Lake, or Naperville, IL offices. The Senior Urban Planner will perform various general and specialized professional planning functions, including developing implementable comprehensive plans, existing and future land use maps, zoning maps and ordinances, unified development codes, and special area plans, as well as reviewing private development plans on behalf of municipal clients. This candidate will assist in creating and implementing master thoroughfare plans, capital improvement programs, and active transportation plans. Beyond developing well-informed planning studies, this candidate needs to be proficient at facilitating public engagement efforts and providing technical expertise in analyzing data and providing development assistance services to a variety of municipal clients.

The candidate for this position needs to have their AICP credentials, be adept at sharing professional insights, technical acumen and training with lower-level B&W and client staff in technical writing and the use of software programs such as Adobe Creative Suite and ArcGIS.

What your day-to-day will look like

• Performs and manages complex and sensitive planning projects, including research and analysis
• Monitors and ensures compliance with local, state and federal laws
• Lead and coordinate urban development projects from concept through completion, ensuring alignment with community goals and regulatory frameworks.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources across multidisciplinary teams including landscape architects, engineers, and public stakeholders.
• Provide general municipal planning services to multiple clients.
• Advises various councils, boards, commissions and elected officials in planning-related issues.
• Prepare written review reports, and respond proactively to Local Agency Staff and Officials, property owners, developers, and designers.
• Research, understand, and modify city codes and ordinances to facilitate effective change.
• Develop short- and long-range plans at the municipal and regional levels.
• Facilitate effective public engagement, tailored to collect meaningful input from stakeholders.
• Provide demographic, existing land use, future land use, parks and open space, transportation technical expertise, and research for the plan and code-making process.
• Produce graphic and conceptual renderings to illustrate code compliance and planning concepts in reports to communicate technical knowledge to the public.
• Produce public engagement materials and collect input from stakeholders.
• Prepare, document, and improve review procedures, plan creation, and implementation efforts.
• Provide QA/QC reviews of project deliverables produced by others.
• When required, assist with staff planner functions for local municipalities.
• Assist in negotiations of development, annexation, and inter-governmental agreements.
• Coordinate and review plats, site plans, zoning requests, planned developments, development agreements and special use permits to comply with local requirements and best management practices.

Education/Certification Requirement

Bachelor’s degree (Master's degree preferred) in planning or a closely related field and AICP Certification.

Must-haves, what you will bring

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in the planning profession. Three years of supervisory experience preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of project management experience with urban planning, transportation planning, parks, recreation and open space planning, or comprehensive planning projects.
• Thorough knowledge of urban planning and development and local government policies and procedures
• Thorough knowledge of specialization such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, historic preservation or economic development
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop good working relationships with staff, officials and stakeholders and to resolve complaints
• Ability to work with local government staff and officials and interpret complex rules and regulations
• Knowledge of public involvement and public dispute resolutions
• Ability to work cooperatively with developers, designers, and outside permit agencies.
• Experience with grant writing and administration, economic development, and market concepts preferred
• Ability to work with local government staff and officials and interpret complex rules and regulations
• Knowledge of public involvement and public dispute resolutions
• Ability to work cooperatively with developers, designers, and outside permit agencies.
• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills
• Ability to explain technical issues to non-technical municipal staff, officials, and residents
• Ability to envision alternatives to the physical and social environments in which we live.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Publisher, Teams, and One Note). ESRI Geographic Information Systems software experience and knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator) preferred
• Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines.
• Ability to travel throughout Chicago metropolitan area (own transportation).

Compensation: The pay range for this role is $115,000 - $130,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications.

You matter! Our outstanding benefits - At our organization, we prioritize the holistic well-being of our employees through a comprehensive range of benefits. This commitment is evident in our healthcare offerings, including medical, dental, and vision plans, alongside an Employee Assistance Program and dedicated benefit advisors for personalized support. Financial well-being is enhanced through our financial planning program, life and disability insurance, tax savings plans, and coverage for accidents, cancer, and critical illnesses. Balancing work and life, we provide generous paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, and flexible work arrangements, including the option to work from home and/or work a flexible schedule on eligible positions. Additionally, we lead the industry by offering 401k plans, supported by expert financial advisors, and an Employee Stock Ownership program, ensuring our employees are not just part of a workplace but a thriving, supportive community dedicated to their well-being, financial security, and happiness.

Baxter & Woodman is an equal opportunity - Vet/Disability employer