Senior Master Planning Program Manager

Take Your Design Career to the Next Level 

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive!

Are you ready to be challenged, make a difference, and experience professional growth in your career? Our collaborative, multidisciplinary group spanning architectural, structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, process engineering, pipeline design, and integrity management works together to deliver integrated, high‑impact solutions.

Step into Your New Role  

Kleinfelder is seeking a strategic, entrepreneurial leader to shape and grow our planning practice across the Southeast. As the Planning Program Manager for the South Division, you will drive business development, cultivate strong client relationships, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of planners and specialists. In this leadership role, you’ll connect strategy, funding, and implementation in the municipal market – working across comprehensive planning, resilience planning, land development, grant strategy, and regulatory frameworks. This position is ideal for a leader who thrives at the intersection of big-picture thinking and day-to-day execution, and who brings a demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality work while expanding client relationships and helping define the future direction of the practice.

This is a hybrid office role with preference for Raleigh, NC but can be considered for Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Tampa, FL or Orlando, FL.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and support business development opportunities, including identifying areas to expand service offerings, developing capture strategies, and preparing proposals
• Build and maintain strong client relationships across the Southeast
• Manage and oversee planning projects and programs from scoping through implementation, ensuring high-quality deliverables, on-time performance, and client satisfaction
• Identify and support grant and funding opportunities aligned with client needs
• Collaborate with architects, engineers, developers, and public officials to shape project approaches and address community priorities
• Mentor and support a team of planners and technical staff, fostering professional growth and collaboration
• Contribute to the long-term growth and direction of the planning practice

Education/Certification:

• Required, Professional degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, City and Regional Planning, Public Administration, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, or a related field
• Preferred,

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrated experience managing planning projects or programs from scoping through implementation
• Strong understanding of municipal planning processes, including comprehensive planning, land use, zoning, and/or climate resiliency
• Experience working with public sector/municipalities in any areas such as land use planning, environmental planning, utilities planning, or transportation planning
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, public agencies, and multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with grant funding processes and ability to align planning efforts with funding and implementation opportunities
• 10+ years of related experience in planning, with a focus on municipal, community, or regional planning in a client-facing environment
• 6+ years of management experience mentoring or supervising junior staff and contributing to a collaborative  and positive team environment

Optional:

• Membership and active participation in one or more professional organizations such as APA, ASFPM, ASLA, ULI, AIA, LEED
• AICP certification or ability to obtain
• Experience working in the North Carolina municipal market

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.

Move Forward with Kleinfelder: Kleinfelder and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients’ transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia. Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose – together, we deliver.  

Progress with an Employer that Values You 

Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an inclusive organization free from discrimination. We are a stronger organization when we are a diverse workforce and believe that through diversity, equity, and inclusion comes creativity, innovation, and unity. We are proud to offer the following:  

Benefits: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid holidays.  

Career Development: We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program.  

Equal Opportunity: Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules)  

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES   

Please note that Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, will not consider or agree to payment for any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Kleinfelder, and its’ subsidiaries and affiliates, explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resume, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Kleinfelder.