As an Urban Planner and Project Manager at Dekker, you will lead planning projects from vision through implementation, serving as the primary client contact and coordinating multidisciplinary teams across Planning, Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture. You will manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables while guiding community engagement efforts, comprehensive and campus master planning, development strategies, site planning, policy analysis, zoning and entitlement processes, and implementation frameworks. The role requires the ability to work independently, build strong client relationships, facilitate stakeholder discussions, and proactively lead projects while contributing to the continued growth and success of Dekker's Planning Studio.
Collaboration is central to how we work. Planners at Dekker partner across studios and across offices in Albuquerque, Phoenix, and El Paso, learning from one another and contributing to integrated, multidisciplinary solutions.
The Dekker Planning Studio has been part of some of New Mexico’s most impactful and transformative projects, including the Rail Trail, Albuquerque Uptown, the Rail Runner, Netflix Studios, Mesa del Sol ART, the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), and many other meaningful efforts across New Mexico and the Southwest.
We’re looking for planners who are curious, self-driven, and passionate about shaping better places. At Dekker, you’ll play an active role in creating inspired experiences for communities, clients, and collaborators—supported by a firm that has been a trusted presence in the design industry for more than 60 years.
Responsibilities
• Lead planning projects from initiation through implementation, managing scope, schedule, budget, deliverables, and client expectations to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, stakeholders, and project partners, facilitating meetings, guiding decision-making, and building strong, long-term relationships.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams, coordinating planners, landscape architects, architects, interior designers, engineers, and visualization specialists to deliver integrated planning solutions.
• Oversee the preparation and quality of planning deliverables, ensuring technical accuracy, feasibility, and alignment with project goals, best practices, and client objectives.
• Develop compelling planning narratives, graphics, maps, diagrams, and presentation materials that clearly communicate complex ideas to clients, stakeholders, public officials, and community members.
• Lead stakeholder and community engagement efforts, facilitating public meetings, workshops, interviews, and presentations across a range of public and private-sector projects.
• Direct specialized planning efforts, including comprehensive plans, campus master plans, development strategies, entitlement processes, site planning, and implementation frameworks.
• Support business development activities, including proposal preparation, interviews, client relationship management, and the development of pursuit materials and thought leadership content.
• Contribute to the growth and evolution of Dekker's Planning Studio, helping shape project approaches, mentoring team members, and advancing planning practice across the firm.
• Provide strategic guidance on zoning, entitlements, policy analysis, and development processes, helping clients and internal design teams navigate complex planning and regulatory challenges.
• Collaborate across Dekker's offices and practice areas, leading projects that range from community and campus planning to economic development, housing, civic, healthcare, and corporate environments.
Qualifications
• This is a hybrid position, with three days per week in the office. Candidates must live in the Albuquerque, NM; Phoenix, AZ; or El Paso, TX metropolitan areas.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Planning or a related field from an accredited university.
• 3–7 years of professional experience in an urban planning or related office environment.
o Candidates with less experience may be considered based on the strength of their portfolio and relevant work experience.
• AICP certification preferred, but not required.
• A solid understanding of planning history, the professional and regulatory frameworks planners work within, and current planning discourse and best practices.
• Strong verbal, written, and graphic communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey ideas to a range of audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and planning-related tools such as GIS, SketchUp, or similar software.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills to support data-informed planning and decision-making.
• Ability to research, analyze, and synthesize complex planning concepts into clear, actionable insights.
• Excellent problem-solving, collaboration, and consultation skills, with a team-oriented mindset.
• Ability to translate client goals and ideas into visual and tangible materials, such as drawings, diagrams, or models.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) skills are a plus, particularly for community engagement and public-facing work.
• A positive, collaborative attitude and enthusiasm for contributing to a supportive, creative workplaces
Note: Please include a pdf of or a link to your portfolio in order to be considered.
Dekker offers competitive benefits and salary packages based on education and experience. For a full list of our benefit options, please visit our careers page.
As a government subcontractor we're required by the OFCCP to provide applicants with the ability to voluntarily Self Identify as an individual with a disability. If you'd like to do this you can find the form here: 503Self-IDForm Simply include this form with your application.
Dekker is a family of designers, planners, architects, and engineers, intent on creating passion for the built environment through our work. We believe that architecture and urban design can be transformational and that it must serve more than just a functional role. It should inspire, protect, delight, and empower users and entire communities. We believe the most innovative designs are created through a multi-faceted perspective of places, people, and their processes. Collaboration, empathy, and understanding, combined with passion and expertise can shape our experiences and our environments. We strive to tune our ability to see things through the eyes, hearts, and minds of our clients. If you think your vision, passion, and experience would enhance ours, we’d love to meet you.
EEO: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.