Land Use Planner

At AKS Engineering & Forestry, we’re all about building better communities—literally. We help shape neighborhoods, create spaces for businesses, and design the infrastructure that makes life better for everyone. As a locally owned firm, we’ve spent the past 30 years partnering with public and private clients to deliver high-quality engineering solutions across the Pacific Northwest. 

But let’s get to the good part: We’re hiring! We’re looking for a Land Use Planner to join our Planning team in our The Dalles, Washington office. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and love the challenges that come with this type of consulting work, this is an outstanding opportunity to work side by side with a well-respected and talented multi-disciplinary team of professionals in a dynamic organization. 

What You’ll Do 

• Research: Perform timely and accurate property, zoning, and utility research to ensure compliance with municipal land use regulations. 
• Application Preparation: Prepare, organize, and submit required materials for land use applications, including subdivisions, zone changes, conditional use permits, and site plan reviews. 
• Analysis: Analyze and break down complex issues affecting property, transportation networks, utility infrastructure, etc., to respond to client inquiries and assess the feasibility of property development. 
• Collaboration: Coordinate effectively with in-house engineering, surveying, and landscape architectural co-workers, permitting agency staff, and other project team members. 
• Proposal Development: Develop clearly written and detailed scopes of work for proposals. 
• Client Interaction: Coordinate with clients on project data and scheduling. 
• Meeting Organization: Set up, organize, and attend neighborhood meetings. 
• Project Management: Create, organize, and maintain project schedules, define critical paths, and track milestone dates. 
• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain effective positive working relationships with co-workers, clients, permitting agency staff, and other project team members. 
• Travel: Able to travel out of town as necessary, occasionally overnight. 

Who you are 

• Extensive experience performing land use planning/land development related activities. 
• A bachelor’s degree in planning, landscape architecture, geography, or related field or equivalent work experience. 
• Experience interpreting and applying City and County Comprehensive Plans and Development Codes. Knowledge of Oregon’s Statewide Planning System.  
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Proficient with word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and scheduling software (Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, Adobe, etc.). Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to work independently while providing support to Senior Land Use Planners or Project Managers with minimal supervision. 
• Ability to manage multiple and conflicting deadlines and prioritize workload. Able to think critically and provide creative and realistic solutions. 
• Someone who can jump in and do what needs to be done.

• Proficiency in the use of AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Photoshop, and geographic information systems (GIS). 

Why AKS? 

At AKS, we believe your work should support your life—not the other way around. Here's what you can count on when you join our team: 

• Meaningful Growth: Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance, we offer hands-on training, mentorship, and clear paths for professional development so you can grow with purpose. 
• Real Collaboration: Join a team that brings diverse perspectives together to solve complex challenges with creativity, curiosity, and a shared commitment to quality. 
• Respect for Your Time: We value work-life balance and offer generous PTO and a supportive environment that helps you manage both personal and professional responsibilities. 
• Benefits That Care: You’ll have access to health coverage that supports your total well-being—plus a 401(k) match, paid holidays, and more resources to help you thrive. 
• Weekly Team Lunches: Take a break and recharge with your teammates—we believe food brings people together. 
• Culture That Connects: We invest in experiences that build strong teams and strong communities. 
• A Place People Love to Work: We’ve been named one of the Top Workplaces in Oregon and Washington year after year—for good reason.