What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Planning - East / Southeast position at Alta Planning Design?
Department: Planning
Location: Atlanta, GA
Compensation: $130,000 - $160,000 / year
Alta is seeking a dynamic Director of Planning – East to join our team in Atlanta and lead our growing planning practice in the East and Southeast. This is a fantastic opportunity for a planning leader who is passionate about creating sustainable, people-centered communities while driving business excellence and operational performance.
In this role, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for our East region planning teams, driving innovation in community planning and active transportation while fostering a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and excellence. You will be responsible for setting technical and strategic direction for planning initiatives across our East region offices, which include Atlanta, Huntsville, Nashville, Durham, and Baltimore; ensuring our projects create positive impacts on communities nationwide while meeting financial and operational performance standards.
If you are passionate about leading transformational change in community planning while developing talent and advancing organizational excellence, apply with Alta today!
About Alta
Alta is a mission driven company working to mitigate climate change and advance safety and social justice by shaping sustainable, people centered communities. We bring together expertise across planning, design, engineering, education and encouragement programs, and community engagement to help communities thrive. Our work is grounded in the belief that how places are designed and experienced has a profound impact on equity, health, and opportunity—and that people should always be at the heart of those decisions.
Founded in 1996, Alta was at the forefront of the active transportation movement and has spent nearly 30 years partnering with communities to imagine a more connected, resilient, and inclusive future. Today, with more than 225 staff across the United States and beyond, we are a global leader in creating environments that support everyday life, strengthen human connection, and respond to the challenges of a changing world. Alta offers the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, contribute to meaningful work at every scale, and be part of a team committed to making lasting, positive change for people and the places they call home.
Day to Day
Strategic Leadership & Financial Performance
- Develop and execute strategic plans for the East/Southeast region planning practice aligned with company objectives
- Ensure the region meets or exceeds annual financial targets for revenue and EBITDA growth
- Drive fiscal and operational excellence through effective budgeting, resource allocation, and performance management
- Champion innovation in community planning and active transportation practices
- Lead, mentor, and develop a Group of planning professionals, Team Leads, and project managers across multiple office locations
- Build a high-performance culture focused on professional growth, collaboration, and technical excellence
- Recruit, hire, and retain top planning talent to support regional growth
- Maintain staff utilization at or above goals while ensuring sustainable workload management
- Lead business development efforts and identify new market opportunities, in close coordination with the East Director of Business Development
- Develop proposals and deliver client presentations for major regional projects
- Maintain and expand relationships with key public sector clients
- Oversee project delivery to ensure on-time, on-budget performance across the regional portfolio
- Monitor financial and operational performance using key metrics (utilization, net labor multiplier, days sales outstanding)
- Implement process improvements to enhance delivery efficiency and client satisfaction
- Ensure compliance with quality assurance protocols and professional standards
Required
This position requires a combination of skills, experience and education including, but not limited to
- 15 years of progressive urban planning experience in consulting or public sector
- 5 years managing planning teams
- Bachelor's degree in Planning or related field
- Experience in active, non-motorized transportation planning
- Proven business development and client relationship management success
- Strong financial acumen with ability to analyze business performance and drive growth
- Demonstrated project management expertise across general plans, specific plans, or comprehensive planning efforts
- Excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills
- Experience writing white papers and presenting at industry conferences
- Proficient in MS Office, ArcGIS, and enterprise project management tools
- Ability and willingness to travel regionally, with occasional trips to Alta HQ in Portland, OR
- Master's degree in Urban Planning or related field
- AICP certification
- Experience with Deltek VantagePoint
- Active involvement in professional associations and committees
- Experience with Vision Zero, Complete Streets, or equity-focused planning initiatives
- Experience managing P&L
Flexible Schedule
Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In-office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values.
Compensation
The pay range for this job in Atlanta is $130,000-$160,000 annually. Placement within the range is based upon experience, skill-sets, and qualifications.
Benefits
Alta offers comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees:
- Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans, Alta pays 75% of the cost
- Dental/Vision: PPO, Alta pays 90% of the cost
- Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation
- 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%
- PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start
- Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability
- Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities
Salary : $130,000 - $160,000