Project Manager - Planning

DAHLIN is a diverse, award-winning architecture, planning, and interiors firm practice with offices located throughout the Western United States. We offer 50 years of experience building communities where we live and work, driven by the vision of creating places that promote human fulfillment and well-being. This same Passion for Place® starts with our own working environment - a positive community where people thrive. Please visit our website () to learn more.

At DAHLIN, we believe great design starts with thoughtful planning. We are seeking a Project Manager to join our Planning & Entitlement Team to lead and deliver a wide range of projects from early planning and front-end design through schematic design and entitlement. This role serves as the primary liaison between clients, jurisdictions, and subconsultants, ensuring clear communication, strong collaboration, and successful project outcomes.

The ideal candidate for this position has a background in urban planning, urban design, or architecture and has experience leading entitlement and early-phase design projects.

This hybrid role requires at least three days per week onsite in our Pleasanton, CA office.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Lead planning efforts and author policy documents, including specific plans, design guidelines, and objective design standards.
• Lead project planning and execution by managing scope, schedule, staffing, budgets, work plans, deliverables, and team performance to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Prepare and negotiate proposals, fees, schedules, and contracts for clients and consultants.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, ensuring timely communication and effective resolution of issues.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while staying informed of client goals, market conditions, and industry trends.
• Schedule, facilitate, and document project meetings with clients, internal teams, consultants, and agency representatives.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams to maintain quality standards and meet budget and schedule objectives.
• Manage project documentation and consultant coordination throughout planning, entitlement, and early design phases.
• Identify and resolve project challenges in collaboration with Principals, planning staff, and design teams.
• Support business development efforts with current and prospective clients.
• Contribute to project reporting, resource planning, and staffing discussions to support team performance and financial goals.
• Foster a positive team environment by supporting staff development, training, and mentoring.
• Oversee project setup, including contracts, project processes, and coordination with accounting for invoicing.
• Ensure a seamless transition of projects into design development and construction documentation phases.
• Conduct post-project follow-ups to assess client satisfaction and identify future opportunities.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

• Strong understanding of the planning, entitlement, design, and production process.
• Ability to evaluate and respond to the technical impacts of design decisions.
• Exceptional writing skills for planning and design documentation.
• Proven project management experience, including scheduling, scopes, fees, coordination, and client communication.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• High design competency with working knowledge of zoning regulations and building codes.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office.
• A proactive, adaptable approach and comfort working in a fast-paced environment.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience leading planning, entitlement, urban design, or architectural projects, including client management and consultant coordination.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Urban Design, Planning, or Architecture.
• 5+ years of experience in urban design, planning and/or architecture, including project management and leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. building codes, permitting processes, and construction practices.
• Experience coordinating with U.S. - based clients, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• AICP or architectural licensure preferred.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the United States without any restrictions. Please note that visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.

We offer a competitive compensation package based on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage. We also offer the opportunity to participate in a pre-tax Flexible Spending plan, Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and 401k.

Salary range: Starting salary $90,000 to $120,000 depending on qualifications. Placement within this pay range will be determined by factors such as education, qualifications, project complexity and/or experience. The maximum is reserved for candidates who currently meet all job requirements. We believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.

Please Note…
Including a link to an online portfolio is a huge plus! We regret that due to the large volume of inquiries, we are unable to accept phone calls regarding the status of applications. We'll be sure to contact you if we need more information. Apply now!

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As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to welcoming and supporting a diverse community of professionals. As such, women and people of color are especially encouraged to apply. Our firm participates in E-Verify.

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We do not accept resumes from recruiters, placement agencies, or other staffing vendors who have not signed an agreement with us. Unsolicited resumes will be ineligible for referral fees.