Planning Director

Job: Planning Director

Location: Lenexa, KS

Build Your Future with GBA

At GBA, we bring vision to life through collaboration, craftsmanship, and commitment. Our teams are driven by a shared passion for delivering high-quality, innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

This role sets vision and direction for the planning group within the organization, aligning strategy with enterprise goals and market opportunities. Leads senior managers and teams to deliver innovative, community-responsive, and technically rigorous planning solutions across public and private sector engagements. Cultivates high-level client, partner, and governmental relationships while building organizational capacity, driving a culture of design excellence, and ensuring long-term service growth.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the long-term growth and positioning of planning services, partnering with senior leadership to capitalize on emerging opportunities across community, corridor, campus, and development markets.
• Establish and oversee planning practice standards, ensuring consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across all planning deliverables.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to develop and implement policies, processes, and initiatives that support organizational objectives and cross-disciplinary integration.
• Direct the planning group's talent strategy, including workforce planning, succession planning, professional development, and recruitment of licensed and certified planning professionals.
• Lead pre-development planning, master planning, and land-use strategy efforts, transforming client vision and community objectives into practical, implementable solutions.
• Facilitate executive-level client, stakeholder, and public engagement efforts, building consensus and aligning project outcomes with community, regulatory, and business objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership and mentorship to planning staff, fostering accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and professional growth.
• Strengthen coordination across planning, engineering, landscape architecture, environmental, and other disciplines to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Represent the planning practice in key client, industry, governmental, and professional forums to enhance GBA's visibility, influence, and strategic relationships.
• Support business development through client engagement, pursuit strategy, proposal leadership, and expansion into new markets and service offerings.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Landscape Architecture, or a related field from an accredited program AND 15+ years of relevant professional experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• AICP certification (American Institute of Certified Planners) required or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.
• 5+ years of leadership experience, including managing managers, planners, and senior technical staff.
• Broad knowledge of urban design principles, land-use policy, zoning regulations, comprehensive planning, and master planning methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading planning engagements across multiple project typologies including community plans, corridor studies, campus master plans, mixed-use development, and parkland/trails planning.
• Demonstrated ability to merge complex land-use strategies with architectural and engineering visions for both public and private sector clients.
• Broad knowledge of organization strategy, market trends, and long-term planning service development for A/E consulting firms.
• Demonstrates strong influence in fostering an innovative, community-centered mindset and advancing digital integration across the planning practice.
• Able to represent the organization externally on technical and strategic matters with clients, governmental agencies, and industry partners.
• Experience facilitating visioning workshops, public engagement processes, and national/regional planning conferences.
• Demonstrates ability to inspire large, diverse teams while aligning planning functions with company-wide strategy.
• Strong ability to influence executive decision-making in evaluation of major project pursuits, service expansion, and technology platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, GIS platforms, and Bluebeam; familiarity with urban design and planning software tools.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.

Travel

• Ability to travel as needed for project field work and meetings; business development and client meetings; and company presentations and professional training.
• Occasional day trips or overnight travel may be required, including other GBA offices.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license and an insurable driving record under the company's insurance carrier requirements to operate or rent vehicles for business purposes.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At GBA, you’ll be part of a team that values integrity, safety, and innovation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life, accident, and disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness initiatives
• Paid company holidays, floating holidays, and flexible time off
• Opportunities for training, professional growth, and advancement

Join Our Team

If you’re a motivated professional who takes pride in delivering safe, high-quality work, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and build your future with GBA.

At GBA, we are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer promoting diversity in our workforce by including all individuals regardless of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, or any other status protected by law.