---
title: 'Senior Planner at McAdams'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-planner-mcadams-winston-salem-north-carolina-nkh1vry0f0hr'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-13'
---

# Senior Planner at McAdams

- **Company:** McAdams
- **Location:** Winston-Salem North Carolina, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-07-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/mcadams/jobs/5187488007

## Job description

McAdams is a full-service land planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and geomatics firm located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. We seek to partner with our clients to create meaningful experiences through inspired design. Our employees are what make McAdams different. We bring experiences to the forefront of everything we do, and to do that takes special people.

Position Overview

The Senior Planner is an experienced, certified planning professional responsible for helping to strengthen and grow the entitlement group. This person will collaborate with clients and internal teams to lead projects through all phases of design, due diligence, planning, entitlement and site development. Responsibilities will include proposal writing, budget management, staff development and managing client relationships. This person and their team will provide valuable entitlement guidance to internal project teams in all market sectors as well as directly to clients.

## Key Responsibilities

- Oversee the preparation and submission of entitlement applications, including zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and variances, ensuring that all necessary documentation is accurate and complete
- Successfully manage planning or entitlement projects through the review process; respond to comments, clearly communicate issues and potential solutions to clients, and obtain project / staff / council approval according to the client's schedule
- Implement and uphold rigorous quality control measures throughout the planning process by reviewing project deliverables for accuracy, consistency, and adherence to regulatory standards
- Assist Project Manager with or independently lead the project team with the review and input of project design and development review process as applicable to the entitlement process
- Assist Project Manager with scoping projects and development of tasks on proposals or change orders
- Track project progress, timelines, and budgets, providing regular updates to project managers and stakeholders, and identifying any potential risks or challenges that may impact project outcomes
- Draft proposals or contracts in accordance with project entitlement and construction schedules and fees
- Foster effective partnerships with corporate services including Accounting, Admin Services, and HR among others, to streamline processes, ensure compliance, and enhance operational efficiency
- Prepare, review and approve project billing with accounting/admin team and collect accounts receivable in accordance with company collection policy
- Maintain client relationships from initial meeting through final deliverable to ensure client satisfaction, including monitoring of the Firm's interactions throughout project duration
- Actively participate in business development initiatives by identifying and pursuing potential project leads, while collaborating with the client management team to effectively relay insights and strategic opportunities that align with organizational goals and client needs
- Develop community engagement plans and supporting materials / graphics, collaborates with staff and community partners, facilitates engagement meetings / events and prepares community engagement summaries
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior planning staff, fostering their professional development and ensuring the application of best practices in planning processes
- Perform other duties as assigned

## Skills + Experience

- Bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited program in Landscape Architecture, City/Community /Regional Planning, Urban Planning, or related field required
- Must possess RLA or AICP licensure
- 5 – 8 years’ experience in planning or design required
- Display advanced oral and written communication and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of regulatory requirements and planning standards
- Excellent communication, critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving skills
- Self-starter with strong drive for personal growth and a commitment to continuous improvement
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to facilitate accurate, efficient, and quality project deliverables

Work Environment + Physical Demands

The characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this position. When properly requested and when feasible (without undue hardship to the company), reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

- Work will primarily be in an office setting with limited opportunities to be exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
- Work will be primarily working with fingers by picking, pinching, typing, and grasping often with repetitive motion.
- Must have visual acuity for viewing a computer screen, the ability to talk, hear and sit for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to carry, lift and push/pull up to 5 pounds frequently and up to 30 pounds occasionally.
- Additional physical duties may be required as necessary.

McAdams is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status, or any other legally protected status.

If you need assistance with our online application system process, please contact the Human Resources Team at 919.361.5000 or hrteam@mcadamsco.com.

Please read these notices for important information regarding applying for work with McAdams.

- [Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal](https://mcadamsco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Know-Your-Rights_-Workplace-discrimination-is-illegal.pdf)
- https://mcadamsco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/E-Verify-Participation-Poster-English-and-Spanish.pdf
- https://mcadamsco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Right-to-Work-Poster.pdf

## About McAdams

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: McAdams is a full-service civil engineering, land planning, surveying, landscape architecture, water resources, transportation, and construction administration firm that creates meaningful experiences through inspired design.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held)
- **Headquarters**: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
- **Founded**: 1979
- **Founders**: John McAdams

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Landscape Architecture, Water Resources, Transportation, Geomatics, Construction Administration
- **Target customers**: B2B, serving municipal, education, healthcare, commercial, and residential development clients across 27 states
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "Meaningful experiences through inspired design" — bringing thoughtfulness to every detail to advance clients toward their vision while improving communities.

## Products & Services
- **Civil/Site Design**: Full-service civil engineering for land development projects, including site planning, grading, utility design, and stormwater management.
- **Water Resources**: Expertise in green stormwater infrastructure, floodplain management, watershed planning, and hydraulic/hydrologic modeling.
- **Transportation**: Planning, design, and construction administration for roadway, intersection, and multimodal transportation projects.
- **Planning & Urban Design**: Land planning, urban design, and community visioning services.
- **Geomatics**: Surveying, mapping, and geospatial data services including boundary, topographic, and construction staking.
- **Landscape Architecture**: Site design, streetscape, park, and greenway planning.
- **Construction Administration**: Construction observation, project management, and inspection services.

## Market Standing
- **Revenue**: Annual revenue of $38.4M (LinkedIn estimate)
- **Key Metric**: Total headcount of 436 employees (+6.4% YoY growth, +32 people)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly available (privately held, bootstrapped growth since 1979)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Offices across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas
  - Licensed in 27 states (AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, MT, NE, NJ, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV)
  - Active job postings: 66 (monthly +15.8%, quarterly +73.7%)
  - Recognized as a Zweig Group Hot Firm and Best Firms to Work For
  - Employee headcount grew 6.4% year-over-year

## Competitive Advantages
- **Multidisciplinary expertise**: Combines civil engineering, planning, landscape architecture, water resources, transportation, and geomatics under one roof, offering integrated solutions.
- **Culture and values**: Strong emphasis on collaboration, passion, creativity, and giving back through the McAdams SHARES initiative (2% of annual earnings donated to local charities focused on housing, hunger, childhood education, and environmental stewardship).
- **Tenure and reputation**: 46 years of consistent operation with a track record of delivering complex projects across multiple states.
- **Employee development**: 216 internal training courses, mentorship programs, and a Young Professionals Group (YPG) for early-career growth.
- **Award-winning workplace**: Consistently recognized as a "Best Place to Work" regionally (TBJ, CBJ) and nationally (Zweig Group).

## Strategic Focus
- **Growth and expansion**: Continuing to add talent across all disciplines and offices, with a particular focus on data center, municipal, and commercial development markets.
- **Talent development**: Deep investment in employee training, mentorship, and career pathing to retain top talent and build future leaders.
- **Community impact**: Strengthening the McAdams SHARES charitable initiative and deepening engagement with local communities.
- **Innovation in design**: Advancing expertise in green stormwater infrastructure, sustainable site design, and resilient infrastructure.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: McAdams is consistently recognized as a Best Place to Work, with a culture centered on collaboration, passion, creativity, and giving back. Employees describe the environment as supportive, innovative, and community-focused.
- **Career Development**: Offers 216 internal training courses, mentorship programs, and a Young Professionals Group (YPG). Interns receive dedicated mentors and work on real projects with real impact.
- **Employee Resource Groups**: Includes McAdams UNITED (diversity, equity, and inclusion), YPG (professional development for 0-5 year employees), and McAdams SHARES (philanthropy).
- **Company Trips**: Every employee receives an annual stipend for company trips, strengthening team bonds across offices and disciplines.
- **Work Environment**: Hybrid/office-based depending on role and location. Offices are located in Raleigh (HQ), Charlotte, and other cities across NC, SC, FL, and TX.
- **Notable Perks**: Annual company trip stipend, robust training library, charitable giving program, and a strong internal community.
- **Engineering Culture**: Emphasis on continuous learning, creative problem-solving, and technical excellence. Engineers work on diverse projects from site design to water resources to transportation.

## Sources
1. [mcadamsco.com](https://mcadamsco.com/)
2. [mcadamsco.com/about/about-us](https://mcadamsco.com/about/about-us)
3. [mcadamsco.com/experience-mcadams](https://mcadamsco.com/experience-mcadams)
4. [mcadamsco.com/about/people](https://mcadamsco.com/about/people)
5. [linkedin.com/company/mcadams](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcadams)

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