Urban Designer

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

• Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.

• Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.

• Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

• Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.

• Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.

• Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Responsibilities

• Consistently demonstrates a highly disciplined and effective work ethic.

• Serves as an emerging leader of the CDP Team.

• Generates sophisticated planning and design ideas.

• Conducts and increasingly directs high-level research, precedent, and relevant scale studies;

• Envisions and develops diagrams, renders site plans, and contributes to all manner of graphic and visual production.

• Effectively implements quality control standards for deliverables.

• Creates and innovates with a strong conceptual design ability applied to complex projects at divergent scales and in varying geographic and social contexts; integrates interdisciplinary criteria to effectively move forward the design of large projects.

• Demonstrates an advanced understanding of planning and urban design concepts, building typologies, critical dimensions and systems, utility and infrastructure systems, land development imperatives and planning / zoning codes, and phasing and implementation techniques.

• Is able to enrich design concepts through sophisticated knowledge, demonstrated research acumen, and expert application of technical, visualization, and other sophisticated communication strategies

• Manages time and workload of own work efforts and those of others to meet project task deadlines and commitments, with occasional interaction and direction from team leaders while guiding and teaching less experienced staff.

Management Responsibilities

• Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.

• Communicates actively through weekly meetings, assisting with issuing meeting minutes and accurate project record keeping and sharing project information and correspondence.

• Supports owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.

• Supports Senior Project Manager to initiate, monitor and maintain project schedule and work plan including schedule of meetings, presentations and project milestones / deliverables.

• Supports Senior Project Manager to initiate, monitor and maintain project plan and financial performance of project.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Inspires and leads others by example, participates in staff mentoring and training, clearly defines team member expectations and responsibilities, empowers others, and delegates where appropriate based on team members’ recognized abilities and potential.

• In collaboration with team members, contributes to a clear and consistent work plan to achieve the project budget, deliverables, and schedule.

• Actively engages in internal professional development opportunities.

• Contributes to the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.

• Contributes to the development of standards, policies, and procedures.

• Protects SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional Degree in Architecture, Planning, Urban design, or Landscape Architecture.

• Professional licensure or certification process is close to completion, LEED accreditation preferred.

• Minimum 4 years of professional experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Experience in large-scale planning, mixed-use and transit oriented development in North America, and demonstrated facility working in a fast-paced and intensely collaborative professional environment. International project experience is a plus.

• Fluency in both written and spoken Spanish is preferred.

• Exhibits initiative, process innovation, problem solving, and decision-making quality with a high attention to detail, precision and accuracy at a project component level.

• Actively collaborates at a project and consultant team level by developing, communicating, and critically and constructively evaluating ideas. Contributes to and actively participates within the studio.

• Effectively communicates with the project team and consultants through timely and appropriate written, oral, and visual means.

• Demonstrates significant capacity and a high level of proficiency in AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, and rendering other graphic software, as well as Adobe Creative Suite, GSuite, Microsoft Office / Project and/or Smartsheet; familiarity with Deltek Vision is a plus.

• Travel may be required.

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $80,000 to $95,000.

Our Culture:

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.