Community Planner

Take the next step in your planning career with Ayres! 

Unlock your potential at Ayres, a leading multidisciplinary firm dedicated to transformative planning solutions. With local offices in Fort Collins, CO and Cheyenne, WY, our team is shaping vibrant communities through innovative approaches and diverse project types. We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented planner to contribute to our growing portfolio of projects, helping communities shape their future. 

Your impact and role: 

In this role, you’ll collaborate with a dynamic team of professionals to support a broad range of projects that impact communities across our region and nationwide. You will apply your research and analytical skills, along with a passion for communities, to craft practical, well-informed planning solutions. Success in this position is defined by your ability to contribute creative ideas and deliver results that meet and exceed client aspirations. Engage with our collaborative and supportive team to take your career to the next level! 

On any given day, you will: 

• Take an active role in a diverse portfolio of planning projects, contributing your skills to serve a wide range of client needs. 

• Develop studies, plans, designs, and project deliverables by applying planning principles under the guidance of senior staff.   

• Build meaningful relationships with community members, stakeholders, staff, and officials to support impactful planning efforts. 

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary colleagues such as community planners, economic development specialists, landscape architects, environmental scientists, and engineers to craft innovative and practical solutions. 
• Stay ahead of industry trends by engaging in professional organizations such as APA, Main Street, ULI, CNU, contributing to thought leadership and innovation in community planning. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Community/Urban Planning or a closely related field. 

• 1-5 years of relevant experience in community planning. 

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in the principles and practices of community planning, including land use, zoning, long-range planning, and community outreach. 

• Familiarity with local government organizations, operations, policies, and procedures. 

• Understanding local government development review processes, with experience conducting such reviews for the public sector. 

• Proficiency with local ordinances and state laws governing land use activities. 

• Strong skills with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Pro, and the ability to quickly learn new computer and internet applications. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including active listening and the ability to follow through on tasks, ensuring clarity and responsiveness in client and team interactions. 

• Capacity to conduct detailed research and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, packaging findings to meet specific project needs. 

• Ability to work efficiently both independently and as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team. 
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record. 

Desired qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in Community/Urban Planning. 

• Fluency in writing and speaking Spanish is a plus. 

• Experience with a range of technical planning projects including funding research, grant writing, brownfield revitalization, development code interpretation, redevelopment efforts, long-range planning, and area and neighborhood planning. 

• Ability to visualize and critique designs while quickly crafting strategies and solutions. 

• Skills in graphic design or the ability to create visuals to convey and support project efforts. 

• Experience participating in presentations. 

• Engagement in practice and thought leadership activities based on industry best practices and current planning trends. 
• A self-starter that is confident in their professional capabilities and able to take initiative to complete project deliverables. 

What we offer at Ayres: 

• A flexible, work-life balanced environment with opportunities for career growth. 

• A supportive culture that values innovation, professional development and mentorship, and meaningful community impact. 
• Health, dental, and vision Insurance.
• Short and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and 401K with company match.
• PTO upon hire, paid holidays including two floating holidays, and a flexible work schedule.

Please note, benefits vary depending on job status.  To learn more about our great benefits, visit our website at https://www.ayresassociates.com/careers/the-ayres-advantage/

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer: Minorities, Women, Veterans, People with Disabilities