Urban Planner Resume examples & templates
Copyable Urban Planner Resume examples
By 2040, our cities will house nearly 70% of the global population—and urban planners will shape how these expanding metropolises function, feel, and flow. As climate change intensifies and demographic shifts accelerate, planners aren't just designing streets and zoning neighborhoods; they're crafting resilient communities that can withstand environmental challenges while fostering equitable access to resources. I've watched this profession transform over the last decade from primarily technical work to a fascinating blend of social science, environmental stewardship, and technology integration.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6.8% growth rate for urban planning positions through 2032—slightly faster than average—with particularly strong demand in regions tackling climate adaptation. Cities from Miami to Minneapolis are creating dedicated resilience departments, often led by planners with interdisciplinary backgrounds. The most successful planners today aren't just masters of GIS mapping and land use regulations; they're skilled facilitators who can navigate competing interests and build consensus among diverse stakeholders. As we face unprecedented urbanization challenges, urban planners will increasingly become the unsung heroes designing the sustainable, livable cities of tomorrow.
Junior Urban Planner Resume Example
Olivia Taylor
San Francisco, CA • (415) 555-8762 • olivia.taylor@email.com
linkedin.com/in/oliviataylor • github.com/otaylor-urbanplanning
Urban Planning Professional with GIS expertise and community engagement experience seeking to leverage my technical skills and collaborative approach to create more sustainable, equitable urban environments.
EXPERIENCE
Junior Urban Planner – City of Redwood City Planning Department | February 2023 – Present
- Review and process approximately 15-20 land use and zoning applications monthly, ensuring compliance with local ordinances and general plan guidelines
- Collaborate with a team of 6 planners to collect and analyze demographic data for the city’s upcoming Housing Element update
- Drafted staff reports for 8 Planning Commission meetings, synthesizing public comments and technical findings
- Created GIS maps and spatial analyses to support the Complete Streets initiative, helping identify priority areas for pedestrian improvements
- Assist with public workshops and community meetings (attended 14 events in 2023), documenting feedback and preparing presentation materials
Urban Planning Intern – Bay Area Regional Planning Association | June 2022 – January 2023
- Supported senior planners in developing transit-oriented development (TOD) guidelines for 3 suburban corridor projects
- Conducted site visits and land use surveys for 5 neighborhoods undergoing revitalization planning
- Compiled research on affordable housing best practices from 12 comparable metropolitan regions
- Assisted in creating infographics and visual materials for public outreach events using Adobe Creative Suite
Research Assistant – Urban Studies Department, UC Berkeley | September 2021 – May 2022
- Gathered and analyzed data on gentrification patterns in 4 Bay Area neighborhoods using Census data and local housing market indicators
- Helped organize a 3-day symposium on climate resilient urban design with 27 speakers and 180+ attendees
- Co-authored a 32-page report on parking policy reforms for medium-sized cities
EDUCATION
Master of Urban Planning – University of California, Berkeley | 2021-2023
- Concentration: Environmental Planning and Sustainable Development
- Relevant Coursework: Land Use Planning, Urban Design Studio, GIS Applications, Transportation Planning, Housing Policy
- Capstone Project: “Reimagining Public Spaces: Post-Pandemic Urban Design Strategies for Downtown San Francisco”
Bachelor of Arts in Geography – University of Washington | 2017-2021
- Minor: Public Policy
- GPA: 3.78/4.0
CERTIFICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AICP Candidate Program, American Planning Association (In Progress)
Certificate in Public Participation, International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), 2023
Advanced GIS for Urban Analysis, ESRI, 2022
SKILLS
- Technical: ArcGIS, QGIS, SketchUp, AutoCAD (basic), Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
- Analysis: Land use assessment, demographic analysis, spatial analysis, site planning, zoning code interpretation
- Communication: Public speaking, report writing, community engagement, stakeholder presentations
- Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Earth Pro, Census data tools, Tableau (basic)
- Languages: English (native), Spanish (conversational)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Planning Association (APA), Student Member
Urban Land Institute (ULI), Associate Member
Bay Area Young Planners Group, Active Member
Mid-level Urban Planner Resume Example
Marco Sanchez
Portland, OR | (503) 555-8124 | msanchez.planning@email.com | linkedin.com/in/marcosanchez
Professional Summary
Urban planner with 5+ years of experience balancing community needs with sustainable development practices. Strong background in zoning regulations, GIS mapping, and leading public engagement initiatives that actually get residents involved. I’ve helped secure over $2.7M in grant funding for neighborhood revitalization projects while working closely with developers, community groups, and local government stakeholders.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Urban Planner | City of Portland Planning & Sustainability Department | May 2021 – Present
- Lead a team of 4 planners in managing comprehensive district planning projects, including the East Portland Connectivity Initiative spanning 6 neighborhoods
- Created and implemented public engagement strategies that increased community participation by 47% compared to previous planning cycles
- Collaborated with transportation engineers to integrate multi-modal transit options into neighborhood plans, resulting in 3 funded bike corridor projects
- Secured $1.8M in federal grant funding for climate resilience planning in flood-vulnerable communities
- Developed and maintained relationships with 12+ neighborhood associations to ensure community voices shape development decisions
Urban Planner | Cascade Planning Partners | March 2019 – May 2021
- Prepared and presented 16 development proposals to municipal planning commissions across Oregon and Washington
- Used ArcGIS to analyze land use patterns and create compelling visualizations for stakeholder presentations
- Conducted research on affordable housing best practices that informed the design of a 63-unit mixed-income development
- Managed the public engagement process for a controversial downtown redevelopment, successfully navigating competing interests between historic preservation advocates and economic development goals
Planning Associate | UrbanWorks Consulting | August 2018 – March 2019
- Assisted senior planners with zoning analysis and permit applications for residential and commercial projects
- Prepared environmental impact assessments for 2 mixed-use developments
- Compiled demographic and market data to support feasibility studies for client projects
- Helped organize 5 community workshops to gather public input on neighborhood planning initiatives
EDUCATION
Master of Urban and Regional Planning
Portland State University | 2018
Concentration: Sustainable Communities
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
University of Oregon | 2016
Minor: Public Policy
CERTIFICATIONS
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) | 2021
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Professional Certificate | 2019
Public Participation Specialist Certification | 2020
SKILLS
- Land use & zoning regulations
- ArcGIS & QGIS
- Public engagement strategies
- Sustainable development principles
- Grant writing & administration
- Transportation planning
- Environmental impact assessment
- Adobe Creative Suite (moderate proficiency)
- SketchUp 3D modeling
- Project management
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Planning Association (APA), Oregon Chapter
Urban Land Institute (ULI), NW District Council
Congress for the New Urbanism
Senior / Experienced Urban Planner Resume Example
Melissa J. Richardson
Philadelphia, PA | (267) 555-8142 | m.richardson@emailpro.net | linkedin.com/in/mjrichardson
Urban planning professional with 9+ years of experience specializing in sustainable development, community engagement, and transit-oriented design. Known for balancing technical expertise with strong communication skills to bridge gaps between stakeholders, developers, and municipal leadership. Successfully managed complex redevelopment projects with budgets exceeding $25M while prioritizing equity and environmental considerations.
EXPERIENCE
Senior Urban Planner
City of Philadelphia Planning Commission | Philadelphia, PA | June 2019 – Present
- Lead a team of 6 planners implementing Philadelphia’s comprehensive plan across 3 rapidly developing districts, completing 7 neighborhood plans ahead of schedule
- Spearheaded the redesign of the city’s public engagement strategy, resulting in 47% increase in community participation and particularly from historically underrepresented neighborhoods
- Secured $4.8M in federal grants for sustainable infrastructure projects by crafting compelling proposals that aligned with city priorities and federal funding requirements
- Developed and implemented new zoning overlays for transit corridors that enabled 374 units of affordable housing while preserving neighborhood character
- Created GIS-based assessment tool that reduced analysis time by 62% and improved decision-making for capital improvement projects
Urban Planner II
Livable Cities Associates | Boston, MA | March 2016 – May 2019
- Managed 12 mixed-use development projects ranging from $8M-$32M in value, serving as primary liaison between developers, community groups, and regulatory agencies
- Co-authored award-winning downtown revitalization plan for mid-sized Massachusetts city that attracted $15.2M in new investment within 18 months of adoption
- Conducted detailed market and feasibility studies that guided client investment decisions and helped secure financing for 3 major projects
- Developed innovative public space designs that transformed underutilized areas into community assets, one of which was featured in Urban Planning Today magazine
Urban Planning Associate
Metropolitan Planning Council | Chicago, IL | August 2014 – February 2016
- Supported senior planners on regional transportation planning initiatives affecting 2.7M residents across 7 counties
- Collected and analyzed demographic, housing, and transportation data to inform policy recommendations
- Helped organize 23 community workshops with over 1,100 total participants to gather input on neighborhood improvement priorities
- Created compelling visualizations and maps that clarified complex planning concepts for non-technical audiences
EDUCATION
Master of Urban Planning
University of Illinois at Chicago | 2014
Concentration in Sustainable Communities | GPA: 3.87
Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
Oberlin College | 2012
Minor in Sociology | Cum Laude
CERTIFICATIONS
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) | 2017
LEED Green Associate | 2015
GIS Professional (GISP) | 2018
SKILLS
- Land Use Planning & Zoning
- Community Engagement & Facilitation
- Transit-Oriented Development
- GIS & Spatial Analysis (ArcGIS, QGIS)
- 3D Modeling (SketchUp, Rhino)
- Grant Writing & Administration
- Project Management & Budgeting
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Urban Policy Analysis
- Adobe Creative Suite
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Planning Association (APA) – Member since 2013
Urban Land Institute (ULI) – Member since 2016
Congress for the New Urbanism – Member since 2017
How to Write an Urban Planner Resume
Introduction
Landing that dream urban planning job means having a resume that showcases your unique combination of technical skills, creative vision, and practical experience. I've reviewed thousands of urban planning resumes over
my career, and the ones that stand out aren't just lists of qualifications—they tell a story about how you'll transform communities. This guide will walk you through creating a resume that gets past automated screening systems and makes planning directors want to meet you.
Resume Structure and Format
Urban planning is about creating functional, organized spaces—and your resume should reflect those same qualities. Keep these formatting guidelines in mind:
- Stick to 1-2 pages (1 page for junior planners, 2 pages max for those with 5+ years experience)
- Use clean, professional fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Georgia at 10-12pt size
- Include clear section headings with consistent formatting
- Balance white space with content—don't cram every inch of the page
- Save as a PDF unless the job posting specifically requests another format
- Name your file professionally: "FirstName_LastName_UrbanPlanner.pdf"
Most urban planning directors spend just 37 seconds reviewing a resume on first pass. Make those seconds count with a clean layout and clearly visible qualifications that match the job description.
Profile/Summary Section
Start with a punchy 3-4 sentence summary that positions you as exactly the planner they need. Mention your specialization (transportation, housing, sustainability, etc.), years of experience, and 1-2 standout accomplishments. For example:
"Transportation planner with 6 years designing multi-modal corridors that balance accessibility, safety, and community character. Experienced in GIS analysis, public engagement, and long-range planning. Successfully led the redesign of downtown transit corridors that reduced congestion by 27% while increasing bike commuting by 14%."
Professional Experience
This is where you get to shine! For each position, include:
- Company/organization name, location, and your dates of employment
- Your title (be accurate but strategic—"Urban Planning Specialist" sounds better than "Planning Assistant" if both are true)
- 4-6 bullet points highlighting specific projects, responsibilities, and measurable results
- Action verbs that demonstrate leadership: developed, coordinated, implemented, managed
Quantify your achievements whenever possible: "Facilitated 12 community workshops resulting in comprehensive neighborhood plan with 89% resident approval rating" is much stronger than "Helped with community engagement for neighborhood planning."
Education and Certifications
Urban planning is credential-heavy, so showcase your qualifications prominently:
- List degrees in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
- Include your Master's in Urban Planning, Bachelor's degree, and any relevant certifications
- Highlight AICP certification if you have it (or mention if you're eligible/preparing)
- Include specialized training like Form-Based Code certification, GIS certificates, etc.
- For recent grads: mention relevant studio projects, research, or thesis topics
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many planning departments and firms use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. To get past these digital gatekeepers:
- Mirror language from the job posting (if they say "community development," don't just use "neighborhood planning")
- Include technical skills like ArcGIS, SketchUp, Adobe Suite, or AutoCAD if you have them
- Mention specific planning processes: comprehensive planning, zoning updates, form-based codes, etc.
- Avoid images, text boxes, or unusual formatting that ATS systems can't read
Industry-specific Terms
Show you speak the language of planning by naturally incorporating terms like:
- Land use regulations and zoning ordinances
- TOD (Transit-Oriented Development)
- Complete Streets policies
- Placemaking and public realm
- Stakeholder engagement
- Environmental impact assessment
- Smart growth principles
Common Mistakes to Avoid
After reviewing hundreds of planning resumes, these red flags make me cringe:
- Generic objectives like "seeking a challenging position"
- Focusing only on duties rather than achievements
- Omitting public engagement experience (a crucial planning skill)
- Listing every GIS layer you've ever created instead of focusing on analysis skills
- Forgetting to mention experience with planning commissions or public hearings
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for reviewing development applications and attending meetings."
After: "Evaluated 75+ development applications annually, presenting findings to Planning Commission and collaborating with developers to improve designs that better aligned with the city's sustainability goals and architectural guidelines."
The difference? The second version shows both the scope of work and the impact you made. That's what will get you an interview in this competitive field!
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Urban Planner resume
- Cross-functional collaboration with engineers, architects, and community stakeholders
- Clear communication of complex zoning regulations to non-technical audiences
- Conflict resolution when balancing competing community needs (I’ve mediated some tense public forums!)
- Adaptability in shifting project scopes – especially when funding changes mid-project
- Facilitation of community engagement workshops and focus groups
- Systems thinking to connect transportation, housing, and environmental impacts
Hard skills for your Urban Planner resume
- GIS mapping and spatial analysis using ESRI ArcGIS Pro and QGIS
- Transportation demand modeling with TransCAD
- Zoning code interpretation and land use regulation
- AutoCAD and SketchUp for site planning and 3D modeling
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (particularly InDesign and Illustrator)
- Stormwater management and green infrastructure planning
- Transit-oriented development (TOD) implementation strategies
- AICP certification with specialty in transportation planning
- Form-based code development and application