Principal Planner

Apex Companies, LLC

. Lead and provide strategic direction for the Planning practice, including staff development, workload planning, technical quality, financial performance, and long-term practice growth.

Posted 11/4/2026full-timeFort Myers • Florida • United StatesLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in urban planning, including comprehensive planning, zoning, and land development regulations, while effectively leading teams and managing client relationships to drive project success and practice growth.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AICP CertificationComprehensive PlanningLand Development RegulationsBusiness DevelopmentClient Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Land Use PlanningEntitlementsDevelopment Review ProcessesProject ManagementFinancial Performance Monitoring

Soft Skills

Team LeadershipMentoringCommunicationCollaborationProblem Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

AICP Certification

Industry Keywords

Municipal PlanningCommunity DevelopmentFeasibility StudiesZoning ApplicationsProject Scopes

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and provide strategic direction for the Planning practice, including staff development, workload planning, technical quality, financial performance, and long-term practice growth.
Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing team of planners, designers, technicians, and supporting professionals.
Support recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and career growth.
Lead the preparation and review of comprehensive plans, land development codes, plan amendments, corridor and specific area plans, master plans, feasibility studies, conceptual site plans, and entitlement documents.
Provide senior-level planning guidance for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, institutional, transportation, and other public- and private-sector development projects.
Research and evaluate land use, zoning, development standards, infrastructure, environmental conditions, transportation access, permitting history, and other factors affecting project feasibility and entitlements.
Coordinate with clients, engineers, architects, attorneys, municipal staff, developers, and other stakeholders to establish project objectives and planning and development strategies.
Oversee Comprehensive Plans, Plan Amendments, and Plan Updates in accordance with applicable Florida Statutes and local land development regulations.
Review site plans, zoning applications, comprehensive plan amendments, and other planning and entitlement documents for technical accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality.
Represent clients and projects before municipal staff, planning boards, elected officials, community organizations, and other public agencies.
Maintain relationships with municipalities, developers, property owners, architects, engineers, attorneys, and other industry partners.
Identify and pursue new clients, projects, markets, and strategic opportunities.
Lead or contribute to proposals, presentations, interviews, professional organizations, and business development activities.
Collaborate with engineering, environmental, surveying, transportation, water resources, and other technical practices on multidisciplinary projects.
Oversee planning projects from proposal and scope development through completion.
Prepare and manage project scopes, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, fee proposals, and client deliverables.
Conduct project kick-off and coordination meetings.
Monitor project financial performance, including budgets, utilization, scope changes, invoicing, collections, and profitability.
Identify scope creep, scheduling concerns, project risks, resource needs, and performance issues, implementing corrective actions.
Maintain communication with clients and stakeholders to coordinate information, resolve challenges, evaluate performance, and identify opportunities.
Ensure projects meet contractual requirements, technical and quality standards, client expectations, schedules, and financial objectives.
Provide senior-level quality assurance and technical oversight while mentoring project managers and staff.
Report project, client, staffing, and financial performance to company leadership and recommend improvements.

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of progressively responsible planning experience, preferably including consulting, land use planning, community development, entitlements, or municipal planning.
Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
Current AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) certification through the American Planning Association (APA) required.
Demonstrated experience leading planning projects, teams, and client relationships.
Strong knowledge of comprehensive planning, zoning, land development regulations, entitlements, and development review processes.
Experience with business development, proposal development, client management, and practice growth strongly preferred.
Florida planning and land development experience strongly preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

This role is eligible for a $20,000 sign-on bonus, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's sign-on bonus program.
All Apex positions are eligible for annual bonus opportunities.
Company-subsidized medical and dental.
Company-paid life, short, and long-term disability.
401k match.
Tuition assistance.
Cross-training and the ability to work on a variety of projects.
Performance-based bonuses or other incentives.