planning associate

Job Title: Planning Associate
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Organization: Kounkuey Design Initiative, Inc. (KDI)
Salary range: $70,000 - $95,000
Job Opening: January 2023
Closing date: When Filled

Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a collective of diverse urbanists—architects, landscape architects, urban planners, community organizers, and engineers—united by our shared commitment to building equity, justice, and resilience in communities through design. A BIPOC and woman-led firm founded in 2006, KDI comprises nearly 50 professionals working from four offices: Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley, Nairobi, and Stockholm.

Job Description
KDI is seeking a Planning Associate to add to our growing team of 20 staff in Los Angeles, CA. This is a great opportunity for a creative, highly motivated person with significant prior work experience to work directly with people in under-resourced communities to advance equity and support community-driven development. The position is based in our downtown Los Angeles office, and may involve travel to our projects in the Eastern Coachella Valley, other areas of California, and other cities across the U.S.

Current projects include: 

• Creation of temporary and permanent public spaces, from vacant lot activations to large parks
• Site development planning and neighborhood master planning
• Gender equity in planning and design
• Climate change adaptation and resilience along waterways and in shade deserts 
• Public space projects to address homelessness

Duties and Responsibilities
The Planning Associate is a member of the project delivery team. The ideal candidate has demonstrated the ability to:

• Manage and complete complex small to mid-range projects that improve the built environment
• Support management and production of deliverables on large scale projects
• Ensure the excellence of planning and design deliverables at multiple scales, from site activations to master plans
• Manage external partners and subconsultants, and mentor staff internally
• Engage a diverse range of stakeholders in planning and design workshops and meetings

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning or related field
• At least 4-6 years working experience with increasing responsibility in urban planning, public policy, landscape architecture, community development, or economic development
• Spanish language proficiency preferred, but not required 
• Strong commitment to social justice
• Experience leading physical planning or urban design projects (i.e. neighborhood plans, site master plans, etc) 
• Excellent written, oral, and visual communication skills
• Experience developing new project ideas, proposals, and relationships
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
• Fluency with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office
• Driver’s license, indicating good driving record, and access to a vehicle required

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods at a desk working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times

Compensation and Quality of Life
KDI actively seeks to create a well-balanced and responsive work environment. We offer competitive compensation and generous paid time off, as well as benefits such as group health insurance, a 401(k) plan, opportunities for professional development and more.

How to Apply
Send electronic copy of cover letter, resume, writing sample, portfolio, and three (3) references, to:  LAJobs@kounkuey.org
Subject heading: Planning Associate: Your Name

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status or medical condition. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.