Help Shape the Future of Lincoln

Are you passionate about creating vibrant, walkable, and resilient communities? Do you enjoy blending creativity, urban design, and planning to make a lasting impact?

The City of Lincoln is seeking an Urban Design Planner to join our Planning and Development Services Department. In this role, you'll help shape the future of a fast-growing Midwest city by leading transformative planning and urban design initiatives that influence neighborhoods, commercial districts, redevelopment projects, and public spaces.

This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with architects, planners, engineers, developers, elected officials, neighborhood organizations, and residents to create a city that is safe, livable, economically strong, and welcoming for generations to come.

About the Planning and Development Services Department

The Planning and Development Services Department (PDS) partners with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders to create a safe, livable, and economically vibrant Lincoln. Through planning, building compliance, housing, and community development, PDS provides responsive, accessible service that helps move projects forward while supporting the City's long-term vision.

As a member of the Long Range Planning Division, you'll work on both long-term planning initiatives and current urban design projects that directly influence Lincoln's continued growth and success.

What You'll Do

As an Urban Design Planner, you will:

• Lead and participate in complex urban design and planning projects, including special planning studies, neighborhood and subarea plans, and redevelopment initiatives.
• Review residential and commercial development proposals for consistency with adopted urban design standards, planning policies, and City regulations.
• Help develop and update urban design standards, planning policies, ordinances, and regulations.
• Serve as professional staff support for one of the City's design review boards.
• Collaborate with City departments, private design professionals, developers, attorneys, and community members throughout the planning and development process.
• Prepare reports, presentations, graphics, and recommendations for public meetings and decision-makers.
• Develop creative design concepts and visualizations that communicate planning ideas and enhance community engagement.
• Provide technical expertise on challenging planning and urban design issues while exercising sound professional judgment.

What We're Looking For

We're seeking a collaborative professional who enjoys solving complex planning challenges and communicating design ideas to a variety of audiences.

Successful candidates will have:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to interpret and apply planning principles, design standards, regulations, and public policy.
• Experience balancing technical analysis with creative problem-solving.
• The ability to build productive working relationships with colleagues, elected officials, consultants, developers, and members of the public.

Experience using visualization and design software such as SketchUp, Lumion, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar programs is highly valued.

Why You'll Enjoy Working Here

You'll join a collaborative team that values thoughtful planning, innovative design, and public service. Your work will have a visible impact on Lincoln's future by helping create great neighborhoods, thriving commercial districts, and high-quality public spaces.

This position offers opportunities to work on projects ranging from redevelopment initiatives and long-range planning to design review and policy development—providing meaningful variety and professional growth.

Why Lincoln?

Home to more than 300,000 residents, Lincoln has experienced steady growth for more than three decades and consistently earns national recognition for its quality of life, strong economy, and affordability.

As Nebraska's capital city and home to a vibrant university community, Lincoln offers the amenities of a larger metropolitan area while maintaining the accessibility and friendliness of a smaller city. Residents enjoy nationally recognized trail systems, outstanding parks, excellent schools, low crime, a thriving arts and entertainment scene, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Join Our Team

If you're excited about helping shape the future of one of America's most livable cities through thoughtful planning and exceptional urban design, we encourage you to apply.

Bring your creativity, technical expertise, and passion for community building to the City of Lincoln and help create places where people want to live, work, and thrive.

Job posting closes 7/19/26

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with major coursework in one of the social or engineering sciences.
• Professional experience planning or urban design experience in current or long-range planning or in one of the following specialties: transportation planning, historic preservation, wireless telecommunication facilities or other specialized planning function. 
• Or equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will also be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who possess:

• Master's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Certification through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and/or licensure or certification through the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
• Experience with urban design guidelines, professional planning, or design review.
• Strong graphic communication and visualization skills.