Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager – Land Use & Entitlements

Position Title: Senior Project Manager – Land Use & Entitlements

Reports To: President/Vice President

Location: San Fernando Valley

Classification: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing complex land use entitlement and development projects throughout Los Angeles and surrounding Southern California jurisdictions. This role oversees projects from initial feasibility and due diligence through discretionary approvals, environmental review, public hearings, and permit coordination.

The ideal candidate has substantial experience navigating the City of Los Angeles entitlement process, including coordination with Los Angeles City Planning, Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Los Angeles City Department of Public Works, Council Offices, neighborhood stakeholders, and regional agencies. Candidates should possess strong project management skills, political awareness, technical knowledge of zoning and planning regulations, and the ability to manage high-profile and complex urban development projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage entitlement and planning projects through all phases of development, including feasibility analysis, entitlement strategy, environmental review, public hearings, and permit coordination.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, City staff, elected offices, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• Prepare and oversee entitlement applications, zoning analyses, project narratives, entitlement findings, and presentation materials.
• Coordinate discretionary approvals including, but not limited to:
• General Plan Amendments
• Zone Changes
• Subdivisions
• Conditional Use Permits
• Project Review
• Director’s Determinations
• Density Bonus and TOC incentives
• Specific Plan Exceptions
• Projects eligible for state housing laws
• Manage project processing with Los Angeles City Planning and related agencies, including case filings, plan check coordination, and responses to agency comments.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary consultant teams, including architects, attorneys, traffic engineers, environmental consultants, civil engineers, and expediters.
• Oversee preparation and coordination of CEQA documentation, technical studies, and environmental review processes.
• Attend and lead meetings with City staff, Council Offices, neighborhood councils, and community organizations.
• Prepare for and attend public hearings before the Zoning Administrator, Deputy Advisory Agency, Area Planning Commission, City Planning Commission, Cultural Heritage Commission, and Los Angeles City Council committees.
• Develop and maintain project schedules.
• Identify project risks and proactively develop entitlement and political strategies to maintain project momentum.
• Mentor and supervise assistant planners.
• Support business development efforts and maintain strong client relationships within the development community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Real Estate Development, Geography, Political Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in land use planning and entitlement processing, or development project management within Southern California.
• Strong working knowledge of:
• Los Angeles City Planning procedures
• Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC)
• State Density Bonus Law
• CEQA processes and environmental documentation
• Subdivision Map Act procedures
• Demonstrated experience processing complex entitlement cases within the City of Los Angeles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and public presentations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple active projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively navigate political, community, and agency dynamics.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing relationships with City staff, public agencies, and industry professionals in the Los Angeles entitlement and development community.
• Experience with large-scale mixed-use, multifamily, hospitality, institutional, or affordable housing projects.
• Advanced degree in planning, public policy, or related field preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance bonus opportunities.
• Medical insurance.
• 401(k) and retirement benefits.
• Paid vacation and holidays.

Work Environment

This position operates in a fast-paced professional office environment with frequent attendance at agency meetings, project sites, and evening public hearings throughout Los Angeles and surrounding jurisdictions. Hybrid work flexibility may be available depending on project needs.