LJA is hiring: Studio Lead - Placemaking + Resilience in Dallas

Studio Lead – Placemaking + Resilience

Join to apply for the Studio Lead - Placemaking + Resilience role at LJA.

LJA is offering an exciting opportunity that will allow you to reach your full career potential. The structure of our organization is designed to amplify your capabilities while gaining the benefits of being an employee‑owner. What truly sets this opportunity apart is the chance to collaborate every day with dedicated, skilled, and supportive leaders. Whether you are in the office, in the field, or behind the scenes, working at LJA gives you the chance to grow through hands‑on experience and exposure to a broad range of clients and services.

With almost 100 locations and 3,000+ employee‑owners (and growing), we’re building something big! We want you to be part of it.

Your future grows here.

What Makes LJA Different

• Employee-owned. Client-focused
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Consistently ranked as a Top Workplace
• Internal recruitment team, in‑house training, and a marketing department specific to our industry
• We celebrate flexibility, allowing every team and office to lead with their proven approach
• Our culture champions continuous learning and personal growth
• We believe success comes through constant evolution and communication
• We are passionate about having fun and making money, all while creating impact

Position Overview

As Studio Lead at LJA Land Development, you will be responsible for managing projects and studio work‑plans, staffing, scopes, schedules, and budgets.

Typical Day

• Leads development review, code amendments, project visioning (ex. zoning/land use, growth management, urban design, parks and recreation planning, engineering, and fiscal vitality), and long‑range planning projects
• Mentors staff
• Leads client communications
• Develops proposals/fees
• Maintains QA/QC and delivery standards

Required Education, Licenses, Certifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Planning, Public Administration, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Architecture, or related field
• AICP, ENV, PLA, AIA, CNU‑A, LEED, or other job‑related certification required

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years
• Strong technical/regulatory/design competency

Ideally You Should Also Have

• Engaged participation in a related professional organization, especially the American Planning Association or similar organization, is encouraged. Professional organization leadership roles encouraged.
• Demonstrated organization and leadership skills
• Advanced presentation skills
• Builds client relationships and helps win work

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: PTO, paid holidays, and a full office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Multiple plan options for health, dental, and pets, along with mental health support.
• Family Support: Paid maternity and parental leave to help you focus on what matters most.
• Education Support: Tuition reimbursement and in‑house courses provided by our Learning and Development team.
• Referral Bonuses: Know great talent? Get rewarded for helping us grow.
• Community Impact: Company-sponsored volunteer days and philanthropic initiatives.
• Professional Development: Memberships to industry organizations to keep you connected and growing.
• Career Growth: Great internal mobility opportunities to advance your career.
• Fun Culture: LJA social events, employee sports teams, bring your kid to work day, etc.

To Executive Search Firms & Staffing Agencies: LJA Engineering, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered LJA's property. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting LJA's Human Resources Talent Department.

Seniority Level

Mid-Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Other

Industries

Civil Engineering