James Lima Planning + Development (JLP+D) is seeking an entrepreneurial and creative Senior Analyst for Planning & Economic Development for our growing real estate, economics, and public policy consulting practice.


Who We Are:

We are creative and unconventional thinkers, dedicated to actionable ideas that expand equitable economic opportunity, achieve higher returns on investment, and produce more vibrant and resilient places. From economic analysis to planning strategies, financial modeling to government relations, we know what it takes to get things done. Our aim is to ensure the long-term success of urban investments and initiatives.

With expertise in real estate services, urban planning, affordable housing, and economic development, we are regarded as national leaders in solving complex planning and development challenges for public and private clients at every scale. We are analyzing, crafting, and implementing expansive equitable economic development projects, working with private developers, public agencies, and non-profit organizations to achieve their goals. Our current and recent projects are located across the U.S. and North America, including Austin, Atlanta, San Jose, Calgary, Ann Arbor, Asheville, Pensacola, Indianapolis, Myrtle Beach, Toledo, The Bahamas, and numerous assignments throughout New York City and the metro area. In 2020, we are expanding into even more markets.

We love our collaborators, who are top players in the fields of real estate development, urban design, planning, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, resilience, mobility, arts and culture, and land use law. We are featured speakers at national and international conferences and panels, including the Urban Land Institute, Mayors’ Institute on City Design, International Downtown Association, and National Recreation and Parks Association, among others. Many of our projects have garnered awards and recognition for their innovation, impact, and excellence.



What You Will Be Working On:

You will be the project manager for a set of priority projects at JLP+D that might include:

For a regional planning organization, crafting a district-scale equitable economic development opportunity in San Jose, CA
Providing strategic planning and development advisory services for a large-scale mixed-use, mixed-income development near the Brooklyn Navy Yard
Helping a growing regional economy in Tennessee to better compete for talent by focusing on new placemaking opportunities with a county-wide vision plan
Crafting a major downtown corridor redevelopment framework in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Conducting a district-scale economic development plan in Atlanta, GA, near Georgia Tech, focusing on growing an innovation district
Working with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) through JLP+D’s on-call economic advisory contract
Other projects in the pipeline and of interest to you

In your capacity as the project manager, you are expected to:

Design the project scope and analytical framework. Sometimes, asking the right set of questions is just as important as, if not more than, answering them.
Perform the analysis (economic, demographic, market, geospatial, interviews, other qualitative, and more) to answer key questions of the assignment. When existing data is not available, you need to be creative and seek the best solutions.
Present ideas and findings in effective ways (verbal, written, graphic/visual). As a consultant, you are expected to translate complex information into digestible and high-impact communications, including designing infographics to producing reports and making presentations in front of the public.
Manage schedules, communicate with the client(s), collaborate with JLP+D and external team members, and ensure that the projects are delivered in the highest quality.

In addition to your day-to-day project management responsibility at JLP+D, you will lead and/or support the following team efforts:

Business development. We pursue new opportunities around North America, and you will help us identify new leads, assemble teams, develop scope proposals, and win projects. We want you to bring your own perspective and resources to JLP+D, and pursue opportunities that are of interest to you!
Support other team members and the firm. We are busy, and we are growing. Each of us at JLP+D supports each other in project-related as well as operational tasks, big or small, so we need to be collaborative.

We Provide Opportunities for Your Growth:

We provide professional training and invest in your growth, depending on your goals and needs, such as leadership and management, real estate financial underwriting, and other areas of professional development. We have an overall culture of supporting career advancement within the organization.


What We Are Looking For:

You need to demonstrate yourself as a great consultant with expertise and experience working in the areas identified above. We look for the following traits when getting to know you:

A Master’s degree in urban planning, public policy, real estate development, economic development, or related fields.
Strong writing skills.
Strong quantitative analytical skills.
Strong qualitative analytical skills (conducting interviews, analyzing themes from a wide range of literature).
Software skills: InDesign (Intermediate to Advanced), Excel (Intermediate to Advanced), other Adobe CS (a plus!)
At least 1 year of professional working experience in similar roles and capacity

If what we do interests you, and if you think you qualify based on the descriptions above, please send the following to Yuxiang Luo (yuxiang@jameslimadevelopment.com):

Your resume
A cover letter
A writing/report sample (non-academic work preferred)

We are looking to fill this position rather quickly and will notify shortlisted candidates for in-person interviews at our office near Union Square, New York. We look forward to knowing you!