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Principal Planner
Toole Design Group / Los Angeles, CA
Posted on: August 15, 2025
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Job Description
Toole Design is looking to hire an experienced and talented full-time Principal Planner in Los Angeles, CA. Do you have a strong planning background with a successful track record of project management for multimodal transportation planning? Are you passionate about sustainability, equity, and the opportunity to work on innovative multimodal projects that make communities more livable? Are you looking to collaborate with some of the region’s most thoughtful and innovative transportation professionals? If so, please consider joining our accomplished and energetic L.A. team.
This Principal Planner position, with a focus on active and multimodal transportation, earns a competitive salary and great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, a health savings account (HSA), a flexible spending account (FSA). We practice what we preach and ensure that our employees also have access to transportation by providing them with financial incentives to bike, walk, or use transit for a better quality of life.
A Day in the Life of a Principal Planner
As a Principal Planner, you will develop and nurture client relationships, mentor colleagues, and lead exciting, fun, and challenging projects throughout the region and the state (while also supporting efforts across the country). You will lead teams from a variety of disciplines on complex and impactful work, pursue and win work, and reinforce our firm’s reputation as trusted experts and advisors. You will engage with and integrate input from a broad range of stakeholders to create impactful plans that build momentum towards positive change in communities.
At Toole Design, we focus on projects that align with our values. We work on projects that encompass research, policy, planning, design guidance, program development, inclusive engagement, implementation, and evaluation, and these occur at all different scales (national, state, regional, and local). As a Principal Planner, you may lead multimodal corridor studies, Vision Zero, Safe Routes to Schools, Pedestrian and Bicycle Plans, New Mobility and Curbside Management, Trails and Greenways, Complete Streets, and/or Transit Access projects. In addition to project work, you will participate in business development pursuits with a focus in LA / Southern California. And through it all, you will work with a close-knit team that is passionate about the communities we serve.
Work Schedule for a Principal Planner
This full-time position typically works a flexible schedule of 40 hours a week. Our office is conveniently located in downtown Los Angeles and is easily accessed on foot, by bicycle, and via transit. We also provide employees with flexibility and necessary equipment to work from home up to two (2) days per week.
We are targeting a salary range of $130,000.00-$160,000.00 with flexibility for exceptionally qualified candidates.
Required Experience / Skills / Education
- Extensive knowledge of multimodal transportation planning practices and techniques
- At least 15 years of experience working on transportation projects, preferably in L.A. / Southern California
- At least eight (8) years of project management experience and demonstrated success in independently managing projects at a range of scales
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in planning or a related field (or additional work experience in the field in lieu of a degree)
- Outstanding written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills
- The ability to deliver high-quality work on-time and on-budget
- The motivation to win work, including forming and managing client relationships, identifying potential opportunities, and developing proposals and interview materials
- A willingness to develop new techniques, lead projects in new practice areas, or oversee the use of new tools
- The ability to facilitate training for other employees, clients, agency staff, and/or professional organizations
- Fluency or a working knowledge of the Spanish language a plus
- Strong graphic communication skills and working knowledge of GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS) and the Adobe Creative Suite a plus
Application Instructions
We understand your time is valuable, so we have a quick and easy application process. If you feel that you would be right for this Principal Planner position, please fill out our application by clicking on this link.
