Principal Planner Jobs
Principal Planner jobs are open across local government, transportation agencies, environmental consulting, and urban development firms, in specializations including land use, transportation, and environmental planning, from associate-level to senior and director roles. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Concord, NH United States
The State of New Hampshire, Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Office of Planning and Development has a full-time vacancy for Principal Planner.
Summary:
Provides technical assistance, training, and guidance information to municipalities, regional planning staff, and other stakeholders on the land use and planning laws and regulations, planning and land use issues, and planning-related data.
Responsibilities:
Provides technical assistance to municipalities, regional planning staff, and other inquirers on the land use and planning laws and regulations and on planning and land use issues.
Provides guidance and information to municipalities, regional planning staff, and other stakeholders on municipal planning and land use issues by developing and/or updating the planning and zoning handbooks, technical bulletins, web site information, newsletter articles and other informational materials.
Assists in developing and providing training for municipalities, regional planning staff, and other stakeholders through planning conferences, workshops, and other activities.
Assists the State Data Center staff with developing and conducting outreach, training sessions and workshops on how to acquire, use and interpret Census Bureau data and with outreach efforts of the Census Bureau's decennial census operations.
Works with the Senior Planner to prepare the State Development Plan and other reports.
Maintains a high level of knowledge regarding planning laws and regulations and the current statewide planning issues through participation in training, conferences, and other activities.
Provides staff support to other planning programs such as the Floodplain Management Program, which includes providing technical assistance and outreach to municipalities, the public, and other stakeholders on floodplain management topics.
Represents the Division of Planning and Community Development Director as a designee to, or member of, state and interstate boards and commissions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Master's degree from a recognized college or university with major study in planning, economics, geography, government, law, business/public administration, resources management, natural resources planning, environmental science, environmental law, community development, architecture or a related field.
Experience: Four years' experience in professional planning or experience in a related field.
OR
Education: Bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university with major study in planning, economics, geography, government, law, business/public administration, resources management, natural resources planning, environmental science, environmental law, community development, architecture or a related field.
Experience: Five years' experience in professional planning or experience in a related field.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Municipal or regional planning experience desirable.
Experience Level
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Find Principal Planner JobsPrincipal Planner Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Oracle12
- Northrop Grumman12
- BAE Systems USA4
- Applied Research Associates3
- McDermott2
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Energy
- Construction & Real Estate
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal planner jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in urban planning, public policy, or a related field
- AICP certification or demonstrated eligibility to sit for the exam
- Five or more years of progressively responsible planning experience
- Proficiency in GIS software such as ArcGIS for spatial analysis and mapping
- Experience managing public engagement processes including hearings and community meetings
- Familiarity with CEQA, NEPA, or state-specific environmental review processes
Tips for Your Principal Planner Job Search
Tailor your resume to planning discipline
Land use, transportation, and environmental planning each have distinct technical vocabularies. Reviewers notice when your resume mirrors the specific terminology in a posting, so swap generic phrases for the discipline-specific language the hiring agency actually uses.
Lead with your project management experience
Principal planner roles are defined by leading complex, multi-year projects with cross-agency stakeholders. Front-load your resume with examples where you managed scope, budget, and timelines, not just contributed to a team effort.
Highlight AICP certification or exam eligibility
Many postings list AICP certification as required or strongly preferred. If you're exam-eligible but not yet certified, say so explicitly. Hiring managers know the credentialing timeline and will count active candidacy in your favor.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal planner openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a portfolio of adopted plans
Interviewers want to see plans that cleared the full public hearing and adoption process, not just drafts. Bring two or three examples you can walk through from community engagement to final approval, explaining the trade-offs you navigated.
Negotiate scope and title alongside salary
At the principal level, your ability to shape the role matters as much as pay. When an offer comes, ask which projects you'll own from day one and whether the title reflects your actual decision-making authority within the department.
Principal Planner Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal planners?
The companies hiring the most principal planners right now include Oracle, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems USA, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Tennessee, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Municipal governments and regional planning agencies tend to post the highest volume of principal planner roles at any given time.
How many principal planner jobs are remote?
About 64% of principal planner openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with on-site work still dominant given the public-facing and site-visit nature of most planning roles. Policy analysis, long-range planning, and grant writing positions within larger agencies tend to offer the most schedule flexibility.
How do you become a principal planner?
Start with a bachelor's degree in urban planning, geography, or public administration, then pursue a master's in urban or regional planning to accelerate advancement. Accumulate several years in associate or senior planner roles handling project management, public hearings, and regulatory review. Earning your AICP certification signals readiness for principal-level responsibility and is a standard requirement for promotion in most public agencies and consulting firms.
Can you get hired as a principal planner without direct experience?
Moving directly into a principal planner role without prior planning experience is uncommon because the title signals project ownership and supervisory responsibility. Candidates coming from adjacent fields like civil engineering, architecture, or public policy can strengthen their case by emphasizing regulatory review experience, stakeholder coordination, and any planning-adjacent projects they led, particularly if they're pursuing AICP certification.
What does the principal planner interview process look like?
Most principal planner interviews run two to three rounds. The first is typically a screening call with HR covering your background and availability. A panel interview with department leadership and sometimes elected or appointed board members follows, often including a prepared presentation on a planning scenario or a past project you led. Some agencies add a written exercise testing your ability to analyze zoning issues or draft staff report language.
Where can I find and apply to principal planner jobs?
You can find and apply to principal planner jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your planning discipline and experience level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 76 Principal Planner Jobs
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