Join Our Team

Transform Community Visions into Magnetic Destinations
Place Foundry | Rockford, Illinois

THE OPPORTUNITY
Place Foundry is seeking a dynamic Place Strategist to lead strategic planning initiatives that create magnetic destinations across the Midwest. You'll bridge the gap between visionary thinking and practical implementation, ensuring our comprehensive plans become a reality rather than sitting on shelves. Join our integrated team where strategy, design, and engineering collaborate seamlessly to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant, thriving communities that inspire pride, foster connection, and catalyze economic growth. 

YOUR ROLE
As Place Strategist, you'll serve as a key contributor in our Planning & Development Studio, managing strategic planning engagements from vision development through implementation. You'll work directly with municipalities, developers, and community organizations to create implementable strategies for town and city planning, downtown revitalization, mixed-use development, and district and corridor transformation. This role combines analytical rigor with creative problem-solving, requiring you to develop funding strategies and facilitate stakeholder alignment. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Lead comprehensive planning projects from vision development through implementation strategy, creating frameworks for downtown revitalization and corridor transformation. 

• Conduct market analysis and economic modeling using advanced tools like Placer.AI to identify development opportunities and perform feasibility studies. 

• Develop funding strategies, public-private partnership structures, and phasing plans that turn strategic plans into groundbreaking ceremonies. 

• Manage project budgets, timelines, and client relationships while facilitating stakeholder meetings and building consensus around implementable strategies. 

• Mentor junior team members, contribute to thought leadership initiatives, and support business development through proposal writing and client presentations. 

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 3 years post-undergraduate community planning, economic development, or real estate development with a proven track record implementing strategic plans. 

• Strong analytical skills with experience in market analysis, financial modeling, feasibility studies, and municipal finance principles. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to facilitate stakeholder meetings and present to elected officials. 

• Understanding of zoning, development processes, TIF districts, and public-private partnerships with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

YOUR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

• Proficiency in GIS, demographic analysis tools, presentation software, and market research platforms like Placer.AI for visitor pattern analysis 

• Experience performing pro forma analysis, developing feasibility studies, and understanding funding mechanisms, including grants and public-private partnerships 

• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks, entitlement processes, and the ability to develop phasing strategies and implementation timelines 

• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, consensus building, and translating complex data into compelling narratives for diverse audiences 

• Proficiency in project management software, budget tracking, and coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, including planners, engineers, and designers 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Classification: Full Time  

• FLSA Status: Exempt  

• Travel Requirements: Moderate (25-50%)  

• Health, dental, and vision coverage  

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer Days)  

• 401K plan

• Professional development opportunities 

HOW TO APPLY:
Please use the button below to submit your application, including a cover letter, resume, and portfolio. In your cover letter, highlight any additional relevant skills, experience, or qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for this position.

Build Bridges Between Communities and Their Future
Place Foundry | Rockford, Illinois 

THE OPPORTUNITY
Place Foundry seeks an energetic Place Experience Coordinator to join our Planning & Development Studio as the vital link between communities and their transformative future. You'll lead community engagement and brand storytelling efforts to ensure that every planning process authentically reflects community values, while building the support necessary for successful implementation. This position offers the unique opportunity to develop creative engagement strategies that make planning accessible and exciting for diverse audiences across the Midwest, contributing to Place Foundry's mission of creating magnetic destinations through authentic community engagement and inclusive planning processes. 

YOUR ROLE
As Place Experience Coordinator, you'll serve as the primary liaison between Place Foundry project teams and community stakeholders, leading engagement processes and brand storytelling that capture the authentic character of communities and development projects. Working closely with our Place Strategist and Place Systems Designer, you'll ensure that community input directly influences both strategic recommendations and design decisions. Your role extends beyond traditional engagement to include supporting implementation efforts by maintaining community advocacy for adopted plans, helping to bridge the gap from planning through groundbreaking, and ensuring that the community vision becomes a built reality. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Design and facilitate community engagement processes, including public workshops, stakeholder interviews, and community events that gather meaningful input on planning projects  

• Develop brand strategies and storytelling approaches that capture the authentic character of communities while creating compelling narratives around place-based initiatives.  

• Create engaging content for social media, websites, and marketing materials that build awareness and support for community planning initiatives. 

• Manage stakeholder relationships and maintain ongoing communication throughout the project lifecycle, building trust with community members, elected officials, and business leaders. 

• Coordinate public workshops, facilitate alignment and collaborative-building among diverse stakeholder groups, and support implementation through continued community advocacy. 

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-4 years of experience in community engagement, public relations, marketing, or related field with demonstrated success facilitating public meetings  

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or related field with strong writing and visual communication skills  

• Experience with brand development, storytelling, and creating compelling narratives around place-based initiatives and community development processes  

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and consensus among diverse stakeholder groups, including community members and elected officials  

• Understanding of community development processes, municipal decision-making, and proficiency in social media platforms and content creation tools 

YOUR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

• Proficiency in social media platforms, content creation tools, graphic design software, and website content management systems  

• Experience designing and facilitating public engagement events, workshops, and stakeholder meetings with diverse community groups  

• Skilled in creating compelling visual and written content, including newsletters, social media campaigns, presentation materials, and community outreach materials  

• Knowledge of community engagement best practices, alignment, and collaborative building techniques, and the ability to translate technical planning concepts for general audiences  

• Understanding of municipal processes, planning procedures, and ability to coordinate engagement timelines with project schedules and regulatory requirements 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Classification: Full Time  

• FLSA Status: Exempt  

• Travel Requirements: Moderate (25-50%)  

• Health, dental, and vision coverage  

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer Days)  

• 401K plan

• Professional development opportunities 

HOW TO APPLY
Please use the button below to submit your application, including a cover letter, resume, and portfolio. In your cover letter, highlight any additional relevant skills, experience, or qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for this position.

Transform Data into Actionable Community Insights

Place Foundry | Rockford, Illinois 

THE OPPORTUNITY
Place Foundry seeks a skilled Place Analyst to conduct the rigorous analysis that grounds our strategic recommendations in market reality. You'll utilize advanced tools and methodologies to identify development opportunities, evaluate market conditions, and assess the success of our place-making initiatives across the Midwest. This role offers the unique opportunity to see your analysis directly influence community development decisions and implementation outcomes, working with cutting-edge analytical tools to inform strategic recommendations that create magnetic destinations and lasting positive change. 

YOUR ROLE
As a Place Analyst, you'll serve as the analytical backbone of our Planning & Development Studio, conducting comprehensive market analysis and creating compelling data visualizations that communicate complex information to diverse audiences. Working closely with our Place Strategist, you'll translate analytical findings into strategic recommendations while maintaining databases that track key performance indicators for community development projects. Your expertise in demographic analysis, economic modeling, and advanced visualization will directly support grant applications, funding strategies, and feasibility studies that move communities from vision to implementation. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Conduct comprehensive market analysis using demographic data, economic trends, and advanced tools like Placer.AI to identify development opportunities and assess market conditions.  

• Create compelling GIS maps, data visualizations, and infographics that communicate complex information effectively to clients, stakeholders, and community members.  

• Develop and maintain databases that track key performance indicators for community development projects, while conducting feasibility studies and performing pro forma analysis.  

• Support grant applications and funding strategies with data-driven justifications, impact projections, and evidence-based recommendations for implementation  

• Produce high-quality graphics and presentation materials for client meetings, public engagement events, and strategic planning presentations. 

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-4 years of experience in market research, economic analysis, urban planning, or a related analytical field with strong quantitative skills  

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Geography, Urban Planning, or related analytical field with demonstrated proficiency in data analysis methodologies  

• Advanced proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS Pro), data analysis tools, and graphic design software (Adobe Creative Suite)  

• Experience with demographic analysis, market research methodologies, economic modeling, and understanding of real estate markets and development economics  

• Strong analytical thinking with the ability to identify patterns and trends in complex datasets while maintaining excellent attention to detail in professional deliverables 

YOUR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

• Advanced proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS Pro), statistical analysis tools and data visualization platforms 

• Experience with market research platforms like Placer.AI, demographic analysis tools (ESRI Business Analyst, Census data), and economic modeling software  

• Skilled in graphic design and presentation software (Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint) to create compelling visual narratives from complex datasets  

• Knowledge of real estate market analysis, development economics, municipal finance principles, and the ability to perform pro forma and feasibility analysis  

• Understanding of survey methodology, statistical analysis techniques, and ability to translate technical findings into accessible recommendations for diverse audiences 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Classification: Full Time  

• FLSA Status: Exempt  

• Travel Requirements: Moderate (25-50%)  

• Health, dental, and vision coverage  

• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer Days)  

• 401K plan

• Professional development opportunities 

HOW TO APPLY
Please use the button below to submit your application, including a cover letter, resume, and portfolio. In your cover letter, highlight any additional relevant skills, experience, or qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for this position.