Clarion Associates is a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in community planning and development codes. We have offices in Denver, Colorado, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and we work across the country helping cities and counties improve their land use regulations. We are a small and highly collaborative firm and joining us will mean working with others who care deeply about the future of our communities. To learn more about our firm and our values, please check us out at www.clarionassociates.com.

We are seeking a full-time Associate (3 + years of experience) or Senior Associate (5+ years of experience) with experience and interest in land use/development code drafting. This practice area involves:

• Drafting zoning and land use regulations to implement local plans;
• Understanding and applying local government policy choices to regulatory approaches;
• Researching and analyzing trends and best practices in land development regulation; and
• Preparing for and facilitating public meetings and community engagement activities.

This position will be hybrid, with at least two days per week working in either our Denver or Chapel Hill office. We are open to exploring a more full-time remote position with someone located in either region who could commute to and work in the office at least two days per month. A more remote candidate will need to be able to demonstrate a minimum of three years working directly with land use code drafting or current planning.

Requirements:

• This is not an entry-level position. Candidates must have a master’s degree in urban planning (or a related field) or a law degree and at least 3 years of professional work experience for the Associate position or 5 years for the Senior Associate position;
• Public or private sector experience working with land use regulations (traditional or form-based), site development regulations, and/or development review processes;
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; this is a drafting position and most work will be done in Microsoft Word;
• Demonstrated communication skills, both with colleagues and the public - all of our work is collaborative, and most is public facing;
• Detail-oriented approach to complex project tasks and project deadlines; and
• Able to travel both regionally and nationally.

Additional Valuable Experience to Highlight:

• Project management for multi-year/multi-team member projects
• Experience with public presentations, working with stakeholder groups, and leading community engagement meetings
• Prior experience working in consulting and/or a general interest in learning the business end of consulting
• Knowledge of Sketch-Up, ArcGIS, and/or Adobe products
• Work history in more than one community (bonus if more than one state) to help build understanding of multiple approaches to regulatory problem solving

Compensation and Benefits

Anticipated hiring range for the associate position is $70,000 - $75,000 and the senior associate position is $80,000 - $85,000. A variety of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, business and organizational needs, and other factors permitted by law.  

This is a full-time position and qualifies for Clarion Associates’ competitive benefits, including full health insurance coverage, parental leave, 401K plan with a 3% annual employer contribution, ten days of PTO and eight personal days accrued annually to start (up to 20 days PTO based on tenure), nine paid holidays, an annual transit pass, coverage of AICP and other professional dues, and a variety of professional development opportunities. Details of participation in these benefits will be provided with an offer of employment.

Relocation assistance may be available.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clarion Associates provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

To Apply

Please submit the following information in a single PDF no later than November 6, 2026: (1) a cover letter describing how your skills align with the proficiencies we’ve identified in the position description and how your experience has shaped your approach to regulatory work, (2) a resume (no more than 3 pages), and (3) two work-related writing samples (examples include zoning or development code language you drafted or heavily edited, staff reports, policy memos, or public-facing community engagement materials) to hiring@clarionassociates.com. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they arrive and we may hire before the closing date for this position.