Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager: Planning, Community Engagement and Communications

Posted December 11, 2025. Open until position is filled.

Position overview

Zan Associates is in search of a full-time Senior Project Manager in our Portland, OR office. In this Senior Project Manager-level position, you would be part of a team of planners, engagement specialists and communications professionals, reporting to the Oregon office lead. You would lead projects, including scope, schedule, and budget management, staff oversight, workload coordination and quality control/assurance. Projects primarily focus on implementing community engagement and communications activities for infrastructure planning, design and construction projects. The Senior Project Manager role is also responsible for contributing to business development efforts, including networking, project scoping, and proposal writing.

Specific tasks associated with this role include:

Lead projects and tasks on behalf of Zan Associates, including management of project scope, schedule, and budget
Proactively support business development including marketing, networking, and proposal pursuits and writing
Advise clients on strategies for reaching and engaging priority communities and populations including communities typically underrepresented in the public engagement process
Plan and implement community engagement plans and strategies clearly tied to client project goals
Facilitate client meetings and community meetings, including in-person and virtual events such as focus groups, public meetings, interviews, listening sessions, presentations, pop-up tables, and interactive activities
Oversee and/or prepare communications materials such as project fact sheets, project/event notifications (mailings, flyers, e-newsletters, media releases), event materials, social media posts, and website content
Provide quality assurance and quality control of all activities and materials
Proactively manage multiple project schedules and work tasks
Supervise associate-level staff and manage project-related staff
Stay up to date on community engagement and communications trends and innovations
Work evening and weekend hours, as needed (Zan is committed to activities that engage people who are historically underserved and meeting people where they gather, which is often during evenings and weekends; frequency of these hours varies by project.)

Desired abilities and experience. The ideal person would have the following skills, experiences, and education:

Aligns with Zan’s core values:
- We believe in the work we do
- We have a culture of high performance
- We are professionally opinionated
- We prioritize inclusivity and belonging
- We care about our team
- We are fun to work with
Master’s or bachelor’s degree in urban planning, communications or a related field, and five or more years of experience in a related field, or equivalent mix of education and work experience
Experience and/or interest in community engagement, public process and infrastructure planning and design
Experience working for a consulting or professional services firm or a job where you need to track and report the hours you work to specific projects or clients; experience as a consultant in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is a plus
Experience successfully managing multiple projects with a focus on managing project scope, schedule and budget
Experience using project management software to plan and execute project work
Experience leading, supporting and inspiring staff
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to perform work as part of a team and in a self-directed environment
Strong verbal and written communications skills including public speaking and the ability to rewrite/explain complex information so that the public can understand the issue
Growth-oriented mindset and ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Proficiency with the MS Office software suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
PMP, CAPM, or similar project management certification strongly preferred
Experience supporting diversity, equity and inclusion principles is a plus
Proficiency in multiple languages is a plus
Experience in visual communications is a plus
Must have a valid driver’s license
Zan’s Oregon office is growing. Interest in developing new business opportunities and desire for career advancement a plus

Salary

Salary range is $106,020.00 - $137,664.00 depending on qualifications

Position location

Portland, OR. We offer a flexible work environment.

About Zan Associates

Zan Associates’ core focus is to build communities by elevating people’s voices. Our purpose is to provide authentic, creative and equitable engagement, communications and planning primarily for public infrastructure projects. We hire people who want to influence and shape the communities we live, play and work in. We value diverse perspectives, and we seek to elevate historically underserved communities. We provide employees with competitive salaries and benefits including medical, dental and retirement, and perks like a flexible work schedule and location, a transit pass or bicycle/vehicle parking, cell phone allowance, and frequent company and team outings. We work with a wide range of public agencies primarily in Minnesota and in the Pacific Northwest. More information about our firm can be found at www.zanassoc.com.

How to apply

If you are ready to be part of the Zan Associates team, please send a cover letter with an explanation of why your experiences are relevant for this position along with your resume and references to Tom Holmes, Portland Office Lead: hr@zanassoc.com.

Zan Associates is a certified minority- and woman-owned small business, committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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