JOB DESCRIPTION

The Position:

Cascadia Partners seeks a Technical Senior Associate to serve as a project manager and technical task leader within our growing multidisciplinary practice. This position bridges the gap between advanced spatial/quantitative analysis and strategic project management. The ideal candidate will possess technical expertise in data analysis and GIS, alongside the leadership skills necessary to oversee multiple projects, manage budgets, and delegate tasks to junior team members. As a Technical Senior Associate, you will help our clients navigate complex problems by conducting rigorous research, analyzing a variety of data sources and types, and creating compelling data stories and visualizations.

Our Work:

Cascadia Partners is a multidisciplinary consulting firm headquartered in Portland, OR, with a team of over 20 staff who work in-person, hybrid, or remotely. We work on 40-50 projects across the country annually, ranging from large-scale city comprehensive plans, site level master plans, housing policy, zoning code updates, scenario planning, and community engagement. We focus on actionable plans that get built and solutions rooted in equitable community engagement.

Our Values:

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team and in our work. We value intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning and offer professional development stipends and frequent internal skill building courses. We value a healthy life-work balance and offer every other Friday off and 4-weeks starting paid vacation.

Position Details:

This position will serve as a project manager or task leader on a variety of data-driven and spatial planning projects. You will be responsible for defining project approaches, managing production of technical work, coordinating internal teams and subconsultants, and maintaining budget tracking. In addition to overseeing technical production, you will be expected to synthesize complex analyses into polished, concise, and compelling presentations for clients and the public.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in urban planning, data analysis, geography, public policy, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Data Science, Geography, Real Estate, Economics, or related fields.
• Project Management: Demonstrated success in managing projects and people, maintaining budgets, leading client meetings, and ensuring deliverables are on time and within scope.
• Spatial Thinking & GIS: Demonstrated ability to apply spatial reasoning to solve complex problems. Proficiency in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS).
• Research & Data Sourcing: Proven ability to pose rigorous research questions and identify appropriate data and methodologies to answer those questions.
• Analytical Critical Thinking: Ability to think and speak fluently about quantitative/statistical methods and concepts, ability to accurately interpret data and identify its limitations, and ability to apply data to evidence-based decision-making.
• Innovation & Technical Aptitude: Strong ability to quickly learn, troubleshoot, and implement new tools and methodologies in a fast-paced environment.
• Land Use Planning: Practical knowledge of land use theory, zoning regulations, and planning frameworks.
• Data Storytelling: Highly skilled in data management, cleaning, analysis, visualization, and narrative development, with the ability to translate complex analysis of multiple data sources and data types into compelling, actionable stories.
• Presentation & Communication: Highly skilled at clearly and concisely presenting work.

Desirable Qualifications

• Programming Proficiency: A strong preference for experience and proficiency with R or Python for tabular and spatial data manipulation and mapping.
• AI Integration: Experience leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to automate workflows, optimize data processing, and maximize operational efficiency.

Compensation & Benefits

• $85,000-$100,000 depending on experience
• Every other Friday off (36-hour average work week)
• Gold-level health insurance, dental, 401k with 3% employer match, professional development stipend
• Generous paid time off, including 4 weeks paid vacation for first full year (prorated to hire date for first year)
  • 1 additional week of paid vacation per year worked; up to 8 weeks max
  • Additional paid holidays (11 days)
  • Paid parental leave (dependent on state)

Work Location

• Preference for candidates based in or willing to relocate to Oregon or southwest Washington, but fully remote candidates from other locations will be considered.
• If based in the Portland metro area, must work 2 days per week in our office in the Pearl District.
• Travel to client locations required (once every 1-3 months)

How to Apply

For consideration, apply by EOD Sunday, May 24th, 2026. Applicants will be selected for further consideration on a rolling basis.

Application materials should consist of the following:

• Cover letter that describes your interest in this position and relevant experience that makes you an ideal candidate
• Resumé summarizing work and educational history
• At least one spatial or data analysis-focused work sample such as a presentation, memorandum, or report that showcases your experience applying analytical, quantitative, and spatial reasoning to a complex problem

We are stronger because of our diverse team. Women, LGBTQ+ and people of color are encouraged to apply.