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Federal Planning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Federal Planning information

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$56K

$103.2K

$157K

How much do federal planning jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for federal planning in the United States is $103,218.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,500.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is federal planning?

Federal planning refers to the process by which government agencies at the national level develop, coordinate, and implement policies, programs, and initiatives. This often involves setting goals, allocating resources, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and collaborating with other agencies or levels of government. Federal planners work on a range of issues, such as transportation, environmental protection, public health, and urban development, to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of public services.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Federal Planner, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Federal Planner, you need expertise in policy analysis, project management, and a strong understanding of government regulations, often supported by a degree in public administration, urban planning, or a related field. Familiarity with planning software (such as GIS), federal budgeting systems, and compliance tools is typically required, along with certifications like AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) being advantageous. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and stakeholder engagement skills help navigate complex projects and coordinate with various agencies. These abilities are vital to ensure that federal initiatives are effectively planned, compliant, and aligned with broader organizational and public goals.

How does a Federal Planning professional typically collaborate with other departments and agencies on large-scale projects?

Federal Planning professionals frequently work in cross-functional teams, collaborating with colleagues from finance, policy, legal, and program management departments. They often serve as liaisons between federal agencies and external partners to ensure project goals align with regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations. Regular meetings, joint strategy sessions, and shared project management tools are common practices to facilitate communication and coordination. Successful collaboration requires strong interpersonal skills and a clear understanding of each party’s role in the planning process.

What is the difference between Federal Planning vs Urban Planning?

AspectFederal PlanningUrban Planning
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Planning, Public Policy, or related fields; often requires federal agency certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Urban Planning, Geography, or related fields; certifications like AICP are common
Work EnvironmentGovernment offices, federal agencies, policy development settingsCity or regional offices, community development projects, public consultations
Employer & IndustryFederal government agencies such as HUD, EPA, or DOTMunicipalities, private firms, non-profits involved in city development
Common Search & ComparisonFederal Planning vs Urban Planning

Federal Planning focuses on nationwide or federal agency-level policy development and strategic planning, often involving regulations and large-scale projects. Urban Planning concentrates on local city or regional development, zoning, and community engagement. While both roles require planning credentials and involve development projects, Federal Planning emphasizes policy at the national level, whereas Urban Planning is more community-focused.

More about Federal Planning jobs
What cities are hiring for Federal Planning jobs? Cities with the most Federal Planning job openings:
What states have the most Federal Planning jobs? States with the most job openings for Federal Planning jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Federal Planning jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Federal Planning jobs are:
Infographic showing various Federal Planning job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 7% Temporary, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $103,218 per year, or $49.6 per hour.
Senior Integrated Water Resource Planner / Engineer

Senior Integrated Water Resource Planner / Engineer

HDR

Houston, TX • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.
HDR is positioned to be the market leader for federal planning under section 203. This is in addition to our support to the US Army Corps of Engineers and other clients under the investigations account as well as our support to US Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities Program.
HDR is looking for a senior integrated water resources planner or engineer to join our Water Resources team. Candidates for the position should have leadership and technical experience on integrated planning related to water supply, flood risk management, coastal storm risk management, environmental restoration, inland and deep draft navigation infrastructure projects and should be experienced in watershed scale feasibility studies/assessments for the federal government (ex. USACE, Bureau of Reclamation). Our clients include local, state, and federal agencies.
Our team is growing and has a range of challenging and innovating projects. We work within multi-disciplinary teams on projects related to navigation, flood management, water supply, providing hydraulic, power modeling, including hydrology development and analysis; climate change modeling; cost benefit analysis and statistical analysis. The preferred candidate would have experience in a combination of these subject areas.
The candidate is expected to be a key part of project delivery teams as study team leader or planning lead; mentor junior staff; manage medium-sized projects within large-scale programs; and effectively interact with clients and peers. Candidates should be able to work independently, but also enjoy working in a collaborative team environment. The candidate will be expected to develop study opportunities with an array of non federal sponsors across their assigned area. The candidate must have strong written and verbal skills.
In the role of Senior Integrated Water Resources Planner/Engineer, we'll count on you to:
  • Plan and direct medium- to large-size planning and environmental compliance projects on behalf of the federal government
  • Prepare, plan and analyze compliance documents
  • Direct work of others in completion of required studies, documents and reports
  • Demonstrate extensive public participation, agency coordination, planning and programming experience
  • Perform other duties as needed

Additional Qualification
  • Experience with federal plan formulation requirements

Keywords: Water Resources, Planning, Engineering, Plan Formulation, USACE Smart Planning Frameworks, Environmental, Section 203, *LI-KY1
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or closely related field
  • A minimum of 10 years technical and/or field experience in complex environmental planning projects
  • Proficiency with MS Office Suite
  • Self-starter with excellent writing and communication skills
  • Strong conceptual, organizational, problem-solving and research abilities
  • Technical and/or field experience dealing with environmental impact issues, associated permit processes and documentation preparation/review
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

HDR logo

About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917