How to hire a site planner

How to hire a site planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step site planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a site planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new site planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The site planner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A site planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, site planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of site planners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Site Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Site Planner	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$19-52
   Urban Design Consultant	An urban design consultant is in charge of many projects, and so they have to oversee tasks and plan assignments. They are skilled in creating interior design solutions, space planning, sketching, and product selection... Show more	$24-37
   Urban Renewal Manager	An urban renewal manager has a multitude of roles he/she performs in the organization he/she finds himself in. They conduct detailed economic and statistical analysis of market trends... Show more	$26-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • BOM
   • Autocad
   • Production Schedules
   • ERP
   • CAD
   • MRP
   • Capacity Planning
   • Master Data
   • MPS
   • Purchase Orders
   • Production Planning
   • Customer Orders
   • SIP
   • EPC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Resolve issues regarding logistics, repair cycles, materials returns and cross-contamination; manage all supply-chain relate escalated issues.
   • Project coordination, and production design aspects of civil engineering and architectural document development using AutoCAD software.
   • Translate and organize all field notes to AutoCAD for architects use.
   • Coordinate planning & scheduling activities for assign commodities utilizing advance planning tools to model simulate, & release optimize material plans.
   • Perform planning and procurement function in support of MRO operations in addition to primary responsibilities.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your site planner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A site planner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, site planners' average salary in arkansas is 57% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level site planners 63% less than senior-level site planners.
   • Certifications. A site planner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a site planner's salary.

   Average site planner salary

   $67,359yearly

   $32.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level site planner salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a site planner job description

   A site planner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a site planner job description:

   Site planner job description example

   At Embree Group, we believe that our employees are essential to our success. Our valued team members breathe life into our values and shape our culture. Together we've managed to cultivate a professional yet family-like atmosphere while setting high industry standards. Over the years, we have received numerous recognitions for our inclusive work culture.
   
   For over 40 years, we have successfully partnered with over 350 nationally recognized clients to deliver more than 16,000 retail, restaurant, automotive, financial, storage, healthcare, medical, and senior living projects in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
   
   As a single-tenant, build-to-suit developer specializing in turnkey projects, we provide premium design, legal, and construction management services.
   
   The primary focus of the CAD Drafting position will be to work with the development team to design and develop high quality preliminary site plans for a variety of commercial uses across multiple markets, research applicable codes, fees, and requirements to turn a concept into reality.
   Duties/Responsibilities:
   Work with the development team to produce conceptual site plans and budget site plans to determine the viability of each project.
   Site Planning/Site Design Due diligence research Site Analysis Working with planning, zoning and building departments along with other authorities having jurisdiction over ground up projects to obtain project requirements.
   Required Skills/Abilities:
   Strong AutoCAD & Civil 3D skills Civil design and site planning Microsoft Project, Auto CAD, Civil 3D, Auto Turn along with other Microsoft office products Strong written and verbal communication skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills Ability to work within a collaborative team environment Well organized, detail oriented, and highly motivated The ability to learn new skills as necessary
   Education and Experience:
   1-5 years of site planning/site design Training in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Planning or a proven track record with the related experience.
   Physical Requirements:
   Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
   Benefits:
   401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right site planner for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with site planners they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit site planners who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your site planner job on Zippia to find and recruit site planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with site planner candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new site planner

   Once you have selected a candidate for the site planner position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new site planner. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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