Occupancy Planner / Design Manager

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way.  

Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.   

Occupancy Planner / Design Manager

Position Summary

JLL has an exciting opportunity for an Occupancy Planner / Retail Design Manager supporting a key financial services client across its branch and wealth management portfolio in the United States.

This highly visible role combines strategy, occupancy planning, portfolio optimization, and design management responsibilities to deliver innovative, efficient, and future-forward retail environments that support business objectives, employee experience, customer engagement, and operational excellence.

As a trusted advisor, you will translate business requirements into physical space solutions by leading occupancy planning initiatives and providing standards and branding governance for retail design projects from programming through construction. You will partner closely with Corporate Real Estate, Project Management, Facilities, Technology, and business stakeholders to create environments that are functional, brand-consistent, and aligned with evolving financial centers and customer engagement strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to identify current and future space requirements
• Create feasibility studies, scenario modeling, test fits, and space planning options to support retail branch initiatives across renovation, refresh, and new-build projects
• Serve as a steward of the client’s design guidelines and branding standards across a dynamic portfolio, ensuring consistency in customer experience
• Recommend, educate, and enforce planning standards, space policies, and design protocols.
• Support portfolio planning activities including expansions, consolidations, relocations, renovations, refreshes, and new build projects.
• Act as the primary point of contact for project-level design and planning matters.
• Collaborate with external architects, designers, consultants, and vendors to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality projects.
• Participate in all phases of design, including programming, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and permit review.
• Review and approve floorplans, test fits, furniture layouts, art, signage, and design packages to ensure alignment with client standards and workplace guidelines.
• Provide design oversight throughout project execution to ensure adherence to approved design intent.
• Work closely with construction teams and vendors as needed to resolve design challenges and maintain project quality.
• Ensure compliance with accessibility standards, local building codes, ADA requirements, and corporate design standards.

Relationship Management & Delivery

• Participate in requirements-gathering workshops, planning sessions, and design review meetings with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Develop and deliver executive presentations, floorplan reviews, test-fit recommendations, and approval packages.
• Establish trusted relationships with business leaders, project teams, and external design partners.
• Collaborate closely with:
  • Business Strategy teams
  • Project Management teams
  • Facilities Management teams
  • Interior Architects and Designers
  • Technology and Corporate Security teams
• Communicate design standards, planning principles, and portfolio strategies clearly and effectively.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, or related field.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in spacel planning, occupancy planning, corporate real estate, architecture, interior design, or related disciplines.
• Experience supporting financial services organizations and retail portfolios is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of planning methodologies, design standards, utilization analytics, and portfolio planning.
• Proven ability to create and evaluate feasibility studies, scenario models, test fits, and space allocation plans.
• Experience working directly with architects, designers, and project managers throughout project lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of design guidelines, spatial relationships, furniture planning, and building systems.
• Working knowledge of local building codes, ADA requirements, and accessibility standards.
• Knowledge of WELL Building Standard, LEED certification, and sustainability initiatives preferred.
• LEED Accredited Professional and/or PMP certification preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong PowerPoint skills with ability to develop executive-level presentations and planning recommendations.
• Experience with AutoCAD for test fits, floorplan review, and square footage calculations.
• Familiarity with Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, Bluebeam and Matterport platforms.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Estimated compensation for this position:

73,000.00 – 90,000.00 USD per year

This range is an estimate and actual compensation may differ. Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location:

On-site –Chicago, IL

Job Tags:

Bluebeam (Software)

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits may include:

• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care

• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary 

• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays

• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

JLL Privacy Notice

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading global provider of real estate and investment management services. We take our responsibility to protect the personal information provided to us seriously. Generally the personal information we collect from you are for the purposes of processing in connection with JLL’s recruitment process. We endeavour to keep your personal information secure with appropriate level of security and keep for as long as we need it for legitimate business or legal reasons. We will then delete it safely and securely.

For more information about how JLL processes your personal data, please view our Candidate Privacy Statement.

For additional details please see our career site pages for each country.

For candidates in the United States, please see a full copy of our Equal Employment Opportunity policy here.

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.  If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process – including the online application and/or overall selection process – you may email us at HRSCLeaves@jll.com. This email is only to request an accommodation. Please direct any other general recruiting inquiries to our Contact Us page > I want to work for JLL.

Pursuant to the Arizona Civil Rights Act, criminal convictions are not an absolute bar to employment.

Pursuant to Illinois Law, applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest.

Pursuant to Columbia, SC ordinance, this position is subject to a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. Only job-related convictions will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.

California Residents only

If you are a California resident as defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) please view our Supplemental Privacy Statement which describes your rights and disclosures about your personal information. If you are viewing this on a mobile device you may want to view the CCPA version on a larger device.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, JLL will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until candidate identified.