Culture
Sam Schwartz is driven by entrepreneurial spirit, intellectual curiosity, mutual respect, and inclusivity. The pace is quick and the environment highly collaborative. Every member of the team is empowered to make decisions and contributions that impact our success. A strong work ethic and sense of humor unite us as we work together to develop visionary solutions for our clients.
For us, Making the Journey Better isn’t just a job—it’s a full-time passion. If you believe every community should be rich in mobility options, dream of better designs for streets and public spaces, and are committed to building a conscientious and sustainable future: come join us.
Valuing Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity (VIBE)
“Meaningful change is needed to make our workplaces and our industry more welcoming and just. VIBE is Sam Schwartz’s initiative focused on infusing principles of inclusion, belonging, and equity into everything we do. This encompasses our firm culture, employment and advancement opportunities, training, communications, and operations, as well as our work for clients.
Building a firm that supports and uplifts us all is a responsibility that does not lie with one person, one department, or one group. Everyone has a role to play. It is a shared aim, an expression of the values which define Sam Schwartz. ”
Current VIBE efforts include: implementing an overall inclusion and belonging strategy; holding periodic all-staff forums and trainings; developing an Employee Resource Group (ERG) program; and piloting analytical tools to better align our projects with our principles.
Sam Schwartz provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state, or local laws.
Benefits
Sam Schwartz provides comprehensive benefits for full-time employees, including:
Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
Group Life Insurance
Accident Insurance
Parental Leave
Marriage Leave
Pet Insurance
Legal Services
Home/Car Insurance Discount Program
Health Insurance (Transparency in Coverage)
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account
401K Retirement Plan (with employer matching)
Educational Assistance
Metro Cards/Transit Checks
Gym reimbursement
Giving Back
Sam Schwartz strives to live its values of ingenuity, accessibility, and integrity in how we show up for our communities, both local and global.
ACE Mentoring
Sam Schwartz has taken part in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) mentoring program for many years. The program provides high school students interested in ACE fields with career guidance, financial support through scholarships and grants, and a hands-on education through mentor projects.
Greater Chicago Food Depository
During the holiday season, Sam Schwartz staff organize donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an organization that distributes around 159,000 meals-worth of food every day, with an emphasis on fresh, nutritious options.
ITE Met Section STEM Day
Sam Schwartz staff participate in the ITE Met Section’s annual STEM Outreach Event, during which volunteers work together with high school students on a challenge related to transportation engineering and planning.
