Project Principal Urban Planning and Master Planning

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced urban planning and master planning professional to strengthen our regional capability across all Master Planning stages. The role combines hands-on technical leadership, multidisciplinary design coordination, authority engagement, project and commercial management, and support to strategic client and design-partner relationships.

The successful candidate will help us deliver integrated, commercially viable and approval-ready master plans; strengthen our ability to act as Lead Design Consultant on complex developments; and establish efficient delivery models with regional and international design partners. The role will suit a senior practitioner who can direct and assure work while remaining technically engaged in the development of planning solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead land development commissions from feasibility through detailed planning and ongoing custodianship roles, design guideline and authority approval stages.
• Provide technical direction on spatial frameworks, land use, development capacity, plot configuration, density, GFA, population, community facilities, development controls and design guidelines.
• Review and challenge sub consultant proposals to ensure design quality, spatial coherence, technical integration, commercial viability, phasing and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate architecture, transport, infrastructure, landscape, sustainability, environmental and specialist inputs into integrated master planning solutions.
• Provide urban planning leadership within Lead Design Consultant commissions, identifying design gaps, interfaces, risks and opportunities to improve development outcomes.
• Lead or support planning submissions, technical workshops and engagement with relevant authorities and stakeholders in the UAE and wider Middle East.
• Manage master plan updates, deviations, design changes and custodianship activities as projects progress from planning into infrastructure, public realm and asset design.
• Build effective delivery partnerships with international and regional architects, developers and specialist consultants, providing strong local planning, approvals and multidisciplinary coordination capability.
• Define project scopes, methodologies, programmes, deliverables, resources and fees, and support bids, presentations and commercial negotiations.
• Develop efficient, scalable and commercially competitive delivery models that make effective use of regional and global resources while maintaining quality and accountability.
• Manage project performance, including scope, programme, budget, quality, risk and change, in accordance with internal governance requirements.
• Maintain trusted client and partner relationships, identify follow-on opportunities and support the growth of the regional urban planning portfolio.
• Mentor and develop multidisciplinary team members, contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and technically strong practice.

Expected Outcomes

• Improve internal capability to lead and support complex CMP and DMP commissions.
• Improve the quality, consistency and approval readiness of technical master planning outputs.
• Strengthen delivery partnerships with design-led practices requiring regional planning and multidisciplinary support.
• Provide effective planning challenge and design integration on Lead Design Consultant projects.
• Build a scalable regional capability that generates repeat work and supports sustainable market growth.

Candidate Specification

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in urban planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture or a closely related discipline.
• Significant professional experience in urban planning, urban design or master planning, including substantial Middle East project experience.
• Demonstrable experience leading complex CMP and DMP commissions for major mixed-use, residential, waterfront, hospitality, entertainment or regeneration developments.
• Strong understanding of UAE planning requirements and authority approval processes, with experience of securing or supporting masterplan approvals.
• Strong technical capability in land-use planning, development capacity, GFA and density studies, population and community facility requirements, plot and block planning, development controls and design guidelines.
• Proven ability to coordinate transport, infrastructure, architecture, landscape, public realm, sustainability, environmental and specialist inputs into an integrated masterplan.
• Experience reviewing, directing and assuring the work of multidisciplinary consultants and design partners.
• Strong client-facing capability, including leading workshops, presenting to senior stakeholders, resolving complex design issues and translating strategic objectives into clear project direction.
• Experience preparing technical methodologies, scopes, programmes, resource plans and fee proposals, with sound commercial and project-management judgement.
• Ability to lead geographically and culturally diverse teams and manage multiple priorities to agreed quality, programme and budget requirements.
• Excellent written and spoken English and the ability to produce clear, persuasive reports, presentations and design narratives.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in UAE, KSA or other GCC markets, including local planning frameworks and stakeholder environments.
• Experience in masterplan custodianship, deviation review, design-change control or the transition from DMP into infrastructure and asset design.
• Experience working for or closely with a developer, client organisation or Lead Design Consultant.
• Experience partnering with international or design-led architecture practices on major regional developments.
• Membership of an internationally recognised planning, urban design, architecture or project-management professional body.
• Working knowledge of relevant digital design and communication tools such as AutoCAD, GIS, SketchUp and Adobe Creative Suite.

Personal Attributes

• Technically credible, commercially aware and comfortable moving between strategic advice and detailed planning review.
• Collaborative and confident, with the ability to constructively challenge clients, architects and technical teams.
• Pragmatic and delivery focused, able to balance design quality, approvals, programme, cost and development value.
• Motivated to build capability, mentor others and contribute to the long-term growth of the practice.

Your Benefits and Rewards

Our benefits vary by country and are subject to eligibility and local policy:

• Rewards and bonuses: we are owned by our people (no external investors) and through our employee ownership model, success is shared through annual bonus opportunities and longer-term participation as your career grows (subject to local plan, eligibility and business performance).
• Medical insurance and life insurance as per local plan (standard and enhanced coverage may vary by country and policy).
• Annual leave in line with local policy (competitive within the market).
• Maternity leave above and beyond local provisions and paternity leave provisions where applicable.
• Professional membership/ institution subscription support.
• Learning and career development through project variety, technical networks, and structured development opportunities.
• An inclusive culture: we’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.