Associate Director - Development, Planning & Urban Design

WSP in the Middle East; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the Middle East is seeking an Associate Director - Development, Planning & Urban Design to lead the DPUD practice across the region. You will work with the Director and Technical Directors to drive growth, manage key client relationships and oversee project delivery.

This role blends business development, client leadership and operational management, with responsibility for strategy, performance and people leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years’ experience in urban planning, design and development, with large-scale projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and client relationships.
• Knowledge of the Middle East market is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead DPUD practice strategy, growth and leadership development.
• Oversee client relationships, bid strategy and project delivery.
• Direct major development, planning and urban transformation commissions.
• Coach senior team members and recruit talent.
• Ensure quality, governance and Ways of Working.
• Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration across planning, urban design, transport and environment.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Project management

Business development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you?

Job Description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you?

At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

The Associate Director - Development, Planning & Urban Design will serve as a senior member of the Development, Planning & Urban Design (DPUD) business across the Middle East

The successful candidate will work closely with the Director and Technical Directors to lead the business, drive sustainable growth, manage key client relationships, oversee project delivery and strengthen leadership capability across the regional practice.

The role combines business development, client leadership, operational management, project direction and people leadership. The role holder will progressively assume broader commercial and leadership responsibilities, act as the Director's delegate when required and help ensure the long-term resilience, continuity and growth of the DPUD practice.

Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Practice Development

• Support the Director in implementing the strategic vision, annual business plan and growth objectives for the DPUD practice.
• Take increasing ownership of the day-to-day operation of the practice, including business performance, resource planning, workload management and coordination of the senior leadership team.
• Lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency, delivery performance, profitability and collaboration.
• Support preparation of revenue forecasts, pipeline reviews, recruitment plans, capability plans and business performance reporting.
• Identify emerging markets, client needs and new service opportunities across the Middle East.
• Contribute to succession planning and the development of a resilient, empowered leadership structure.

Client Leadership & Market Positioning

• Develop and manage relationships with selected strategic government, semi-government and private sector clients.
• Act as Client Account Lead for agreed priority accounts and progressively assume ownership of selected relationships currently led by the Director and Technical Directors.
• Represent WSP in executive meetings, presentations, workshops and industry forums.
• Build a strong personal profile in the Middle East development, planning and urban design market.
• Identify repeat-business and cross-selling opportunities across WSP disciplines and business units.
• Support the Director in maintaining the practice's senior market relationships and reputation as a trusted advisor.

Business Development

• Lead and support major bids, proposals, frameworks and strategic pursuits.
• Build a qualified pipeline across planning, development advisory, spatial strategy, master planning and urban design.
• Lead capture planning, bid strategy, go/no-go recommendations, fee development and commercial negotiations for agreed pursuits.
• Work with other Advisory and multidisciplinary teams to secure integrated commissions.
• Meet agreed sales, pipeline and conversion objectives and share market intelligence across the practice.

Project Leadership

• Act as Project Director on major development, planning and urban transformation commissions.
• Provide senior oversight of scope, programme, quality, risk, resourcing and commercial performance.
• Ensure projects comply with WSP quality, governance and Ways of Working requirements.
• Lead project reviews, resolve strategic and commercial challenges and support project managers and technical leads.
• Lead key client presentations, steering group engagements and senior stakeholder discussions.
• Promote integrated working across planning, urban design, economics, transport, infrastructure, environment and wider advisory disciplines.

Team Leadership & People Management

• Provide line management and leadership to senior members of the team.
• Coach and mentor project directors, project managers, planners, urban designers and technical specialists.
• Identify, develop and retain future leaders and high-potential staff.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance development and workforce planning.
• Create a collaborative, inclusive and accountable culture aligned with WSP values.
• Lead capability-building, training, knowledge-sharing and technical community initiatives.

Technical Direction

• Maintain strong professional credibility in planning, development and urban transformation.
• Provide senior review and challenge for strategies, reports, master plans, presentations and other key deliverables.
• Promote innovation, data-informed decision-making and industry best practice.
• Contribute to thought leadership, professional events and development of new methodologies, tools and services.
• Ensure the right technical specialists are deployed and empowered across projects.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Support delivery of annual revenue, margin, utilisation and cash objectives.
• Monitor project financial performance, work in progress, aged debt, forecasting and resource demand.
• Support contract negotiations, risk reviews and commercial decision-making.
• Intervene early where projects require corrective action and ensure commercially responsible delivery.
• Progressively assume responsibility for defined elements of practice financial performance.

Authority and Delegation

• Act on behalf of the Director during periods of absence or where responsibilities are formally delegated.
• Chair practice leadership, operational, pipeline and project review meetings as required.
• Make decisions within agreed delegated authority and escape material, commercial, people, client or reputation matters appropriately.
• Represent the DPUD practice in internal leadership forums and with external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Extensive experience (typically 12+ years) in urban planning, urban design and development, with a strong background in managing large-scale projects – ideally within the Middle East.
• In-depth knowledge of urban planning, development, and design processes.
• Familiarity with local and international urban design regulations and sustainability principles.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams, senior client relationships and commercial outcomes.
• Experience operating within a major consultancy or comparable complex professional-services environment.

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