Associate Director - Transport Planning & Mobility

WSP in the Middle East; Dubai Emirate; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP Middle East is seeking an experienced Associate Director – Transport Planning & Mobility to lead complex transport planning and mobility projects across the UAE and wider Middle East.

You will provide technical leadership, project oversight, and client advisory services while collaborating with highways, public transport, rail, urban planning, master planning, and sustainability teams to deliver integrated and future-ready mobility solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, or related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Transport Planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, Mobility, or related field is preferred.
• Chartered or professionally accredited status with a recognised institution such as CIHT, TPS, ICE, ITE, RTPI, or equivalent is desirable.
• Typically 12-18 years of professional experience in transport planning and mobility consultancy.
• Strong experience delivering projects in the UAE and wider Middle East.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary transport planning assignments.
• Proven client-facing experience and ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading project teams and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of transport planning and mobility assignments across the UAE and wider Middle East.
• Provide technical leadership for Transport Master Plans, Transport Impact Studies (TIS), Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA), Mobility Strategies, Multimodal Studies, Public Transport Planning, Accessibility & Active Mobility Plans, Parking Strategies, TOD Studies, and Future Mobility assessments.
• Review and approve technical reports, presentations, models, and client deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with local authority requirements, international best practice, and WSP quality standards.
• Provide strategic transport planning advice throughout the project lifecycle from feasibility through design development and approvals.
• Lead transport planning inputs on multidisciplinary projects including major infrastructure, urban developments, mixed-use masterplans, new cities, aviation developments, economic zones, and tourism projects.
• Coordinate with highways, rail, structures, utilities, architecture, urban planning, landscape, sustainability, and environmental teams.

Skills

Leadership in transport planning

Client relationship management

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring junior staff

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, Geography, Architecture, or related discipline

Master's Degree in Transport Planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, Mobility, or related field

Chartered or professionally accredited status with CIHT TPS ICE ITE RTPI or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

WSP Middle East is seeking an experienced and client-focused Associate Director – Transport Planning & Mobility to join our growing Transport Planning & Mobility team in the UAE.

The successful candidate will play a leading role in the delivery of complex transport planning, mobility, and multidisciplinary infrastructure projects across the Middle East, working closely with clients, government authorities, developers, and internal design teams. The role offers the opportunity to contribute to some of the region's most significant transportation, urban development, master planning, infrastructure, and mobility programmes.

As an Associate Director, you will provide technical leadership, project oversight, and client advisory services while supporting business growth and helping develop the next generation of transport planning professionals. The role requires close collaboration with highways, public transport, rail, urban planning, master planning, digital, sustainability, and infrastructure teams to deliver integrated and future-ready mobility solutions.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead the delivery of transport planning and mobility assignments across the UAE and wider Middle East.
• Provide technical leadership for:
• Transport Master Plans
• Transport Impact Studies (TIS)
• Traffic Impact Assessments (TIA)
• Mobility Strategies
• Multimodal Transport Studies
• Public Transport Planning
• Accessibility & Active Mobility Plans
• Parking Strategies
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Studies
• Future Mobility & Smart Mobility Assessments
• Review and approve technical reports, presentations, models, and client deliverables.
• Ensure compliance with local authority requirements, international best practice, and WSP quality standards.
• Provide strategic transport planning advice throughout the project lifecycle from feasibility through to design development and approvals.

Project Delivery & Design Integration

• Lead transport planning inputs on multidisciplinary projects including:
• Major infrastructure projects
• Urban developments
• Mixed-use masterplans
• New cities and communities
• Aviation developments
• Economic zones
• Tourism and hospitality projects
• Public realm and mobility enhancement programmes
• Coordinate closely with highways, rail, structures, utilities, architecture, urban planning, landscape, sustainability, and environmental teams.
• Manage project budgets, programme delivery, resource allocation, quality assurance, and commercial performance.
• Act as Project Manager or Discipline Lead for major transport planning commissions.
• Support project directors in delivering high-profile client assignments throughout the Middle East.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, government authorities, developers, and public sector agencies.
• Lead client meetings, workshops, technical presentations, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key transport authorities and regulatory bodies across the UAE and Middle East.
• Provide guidance on planning approvals, mobility policy, and transport-related regulatory requirements.
• Support clients in developing sustainable, efficient, and people-focused transportation solutions.

Business Development & Work Winning

• Support the growth of WSP's Transport Planning & Mobility business across the region.
• Identify new opportunities and strengthen relationships with existing clients.
• Lead or contribute to technical and commercial proposals, bids, and framework submissions.
• Support fee development, project strategies, and pursuit planning activities.
• Contribute to market intelligence, sector growth initiatives, and service innovation.
• Represent WSP at industry events, conferences, and client forums where appropriate.

Team Leadership & People Development

• Mentor, coach, and develop transport planners and mobility specialists.
• Provide technical guidance and support across project teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support recruitment, capability building, and succession planning initiatives.
• Promote knowledge sharing and best practice across the wider Transport & Infrastructure business.

Future Mobility & Innovation

• Support the development of innovative transport and mobility solutions for clients.
• Promote sustainable mobility, public transport integration, active travel, and low-carbon transport solutions.
• Contribute to initiatives involving:
• Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
• Smart Mobility
• Shared Mobility
• Autonomous Mobility
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
• Data-Driven Mobility Planning
• Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
• Help strengthen WSP's position as a leader in future mobility across the Middle East.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Transport Planning, Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, Geography, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Transport Planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning, Mobility, or a related field is preferred.
• Chartered or professionally accredited status with a recognised institution such as CIHT, TPS, ICE, ITE, RTPI, or equivalent is desirable.
• Typically 12-18 years of professional experience in transport planning and mobility consultancy.
• Strong experience delivering projects in the UAE and wider Middle East.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary transport planning assignments.
• Strong knowledge of transport planning methodologies, development planning, mobility strategy, and transport policy.
• Experience working with government authorities, transport agencies, and private sector developers.
• Proven client-facing experience and ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships.
• Experience leading project teams and mentoring junior staff.

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