Associate - Urban Designer

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 240,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Flexible work options

Paid time off and leave

Retirement savings plans

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an experienced Associate - Urban Designer in Dubai to lead urban design and masterplanning projects across the Middle East and Africa. You will manage projects from concept to delivery, develop masterplans and urban design frameworks, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to meet client goals, schedules, and budgets.

The role requires at least 10 years of relevant experience, strong spatial analysis skills, and proficiency in site planning methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in urban design, site planning, or masterplanning.
• Strong knowledge of urban design principles and methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of urban design projects from initial concept through completion.
• Develop masterplans, detailed urban designs, and planning frameworks for projects of varying scales.
• Create integrated design solutions for residential, mixed‑use, cultural, and urban regeneration developments.
• Apply urban design principles and spatial analysis to inform planning and design decisions.
• Provide technical expertise in land use planning, site planning, and sustainable urban development.
• Ensure design proposals respond to project objectives and relevant development requirements.

Skills

Urban design

Masterplanning

Site planning

Spatial analysis

Multidisciplinary coordination

Project leadership

Client engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture/U rban Planning/Landscape Architecture

Tools

SketchUp

Rhino

Revizto

BIM

Job description

Associate - Urban Designer

Associate - Urban Designer Job Snapshot - Role: Associate - Urban Designer - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Architecture and Planning - Function: Town-City Planning - Experience: Minimum 10 years of professional experience in urban design, site planning, or masterplanning - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: Hybrid

AECOM is seeking an experienced Associate - Urban Designer to join its Urbanism Planning studio in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This position involves leading urban design and masterplanning projects across the Middle East and Africa region, developing innovative and sustainable design solutions for residential, mixed‑use, cultural, and urban regeneration developments. The successful candidate will manage projects from initial concept through design delivery, develop masterplans and urban design frameworks, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to achieve client objectives, project schedules, and budget requirements. The role combines creative urban design leadership with technical planning expertise, client engagement, project management, and mentoring responsibilities. Candidates should have at least 10 years of relevant professional experience and strong knowledge of urban design principles, spatial analysis, and site planning methodologies.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Town-City Planning
• Salary: Not disclosed
• Gender: No Preference
• Candidate Nationality: Not specified
• Job Type: Full Time
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

Urban Design and Masterplanning

• Lead the design and delivery of urban design projects from initial concept through completion.
• Develop masterplans, detailed urban designs, and planning frameworks for projects of varying scales.
• Create integrated design solutions for residential, mixed‑use, cultural, and urban regeneration developments.
• Apply urban design principles and spatial analysis to inform planning and design decisions.
• Provide technical expertise in land use planning, site planning, and sustainable urban development.
• Ensure design proposals respond to project objectives and relevant development requirements.
• Maintain high standards of design quality across project deliverables.

Project Leadership and Management

• Lead and coordinate urban design project teams throughout the design process.
• Manage project activities in alignment with client requirements, agreed schedules, and budgets.
• Coordinate design responsibilities across relevant disciplines.
• Monitor project progress and address issues affecting design delivery.
• Guide the preparation of technical and visual project deliverables.
• Maintain effective communication between project teams and management.
• Support consistent application of project delivery standards.

Multidisciplinary Design Coordination

• Collaborate with architects, urban planners, engineers, landscape specialists, and other technical professionals.
• Coordinate design inputs to develop integrated urban environments.
• Review multidisciplinary information for consistency with masterplanning objectives.
• Identify and address design coordination issues.
• Support collaboration between planning, architecture, engineering, and related disciplines.
• Ensure design proposals reflect relevant technical and spatial considerations.
• Facilitate effective communication throughout the design development process.

Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Design

• Provide technical input into urban regeneration and redevelopment projects.
• Incorporate sustainable design principles into urban planning and masterplanning proposals.
• Evaluate land use arrangements and spatial relationships within proposed developments.
• Support the development of integrated urban environments.
• Apply site planning methodologies to inform design recommendations.
• Consider project‑specific environmental and development objectives.
• Contribute to design solutions that support sustainable and functional urban development.

Client Engagement and Stakeholder Coordination

• Engage with clients to understand project requirements and design objectives.
• Prepare and present masterplan concepts, design proposals, and supporting visual materials.
• Communicate design recommendations clearly to clients and project stakeholders.
• Coordinate with government authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support project alignment with applicable planning requirements and approval processes.
• Respond to design feedback and coordinate appropriate revisions.
• Maintain professional working relationships throughout project delivery.

Design Presentations and Documentation

• Prepare urban design reports, masterplanning concepts, and presentation materials.
• Develop visual information that communicates design intent and planning recommendations.
• Coordinate preparation of drawings and supporting design documentation.
• Review technical and visual deliverables for quality and consistency.
• Present urban design proposals to clients and stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of materials required for project reviews and approvals.
• Ensure design documentation aligns with agreed project requirements.

Digital Design and Visualisation

• Use relevant digital design and visualisation tools to support urban design development.
• Apply Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools where appropriate to project requirements.
• Utilise software such as SketchUp, Rhino, and Revizto for relevant design and visualisation activities.
• Coordinate digital design information with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Support effective communication of spatial concepts through digital models and visual materials.
• Review digital design outputs for consistency with project objectives.
• Encourage effective use of design technology within project teams.

Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure urban design deliverables comply with applicable quality assurance policies.
• Monitor adherence to established project delivery standards.
• Review design proposals against relevant local planning regulations.
• Identify quality concerns and coordinate appropriate corrective actions.
• Support accurate and consistent technical documentation.
• Maintain oversight of design quality throughout project development.
• Coordinate with project teams to address regulatory and design compliance matters.

Team Development and Mentoring

• Provide technical guidance to junior urban designers and CAD technicians.
• Review design work and offer constructive professional feedback.
• Support the development of technical and design capabilities within the team.
• Encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Guide junior personnel in applying urban design principles and project standards.
• Promote an innovative and cooperative design environment.
• Contribute to effective team performance and professional development.

Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Bachelor 's degree in Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in urban design, site planning, or masterplanning.
• Strong knowledge of urban design principles and methodologies.
• Understanding of spatial analysis and site planning approaches.
• Experience developing urban design concepts, masterplans, and detailed design proposals.
• Ability to contribute to sustainable urban design and regeneration projects.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design activities.
• Capability to manage project teams and align design delivery with client objectives, schedules, and budgets.
• Ability to prepare and present design concepts, technical reports, and visual materials.
• Understanding of relevant planning regulations and project quality requirements.

Technical Skills and Professional Competencies

• Urban design and masterplanning.
• Land use planning and site planning.
• Spatial analysis and urban design frameworks.
• Residential and mixed‑use development planning.
• Cultural development and urban regeneration.
• Sustainable urban design principles.
• Masterplan concept development and detailed design.
• Multidisciplinary design coordination.
• Urban design project leadership.
• Client presentations and stakeholder engagement.
• Planning authority coordination and approvals.
• Design quality assurance and regulatory compliance.
• BIM and digital design workflows.
• SketchUp, Rhino, and Revizto.
• Design visualisation and technical reporting.
• Junior designer mentoring and team development.

Application Requirements

All applicants must upload an updated copy of their professional portfolio as part of their application.

Recruitment and Onboarding Requirements

AECOM is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and takes fraudulent hiring activities seriously. All newly hired employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding session at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

Company Information

• Employer: AECOM
• Requisition ID: J10163106
• Business Line: U&P
• Business Group: DCS
• Strategic Business Unit: ME and Africa
• Career Area: Design
• Work Location Model: Hybrid Working at AECOM

Employee Benefits

AECOM offers employee benefits that may vary according to employment status and applicable eligibility requirements. Depending on eligibility, benefits may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off and leave arrangements.
• Voluntary employee benefits and additional perks.
• Flexible work options, where applicable.
• Employee well‑being resources and assistance programmes.
• Business travel insurance.
• Service recognition awards.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Employee stock purchase plans.

Specific benefits and eligibility conditions for this vacancy have not been disclosed.

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing professional services across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. The company works with public and private sector clients to address complex infrastructure challenges through advisory services, planning, design, engineering, programme management, and construction management. With more than 50,000 professionals worldwide, AECOM combines multidisciplinary expertise to develop innovative, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure solutions. AECOM is a Fortune 500 company that reported revenue of USD 16.1 billion for fiscal year 2025. Guided by its purpose of delivering a better world, AECOM contributes to projects that improve infrastructure, support sustainable development, and create lasting value for communities.