Chief Specialist - Transportation Planning

Roads and Transport Authority; Dubai; On-site; AED 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai seeks a senior transportation planning leader to drive the Emirate's strategic planning and modeling delivery. You will maintain and issue the Dubai Transport Planning Model and related manuals while guiding technical reviews.

The role focuses on updating KPI targets, setting project priorities and budgets, and coordinating rights-of-way with authorities, agencies, and consultants. A strong background in transport economics and GIS is essential.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's/ Master’s in Engineering.
• Experience: 9+ years with Master’s; 11+ years with Bachelor’s.
• Certifications: PMP/PRINCE2; advanced transport modeling & analytics; GIS; KPI monitoring; stakeholder coordination and technical reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of strategic and five-year transport plans.
• Update and maintain Dubai Transport Planning Model and manuals.
• Coordinate rights‑of‑way with authorities and stakeholders.
• Provide input on budgets and project prioritization in budgeting cycles.
• Apply transport economics tools (cost-benefit, SROI, MCA) to policy proposals.

Skills

Transport modeling

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Cost-benefit analysis

SROI

MCA

GIS

KPI monitoring

Stakeholder coordination

Technical reporting

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

Job Purpose

Lead transportation planning and modeling delivery for the Emirate. Update strategic plans and KPI targets, set project priorities and budgets, and coordinate rights-of-way with authorities. Maintain and issue the Dubai Transport Planning Model and manuals while driving rigorous technical reviews.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy

• Offers expertise in development and updating strategic and five-year transport plans aligned with urban development, economic and population forecasts, global trends, and budget scenarios.
• Identify priorities of strategic road and transport infrastructure projects when updating the strategic transportation plan.
• Provides input in analyzing data and set targets for strategic public transport share KPIs with concerned agencies.
• Apply transport economics tools, such as cost-benefit analysis, SROI, and MCA, to evaluate the viability and impact of proposed transport policies, escalating complex judgment calls to senior staff
• Identify annual priorities and budgets for transportation infrastructure projects during budgeting cycles in coordination with project-owning departments and based on Portfolio Management information.
• Review studies, legislations, and plans related to multi-modal transportation from external parties or concerned institutions and make technical observations.
• Determine rights-of-way requirements and coordinate with concerned authorities to reserve or freeze them.

Operations

• Provide technical support and participate in the development of RFP's, review and follow-up of relevant strategic transportation projects and studies for Authority entities and local/external, including federal parties and external consultants.
• Offers expertise in the development, updating, and maintaining the Dubai Transport Planning Model using specialized surveys, collected data, and network amendments; issue the updated model to internal and external users.
• Offers expertise in development and updating the DSTM technical manual and provide technical support and training inside and outside the Authority as needed.
• Review major developers' projects and cost-sharing agreements in line with applicable law and provide feedback to the Traffic Department where required.

Product/Process Improvement

• Maintain planning datasets and inputs that inform public transport share targets, reflecting validated agency feedback.
• Participate in urban planning studies and projects aimed at encouraging mass transport and sustainable and soft mobility modes in coordination with concerned authorities.
• Strengthen coordination mechanisms with concerned authorities to confirm priorities, dependencies, and budget implications during strategic and annual cycles.
• Provide innovative solutions to address transportation challenges such as congestion, evaluate emerging projects in the market, and recommend improvements.

Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor's/ Master's degree in Engineering
• Experience: 9+ years in case of Master's degree(11+ years in case of Bachelor's degree)
• Certifications: Project Management (PMP/PRINCE2); advanced transport modeling & analytics; GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS); KPI/strategic performance monitoring; stakeholder coordination and technical reporting