Executive Director- Infrastructure & Planning

LEAD Development; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading development firm in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Executive Director for Infrastructure & Planning. This role involves shaping strategic planning and infrastructure for large-scale communities, ensuring alignment with development vision. The ideal candidate will have 15–20 years of experience in urban development, including executive roles, and a deep understanding of local regulations. Responsibilities include leading a masterplanning team, managing stakeholder engagement, and ensuring compliance with national policies.

Qualifications

• 15–20 years of experience in large-scale urban development.
• At least 5 years in executive leadership roles.
• Familiarity with Abu Dhabi government engagement.
• Familiarity with Abu Dhabi government engagement, local authorities, utility providers, and infrastructure design standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the masterplanning team for integrated communities.
• Oversee zoning, density allocation, and phased implementation.
• Ensure infrastructure capacity matches long-term development.
• Drive the planning, design, and execution of all backbone infrastructure: utilities, mobility, stormwater, telecom, and smart city systems.
• Define infrastructure strategies that support sustainable, resilient, and technologically enabled communities.
• Ensure infrastructure capacity matches long-term development phasing and asset classes.
• Identify and mitigate infrastructure risks and coordinate with planning authorities, utility agencies, and municipality bodies.
• Lead negotiation of development agreements, service provisions, and infrastructure obligations.
• Ensure compliance with national and local planning policies, building codes, and environmental regulations.
• Oversee consultants and technical advisors responsible for infrastructure masterplans, utility modeling, mobility studies, and EIA reports.
• Champion innovative infrastructure solutions including district cooling, smart mobility, and renewable integration.

Skills

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Technical expertise in infrastructure

Team leadership

Sustainability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or Architecture

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Job description

Executive Director- Infrastructure & Planning

February 3, 2026

Executive Director- Infrastructure & Planning

The Executive Development Director – Planning & Infrastructure is responsible for shaping and executing the strategic planning, infrastructure, and landscape framework for large-scale, mixed-use communities. This role leads all aspects of Masterplanning, urban design coordination, infrastructure development (utilities, roads, mobility), and regulatory interface to ensure world-class, future-proof environments that enable exceptional lifestyle offerings. The role requires strong leadership qualities and ability to coordinate with other disciplines with communication skills and management of staff.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the masterplanning team for the planning and development of masterplans for integrated communities comprising residential, commercial, educational, hospitality, retail, wellness, and cultural assets.
• Ensure alignment with the Lead Development vision, commercial goals, and brand standards.
• Oversee zoning, density allocation, land use optimization, and phased implementation strategies.
• Drive and oversee the landscape planning and design of the communities and projects.

Infrastructure Development

• Drive the planning, design, and execution of all backbone infrastructure: utilities (power, water, sewerage, irrigation), mobility networks (roads, transit, micromobility), stormwater, telecom, and smart city systems.
• Define infrastructure strategies that support sustainable, resilient, and technologically enabled communities.
• Ensure infrastructure capacity matches long-term development phasing and asset classes.

• Manage engagement with planning authorities, utility agencies, and municipality bodies to secure all necessary NOCs, masterplan approvals, and infrastructure permits.
• Lead negotiation of development agreements, service provisions, and infrastructure obligations.
• Ensure compliance with national and local planning policies, building codes, and environmental regulations.

Technical Oversight

• Oversee consultants and technical advisors responsible for infrastructure masterplans, utility modeling, mobility studies, and EIA reports.
• Ensure design integration across disciplines (civil, landscape, MEP, transport) and with vertical asset development teams.
• Champion innovative infrastructure solutions including district cooling, smart mobility, and renewable integration.

Budgeting & Cost Management

• Set infrastructure and landscape CAPEX budgets and ensure effective cost control throughout design and execution phases.
• Coordinate with finance, procurement, and development teams to align infrastructure delivery with project cash flows and delivery timelines.

• Identify and mitigate infrastructure risks including delays, coordination failures, or scope gaps.
• Act as interface lead between planning, infrastructure, vertical development, and construction functions.
• Support contingency planning and scenario modelling for major infrastructure packages.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing internal team of planning and infrastructure professionals.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.
• Support knowledge transfer and capability development across the wider organization.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or architecture; Master’s or MBA preferred.
• 15–20 years of experience in large-scale urban development, including at least 5 in executive leadership roles.
• Proven delivery of infrastructure for master planned mixed-use communities in the UAE and Abu Dhabi in particular.
• Familiarity with Abu Dhabi government engagement, local authorities, utility providers, and infrastructure design standards.

Core Competencies

• Strategic planning and execution across infrastructure, urban systems, and landscape
• Deep technical expertise in civil, utility, and mobility infrastructure
• Strong regulatory and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent cross-functional coordination and team leadership
• Commercial awareness and capital planning acumen
• High standards of quality, innovation, and sustainability

The duties and responsibilities described above are not comprehensive and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

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