Senior Associate Landscape Architect

Icon; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Landmark UAE projects

Collaborative studio environment

Leading digital design technologies

Career progression

Professional development

Diversity and inclusion

Job summary

ICON in Dubai seeks a Senior Associate Landscape Architect to lead multiple landscape projects from concept to construction. You will drive design excellence, mentor teams, and manage client relationships while delivering high-quality environments across the region.

The role requires strong leadership, technical delivery, and experience with BIM-enabled workflows, VR/visualisation, and project planning tools. A UAE/GCC background is preferred for this pivotal position.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional experience in Landscape Architecture.
• Experience delivering complex landscape architecture, public realm, mixed-use, hospitality, residential, infrastructure, and masterplanning projects.
• Knowledge of UAE and GCC planning processes, authority requirements, and project delivery frameworks.
• Excellent design and technical skills.
• Experience mentoring and developing landscape architecture teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple landscape architecture and public realm projects from pursuit and concept design through to construction support.
• Provide design leadership and maintain excellence throughout all project stages.
• Champion innovative, sustainable, and commercially successful design solutions.
• Manage project programmes, budgets, resources, risks, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, authorities, and industry partners.
• Lead client presentations, workshops, design reviews, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Monitor project performance, profitability, and resource utilisation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across landscape architecture, engineering, planning, BIM, and project management disciplines.
• Mentor and develop Associates, Landscape Architects, Graduates, and BIM professionals.
• Contribute to strategic planning, operational improvement, and business growth initiatives in collaboration with the SMT.
• Promote the use of digital technologies, BIM workflows, AI-enabled tools, and Vantagepoint systems to improve project delivery and performance.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing studio culture.
• Participate in regular Senior Management Team meetings and contribute to business planning and operational improvement initiatives.

Skills

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Revit

MicroStation

Rhino

Grasshopper

SketchUp

Lumion

Enscape

D5 Render

Adobe CC

BIM workflows

Deltek Vantagepoint

QGIS

ArcGIS

Land F/X

AI design tools

Education

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture

Postgraduate qualification in Landscape Architecture

Professional Chartership or Accreditation

Tools

Deltek Vantagepoint

QGIS

ArcGIS

Job description

Lead Design. Drive Delivery. Shape Places

• ICON is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Associate Landscape Architect to join our growing Landscape Architecture team in Dubai.
• This is an opportunity for a talented designer and proven project leader to help shape some of the region's most ambitious landscape, public realm, and destination projects. Working closely with the Director of Landscape Architecture and Associate Directors/Studio Leads, you will lead multidisciplinary teams, deliver exceptional design outcomes, mentor future leaders, and contribute to the continued growth of the business.
• You will also play a key role in advancing our digital delivery capabilities through the adoption of BIM, AI-enabled workflows, and platforms such as Vantagepoint.

The Role

• As a Senior Associate, you will lead multiple projects simultaneously, providing design leadership, project oversight, client management, commercial accountability, and team development across a diverse portfolio of work.
• You will be responsible for delivering projects to the highest standards of design excellence, technical quality, financial performance, and client satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multiple landscape architecture and public realm projects from pursuit and concept design through to construction support.
• Provide design leadership and maintain excellence throughout all project stages.
• Champion innovative, sustainable, and commercially successful design solutions.
• Manage project programmes, budgets, resources, risks, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, authorities, and industry partners.
• Lead client presentations, workshops, design reviews, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Monitor project performance, profitability, and resource utilisation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across landscape architecture, engineering, planning, BIM, and project management disciplines.
• Mentor and develop Associates, Landscape Architects, Graduates, and BIM professionals.
• Contribute to strategic planning, operational improvement, and business growth initiatives in collaboration with the SMT.
• Promote the use of digital technologies, BIM workflows, AI-enabled tools, and Vantagepoint systems to improve project delivery and performance.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing studio culture.
• Participate in regular Senior Management Team meetings and contribute to business planning and operational improvement initiatives.

About You

You are an experienced Landscape Architect with a strong track record of leading complex projects, managing multidisciplinary teams, and building trusted client relationships. You are passionate about design excellence, understand the commercial aspects of project delivery, and enjoy mentoring and developing others.

You will bring:

• 12+ years of professional experience in Landscape Architecture.
• Proven experience delivering complex landscape architecture, public realm, mixed-use, hospitality, residential, infrastructure, and masterplanning projects.
• Excellent design and technical skills.
• Strong design leadership, technical delivery, and project management capabilities.
• Experience managing project programmes, budgets, resources, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong client-facing, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of project performance, profitability, and resource planning.
• Experience mentoring and developing landscape architecture teams.
• Knowledge of UAE and GCC planning processes, authority requirements, and project delivery frameworks.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A proactive, positive, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach.

Technical Skills

Key Requirements

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, and MicroStation.
• Experience with Rhino (Grasshopper), SketchUp, Lumion, Enscape and/or D5 Render.
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Experience working within BIM-enabled project environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project planning tools.
• Strong understanding of digital design and project delivery workflows.
• Desirable
• Experience with Deltek Vantagepoint or similar project management platforms.
• Experience with ArcGIS, QGIS, Land F/X, or equivalent specialist software.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to support design development, visualisation, reporting, and project delivery.
• Knowledge of emerging digital technologies, automation, and data-driven design processes.
• Qualifications
• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture.
• Postgraduate qualification in Landscape Architecture is advantageous.
• Professional Chartership or Accreditation preferred (CMLI, ASLA, AILA, LI, or equivalent).
• UAE and/or KSA project experience is highly desirable.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on landmark projects across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other regional markets.
• A collaborative, design-led studio environment.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary and international project teams.
• Career progression within a growing and ambitious practice.
• Access to leading digital design, BIM, AI, and project management technologies.
• Competitive salary and benefits packageContinuous learning and professional development through knowledge-sharing, mentoring, and internal training opportunities.
• A diverse and inclusive workplace with colleagues from different cultures, disciplines, and professional backgrounds.
• Employee engagement through regular social, cultural, wellness, and team-building activities.
• Opportunities to contribute ideas, innovation, and new ways of working in a forward-thinking practice.