Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in Abu Dhabi Emirate seeks a Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture to lead landscape design and project delivery across commercial, residential, and public realm developments. The role requires guiding multidisciplinary teams, coordinating with architects and engineers, and delivering sustainable outdoor environments from concept through to site implementation.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and 12+ years of experience, with a strong portfolio

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or related field required.
• At least 12 years of professional landscape architecture experience with leadership.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead landscape design strategy, innovation and technical methodologies across medium-scale projects.
• Independently manage multiple landscape architecture assignments with clear team structure.
• Coordinate landscape requirements across architecture, engineering and other disciplines.
• Manage client interfaces, design meetings and contractual requirements.
• Lead conceptual development, design reviews and design evaluation sessions.
• Mentor junior landscape architects and design professionals.

Skills

Landscape architecture

Public realm design

Multidisciplinary coordination

Client management

Design leadership

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture

Master's degree advantageous

Tools

AutoCAD

REVIT

GIS

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture

Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates is an Architecture and Planning opportunity for an accomplished landscape professional with extensive experience leading the design and delivery of commercial, residential, public realm and master-planned developments. AECOM is hiring a senior design specialist to lead multidisciplinary landscape projects, manage client relationships, advance innovative design solutions and deliver sustainable outdoor environments from early concepts through technical packages and site implementation.

Job Snapshot

• Role: Senior Associate - Landscape Architecture
• Location: Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Architecture-Interior Design
• Experience: Minimum 12 years
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Abu Dhabi Emirate
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Architecture-Interior Design
• Salary: 28000-40000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Senior Associate will combine landscape design leadership with project delivery, commercial awareness and technical coordination. The position carries responsibility for shaping design strategies while ensuring that creative ideas remain achievable within client objectives, project budgets, regional standards and delivery programs. Beyond individual projects, the role contributes to the wider landscape studio through design reviews, digital innovation, bid development, quality assurance and professional mentoring. The successful candidate will influence how landscape solutions are conceived and communicated while helping multidisciplinary teams deliver distinctive, functional and environmentally responsive places across Abu Dhabi and the wider region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead landscape design strategy, innovation and technical methodologies across medium-scale projects and competitive design submissions.
• Independently manage multiple landscape architecture assignments while establishing clear team structures, responsibilities and resource requirements.
• Act as technical lead and coordinate landscape requirements across architecture, engineering and other specialist disciplines.
• Manage client interfaces, design meetings and contractual requirements throughout project delivery.
• Coordinate deliverables between clients, consultants, subconsultants and internal design teams.
• Lead conceptual development, creative reviews and design evaluation sessions while maintaining a consistent design vision.
• Apply relevant public realm standards, regional design requirements and landscape guidelines to project solutions.
• Translate ambitious landscape concepts into practical designs aligned with project budgets, programs and client priorities.
• Lead complete technical design packages with appropriate senior-level review and quality control.
• Apply detailed knowledge of regional planting, irrigation requirements and landscape implementation standards.
• Guide the development of innovative landscape graphics, presentations and design communication methods.
• Promote digital tools, computational methods and emerging technology within landscape architecture workflows.
• Identify opportunities for research, design improvement and reusable digital approaches that benefit the wider studio.
• Review landscape cost plans and contribute commercial awareness during design development.
• Maintain project libraries, capability information and representative project documentation.
• Participate in site activities for landscape projects under construction and help resolve design and technical issues.
• Monitor project financial status and contribute to change orders and variation documentation in coordination with project leadership.
• Provide project and resource updates during studio planning meetings.
• Lead landscape bids and proposals, developing appropriate technical approaches, methodologies, team structures and commercial inputs.
• Perform structured self-checks and technical reviews to ensure deliverables comply with established QA and QC procedures.
• Identify capability gaps and contribute to interviews and recruitment when additional expertise is required.
• Mentor junior landscape architects and design professionals, providing technical guidance and constructive design direction.

Ideal Profile

The position requires a bachelor 's degree in Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design or another relevant discipline, while a master 's degree will be advantageous. Candidates should bring at least 12 years of professional landscape architecture experience with a substantial record of design leadership and successful project delivery. Strong capability across concept design, technical documentation, public realm design, planting, irrigation and multidisciplinary coordination is important. Experience managing client relationships, project teams, bids, commercial considerations and landscape deliverables is expected. The successful candidate should also demonstrate the ability to balance design quality with budget, technical feasibility and delivery requirements. Progress toward relevant professional membership, such as RIBA or an equivalent recognized professional body, is preferred. Applicants should have a strong landscape architecture portfolio demonstrating the quality and range of their design work.

Skills Set

• Landscape architecture
• Public realm design
• Landscape master planning
• Concept design
• Technical landscape design
• Landscape project delivery
• Planting design
• Irrigation requirements
• Regional landscape standards
• Multidisciplinary design coordination
• Technical package delivery
• Design leadership
• Client management
• Design review
• Site design resolution
• Landscape cost planning
• Project financial monitoring
• Change orders
• Variation orders
• Bid and proposal management
• Design presentations
• Digital landscape workflows
• Design innovation
• QA and QC
• Resource planning
• Team leadership
• Professional mentoring

Why Join Us

Abu Dhabi 's continuing investment in high-quality urban environments, public spaces and major developments creates strong demand for experienced landscape design leadership. This position offers the opportunity to influence significant projects while combining creative direction with technical delivery and commercial responsibility. Within AECOM, the Senior Associate can work alongside architects, engineers, planners and other specialists while contributing to design innovation across a multidisciplinary international practice. The role also provides scope to shape studio capability, mentor developing professionals and advance the use of digital tools and sustainable landscape strategies across future projects.

About the Company

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing architecture, planning, engineering, design and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment and energy. Its multidisciplinary teams work with public- and private-sector clients to create sustainable, resilient and technically advanced places, with landscape and public realm design forming an important part of integrated urban development.