Senior Director, Urban Design & Development

WSP in the Middle East; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the Middle East invites a Technical Director/Associate Director to lead the Development, Planning & Urban Design (DPUD) practice across the region. You will work with the Director to steer strategy, secure major projects, and strengthen leadership capability across the Middle East practice.

The role combines business development, client leadership, and project delivery, with responsibility for performance, governance and people leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or a related field.
• A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Extensive experience (12+ years) in urban planning, urban design and development, with large-scale project leadership in the Middle East.
• In-depth knowledge of urban planning processes and sustainability principles.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams, senior client relationships and delivering commercial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead business leadership and practice development aligned with the strategic vision.
• Develop and maintain relationships with government, semi-government and private sector clients.
• Lead business development, bids, frameworks and pipelines across planning and urban design.
• Oversee project direction, scope, quality, risk, resourcing and commercial performance.
• Coach and mentor project directors, managers, planners and designers; foster succession planning.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Urban design knowledge

Project governance

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning/Urban Design/Architecture

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

WSP in the Middle East invites a Technical Director/Associate Director to lead the Development, Planning & Urban Design (DPUD) practice across the region. You will work with the Director to steer strategy, secure major projects, and strengthen leadership capability across the Middle East practice.

The role combines business development, client leadership, and project delivery, with responsibility for performance, governance and people leadership.