Senior Urban Designer - City Master Planning

Parsons; Dubai; On-site; AED 223,200 - 334,800; Full time

Job summary

Parsons Corporation in Dubai seeks a Senior Urban Designer - City Master Planning to lead complex urban design and master planning for high-profile development projects. You will coordinate with government agencies and stakeholders to shape land use, mobility, public realm, and development frameworks while ensuring regulatory compliance and long-term urban value.

The role requires strategic thinking, spatial planning, research, technical reporting, and effective communication in English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture or a closely related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive urban planning and design experience.
• Proven experience producing master plans, conceptual designs, development frameworks, and illustrative layouts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead urban design assignments and coordinate multidisciplinary project inputs.

Responsibilities

• Lead urban design, master planning, and development framework assignments for complex projects.
• Prepare conceptual master plans, illustrative layouts, land use plans, and spatial development strategies.
• Conduct research into economic, demographic, social, environmental, and physical conditions affecting proposed developments.
• Analyze planning information and convert findings into clear urban design recommendations.
• Review technical outputs for compliance with local regulations, planning requirements, and relevant international standards.
• Develop planning inputs for reports, design narratives, presentations, workshops, and approval submissions.
• Define urban form, density, movement networks, development parcels, public realm, and open-space relationships.
• Evaluate alternative development scenarios and recommend solutions based on feasibility, functionality, and design quality.
• Coordinate planning work with architecture, landscape, transport, sustainability, utilities, and infrastructure disciplines.
• Review master planning drawings, diagrams, visualizations, and written deliverables prepared by project teams.
• Maintain productive coordination with government entities, regulatory authorities, consultants, developers, and external agencies.
• Translate government development mandates and strategic objectives into structured work plans and implementable design proposals.
• Facilitate a shared understanding of planning goals among stakeholders with different operational and development priorities.
• Participate in design workshops, technical meetings, client reviews, and stakeholder consultations.
• Present planning concepts and technical recommendations to senior clients and decision-makers.
• Identify conflicts between planning objectives, site constraints, authority requirements, and stakeholder expectations.
• Develop practical solutions that balance development value, urban quality, mobility, infrastructure capacity, and community interests.
• Guide junior urban designers and planners in research, concept preparation, graphic production, and technical documentation.
• Monitor assigned project tasks and maintain quality, schedule, and coordination requirements.
• Support project leaders with technical advice, work planning, and review of key submissions.
• Apply current urban design practices, placemaking principles, sustainable planning methods, and regional development knowledge.
• Prepare concise written recommendations, technical commentary, and presentation material for approval processes.
• Maintain accurate project records, review comments, stakeholder inputs, and design development decisions.

Skills

Urban design

City master planning

Urban planning

Conceptual master plans

Illustrative layouts

Land use planning

Spatial planning

Placemaking

Planning regulations

Stakeholder engagement

Government coordination

Project leadership

AICP

RTPI

Education

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

Master’s degree in Urban Planning/Urban Design/Architecture (preferred)

AICP or RTPI certification (advantageous)

Job description

Senior Urban Designer - City Master Planning

Job Snapshot

• Role: Senior Urban Designer - City Master Planning
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Town-City Planning
• Experience: Minimum 7 years
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Town-City Planning
• Salary: 20000‑30000 (estimated, confirmed through employer)
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Senior Urban Designer - City Master Planning will lead complex urban design and planning activities for high‑profile development projects in Dubai. The position combines strategic thinking, spatial planning, research, technical reporting, visual communication, and coordination with government agencies and external stakeholders. The successful professional will help shape development frameworks that respond to land use, population growth, mobility, public space, infrastructure, economic priorities, and community needs. The role requires the ability to reconcile competing interests while maintaining design quality, regulatory compliance, and long‑term urban value.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead urban design, master planning, and development framework assignments for complex projects.
• Prepare conceptual master plans, illustrative layouts, land use plans, and spatial development strategies.
• Conduct research into economic, demographic, social, environmental, and physical conditions affecting proposed developments.
• Analyze planning information and convert findings into clear urban design recommendations.
• Review technical outputs for compliance with local regulations, planning requirements, and relevant international standards.
• Develop planning inputs for reports, design narratives, presentations, workshops, and approval submissions.
• Define urban form, density, movement networks, development parcels, public realm, and open‑space relationships.
• Evaluate alternative development scenarios and recommend solutions based on feasibility, functionality, and design quality.
• Coordinate planning work with architecture, landscape, transport, sustainability, utilities, and infrastructure disciplines.
• Review master planning drawings, diagrams, visualizations, and written deliverables prepared by project teams.
• Maintain productive coordination with government entities, regulatory authorities, consultants, developers, and external agencies.
• Translate government development mandates and strategic objectives into structured work plans and implementable design proposals.
• Facilitate a shared understanding of planning goals among stakeholders with different operational and development priorities.
• Participate in design workshops, technical meetings, client reviews, and stakeholder consultations.
• Present planning concepts and technical recommendations to senior clients and decision‑makers.
• Identify conflicts between planning objectives, site constraints, authority requirements, and stakeholder expectations.
• Develop practical solutions that balance development value, urban quality, mobility, infrastructure capacity, and community interests.
• Guide junior urban designers and planners in research, concept preparation, graphic production, and technical documentation.
• Monitor assigned project tasks and maintain quality, schedule, and coordination requirements.
• Support project leaders with technical advice, work planning, and review of key submissions.
• Apply current urban design practices, placemaking principles, sustainable planning methods, and regional development knowledge.
• Prepare concise written recommendations, technical commentary, and presentation material for approval processes.
• Maintain accurate project records, review comments, stakeholder inputs, and design development decisions.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive urban planning and design experience.
• Proven experience producing master plans, conceptual designs, development frameworks, and illustrative layouts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead urban design assignments and coordinate multidisciplinary project inputs.
• Strong knowledge of land use planning, built form, density, mobility, public realm, and placemaking.
• Thorough understanding of planning legislation, local statutes, development controls, and regulatory procedures.
• Ability to interpret economic, social, demographic, and physical development information.
• Experience coordinating with government agencies, authorities, clients, consultants, and other external stakeholders.
• Ability to represent diverse interests and resolve conflicting demands during the planning process.
• Strong creative thinking supported by technical accuracy and practical development awareness.
• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
• Strong presentation, report‑writing, facilitation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to review complex planning material and provide clear technical direction.
• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, or Architecture is preferred.
• Professional certification such as AICP or RTPI is advantageous.
• Experience working on major urban development projects in the UAE or wider GCC is beneficial.

Skills Set

• Urban design
• City master planning
• Urban planning
• Conceptual master plans
• Illustrative layouts
• Land use planning
• Development frameworks
• Spatial planning
• Urban research
• Demographic analysis
• Economic analysis
• Public realm planning
• Built form
• Density planning
• Mobility integration
• Placemaking
• Planning regulations
• Statutory compliance
• Stakeholder engagement
• Government coordination
• Multidisciplinary coordination
• Design workshops
• Technical reporting
• Planning presentations
• Development scenario analysis
• Project leadership
• AICP
• RTPI

Why Join Us

This opportunity offers direct involvement in prominent urban development projects that will influence the future growth and identity of Dubai. The Senior Urban Designer will contribute to strategic planning decisions, major master plans, stakeholder engagement, and multidisciplinary design coordination. The position provides exposure to complex city‑building challenges, government development priorities, and internationally recognized planning practices. It is well suited to an experienced urban designer seeking leadership responsibility, visible project impact, and long‑term career development within the Architecture and Planning sector.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation provides planning, design, engineering, and programme management services for major urban development and infrastructure projects. Its multidisciplinary teams combine master planning, transport, landscape, sustainability, architecture, and engineering expertise to create coordinated development solutions for growing cities.