Sustainability Planner - Urban Masterplanning

AECOM Corporation; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Paid time off

Remote/hybrid work options

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Sustainability Planner to join its Dubai team, focused on integrating sustainability into urban masterplanning and design decisions. You will contribute to frameworks, targets, assessments, and roadmaps to support environmentally responsible development.

The role requires understanding sustainability in urban development, credentials in LEED, Estidama, or Sahel at the community level, and collaboration across planners, designers, and engineers. Hybrid work is offered.

Qualifications

• An educational background in Sustainability Planning is preferred.
• Understanding of sustainable urban planning and masterplanning principles.
• Knowledge of sustainability assessment approaches and their application to planning and design.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective teamwork and coordination capabilities within multidisciplinary project environments.

Responsibilities

• Support the integration of sustainability principles into planning and design decisions throughout project development.
• Contribute to sustainability-led masterplanning activities, ensuring environmental considerations are incorporated into project recommendations.
• Assist in developing sustainability frameworks that establish project objectives, performance targets, and implementation priorities.
• Support the preparation of sustainability implementation roadmaps for masterplanning projects.
• Collaborate with planning and design teams to evaluate development proposals against established sustainability objectives.
• Help translate sustainability strategies into practical considerations for urban planning and design.
• Contribute technical input to multidisciplinary discussions concerning sustainable development and environmental performance.
• Participate in sustainability assessments at the masterplan and community development levels.

Skills

Sustainability planning

Masterplanning

Environmental performance

Analytical research

Education

Sustainability Planning education

Job description

Sustainability Planner - Urban Masterplanning Job Snapshot - Role: Sustainability Planner - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Architecture and Planning - Function: Consulting - Experience: Prior experience in sustainability-led masterplanning projects; years not specified - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Position Overview AECOM is seeking a Sustainability Planner to join its multidisciplinary team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The position focuses on integrating sustainability principles into urban planning, masterplanning, and design decisions to support environmentally responsible development.

The successful candidate will contribute to sustainability-led masterplanning projects, including the preparation of sustainability frameworks, performance targets, assessments, and implementation roadmaps.

Working alongside planning, design, and technical specialists, the role will help translate sustainability objectives into practical project recommendations and measurable outcomes.

The position requires an understanding of sustainable urban development, environmental performance assessment, and community-level sustainability certification frameworks.

Candidates must hold an active relevant credential in LEED, Estidama, or Sahel at the community level.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Architecture and Planning
• Function: Consulting
• Salary: Not disclosed
• Gender: No Preference
• Candidate Nationality: Not specified
• Job Type: Full Time
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

• Support the integration of sustainability principles into planning and design decisions throughout project development.
• Contribute to sustainability-led masterplanning activities, ensuring environmental considerations are incorporated into project recommendations.
• Assist in developing sustainability frameworks that establish project objectives, performance targets, and implementation priorities.
• Support the preparation of sustainability implementation roadmaps for masterplanning projects.
• Collaborate with planning and design teams to evaluate development proposals against established sustainability objectives.
• Help translate sustainability strategies into practical considerations for urban planning and design.
• Contribute technical input to multidisciplinary discussions concerning sustainable development and environmental performance.

Sustainability Assessments and Certification

• Participate in sustainability assessments at the masterplan and community development levels.
• Support evaluations against applicable sustainability rating systems and certification frameworks.
• Contribute to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) studies where relevant to project requirements.
• Review project information against established sustainability criteria and performance targets.
• Assist in preparing supporting documentation for sustainability assessments and client submissions.
• Coordinate with technical teams to identify information required for certification-related evaluations.
• Monitor progress against relevant sustainability commitments and assessment requirements.

Environmental Performance and Resource Efficiency

• Evaluate sustainability considerations across energy, water, carbon, mobility, ecology, climate resilience, and circular economy themes.
• Support analysis of energy and water efficiency opportunities within masterplanning proposals.
• Contribute to assessments of carbon-related considerations and environmental performance objectives.
• Review sustainable mobility considerations as part of integrated urban development planning.
• Support the evaluation of ecological considerations and climate resilience within masterplanning projects.
• Assist in identifying opportunities to incorporate circular economy principles into development strategies.
• Provide analytical input to recommendations intended to improve sustainability outcomes.

Research, Benchmarking and Policy Analysis

• Research local and international sustainability standards, policies, and established best practices.
• Undertake benchmarking exercises to compare proposed sustainability approaches with relevant reference frameworks.
• Review technical guidance and sustainability policies applicable to urban planning and development.
• Analyze research findings and identify their implications for project sustainability objectives.
• Contribute evidence-based recommendations to support planning and design decisions.
• Maintain awareness of relevant developments in sustainable planning and environmental performance assessment.

Multidisciplinary Project Coordination

• Work collaboratively with urban planners, designers, engineers, and other project professionals.
• Coordinate the collection and review of technical information required for sustainability assessments.
• Analyze multidisciplinary design inputs to evaluate progress against sustainability targets.
• Communicate sustainability requirements and project commitments to relevant team members.
• Participate in project coordination activities to support consistent integration of sustainability objectives.
• Identify gaps in project information and coordinate with responsible disciplines to obtain clarification.
• Support effective communication of sustainability actions and responsibilities across project teams.

Sustainability Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor project sustainability commitments and track progress against agreed performance targets.
• Assist in reviewing whether sustainability actions are being communicated and implemented effectively.
• Prepare technical reports, sustainability assessments, and supporting project documentation.
• Present research findings, performance analysis, and recommendations in a clear and structured manner.
• Contribute to client submissions and other project deliverables requiring sustainability information.
• Maintain organized records of relevant assessments, performance targets, and supporting technical information.
• Support reporting activities that demonstrate the integration of sustainability considerations into project development.

Qualifications and Education

• An educational background in Sustainability Planning is preferred.
• Understanding of sustainable urban planning and masterplanning principles.
• Knowledge of sustainability assessment approaches and their application to planning and design.
• Ability to interpret technical information and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective teamwork and coordination capabilities within multidisciplinary project environments.

Required Professional Accreditation

• An active credential in LEED, Estidama, or Sahel at the community level is required.
• Additional accreditations relevant to sustainable planning, design, or development are considered an advantage.

Relevant Professional Experience

• Previous experience working on sustainability-led masterplanning projects.
• Experience contributing to sustainability frameworks, performance targets, and implementation roadmaps.
• Familiarity with masterplan-level sustainability assessments, rating systems, and certification frameworks.
• Experience evaluating environmental performance considerations within planning or design projects.
• Ability to undertake sustainability research, benchmarking, and technical analysis.
• Experience coordinating with multidisciplinary project teams to support sustainability objectives.

Core Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of sustainable urban development and integrated masterplanning.
• Familiarity with community-level sustainability certification requirements.
• Knowledge of energy, water, carbon, mobility, ecology, climate resilience, and circular economy considerations.
• Ability to review sustainability standards, policies, and technical guidance.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities.
• Attention to detail when preparing technical reports and assessment documentation.
• Ability to communicate technical findings to multidisciplinary teams and project stakeholders.
• Effective organization and coordination of sustainability-related project information.
• A collaborative approach to developing and monitoring sustainability objectives.

Recruitment and Onboarding

AECOM is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and takes fraudulent hiring activity seriously. All newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding session at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

Employee Benefits and Professional Development

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off and applicable leave arrangements.
• Employee assistance programs and well-being resources.
• Business travel insurance and service recognition awards.
• Retirement savings arrangements and employee stock purchase plan participation.
• Voluntary benefits and other employee programs.
• Flexible work options, where applicable.

Career Opportunity

The Sustainability Planner will contribute to urban development and masterplanning projects where sustainability performance is an important consideration throughout planning and design. The role offers opportunities to collaborate with specialists across planning, design, engineering, and environmental disciplines while contributing to sustainability assessments, technical research, and project recommendations. Working within AECOM's multidisciplinary project environment, the successful candidate will help integrate environmental performance objectives into planning decisions and support the development of sustainable and resilient communities.

Job Reference: J10162130 Business Line: U&P Business Group: DCS Strategic Business Unit: ME and Africa Career Area: Consulting Services

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services. The company works with public- and private-sector clients across transportation, buildings, water, energy, and environmental infrastructure. Its multidisciplinary teams develop sustainable and resilient solutions to complex infrastructure and development challenges. With more than 50,000 professionals worldwide, AECOM brings together planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, construction managers, and other specialists working across the project lifecycle. AECOM is a Fortune 500 company that reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. The organization supports professional development, collaboration, and equal employment opportunities.

Applicant information is handled confidentially in accordance with its equal employment opportunity guidelines.