Belfast Cities Planning Design Team Lead

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

This is a rare chance to play a defining role in strengthening and expanding our Cities Planning & Design (CPD) presence across Northern Ireland. You’ll be at the forefront of shaping our offer in transport planning, town planning and economics building trusted relationships, leading high‑profile engagements, and positioning us to unlock major development opportunities. Your leadership will help us secure larger, longer‑term projects and frameworks, while elevating our visibility and influence in the local market.

You’ll also act as a champion for Total Design, ensuring our multidisciplinary approach is embedded across everything we do.

Day to day, you’ll guide and grow the Belfast CPD team, drive a strong pipeline of work, and collaborate closely with colleagues across Ireland, Scotland, England and the wider UKIMEA and European network. You’ll identify new opportunities, lead successful bids, and ensure excellent delivery for existing clients. A key part of your impact will be developing local transport and town planning capability—through targeted training, recruitment and cross‑office collaboration—while helping to connect our Northern Ireland work with the broader regional strategy.

This is a leadership role with real scope to shape the future of CPD in Northern Ireland and beyond.

• Demonstrated leadership in transport or town planning projects, with a strong Total Design mindset and a track record of building client relationships, growing pipelines, winning work, delivering high‑quality projects, and supporting the development of early‑career colleagues.
• A Degree in town planning, transport planning, or another relevant discipline.
• Proven professional experience, ideally gained within a consultancy environment.

Not ready to apply just yet or have some questions? Contact Drina Zupanovic at D - Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all.…