Crowd Specialist

Want to work with the most sought-after minds and the most talked-about projects? Your expertise in crowd dynamics and people movement engineering might just make you our new Associate Director - Crowd Specialist
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At Buro Happold, expect the exceptional. Join a practice that values inclusion, diversity, and a genuine commitment to sustainability, equity, and social performance.

We invite you to lead our major master planning projects in Jeddah, where strategic leadership and technical excellence are key to shaping safe, resilient, and people centric design outcomes.

We are seeking a senior technical and leadership professional to take charge of crowd modelling, movement strategy, and multidisciplinary collaboration on high profile projects.

• Lead all crowd movement and pedestrian dynamics work streams for designated Jeddah based projects.
• Oversee development, calibration, and validation of complex crowd simulation models (normal operations, event conditions, and emergency scenarios).
• Provide strategic guidance on pedestrian circulation, access/egress, spatial planning, and operational design across the full project lifecycle.
• Integrate crowd insights into engineering masterplans, mobility frameworks, building interfaces, and public realm design.
• Work closely with master planning, engineering, transport, and architectural teams in Jeddah and across regional/global studios.
• Present modelling outcomes, risk implications, and design recommendations to clients, authorities, and senior stakeholders.
• Support project leadership in scoping, programme planning, and quality assurance for all crowd related deliverables.
• Mentor team members and support the development of best practice methodologies and standards across the regional people movement discipline.
• Contribute to bid submissions and technical proposals as required.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Urban Planning, Transport, Architecture, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced crowd simulation tools (e.g., Mass Motion, Legion, Pathfinder, STEPS).
• Strong technical foundation in pedestrian movement dynamics, crowd psychology, and human centred design principles.
• Experience applying crowd modelling outputs to inform engineering layouts, operational strategies, and master planning decisions.
• Skilled at leading multidisciplinary work streams and coordinating with complex project teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical data into clear design guidance.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with clients, authorities, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of large scale, high density, or high risk environments such as event venues, mega/giga projects, transit hubs, cultural districts, or mixed use developments.
• Understanding of regional Middle East codes, regulations, and operational practices or willingness to quickly adapt.
• Postgraduate qualifications or professional memberships are advantageous but not required.

• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Attractive salary and benefits package.
• Strong commitment to continuous development with a learning and development programme that empowers professionals at all career stages.
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions.
• International culture with support for a balanced work life.

At Buro Happold, we value individual flexible approaches to working patterns and work to foster a culture where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from those who seek flexibility and for under represented groups in the built environment. If you need adjustments to the application process, please let us know.

Be a part of our legacy. Email for further information.