Thinker
Riyadh, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
Listed on 2025-12-02
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Design & Architecture
Environmental/ Urban Planning
Join to apply for the Future City Thinker role at Atkins
Réalis.
Atkins
Réalis are seeking Strategic Urban Planners of various seniorities who excel at thought leadership — Future City Thinkers—to lead transformative urban strategies across MEA and APAC.
This is not a conventional planning role. We're looking for a visionary leader, a thought provocateur, and a design futurist who can shape the next generation of cities through bold ideas, strategic foresight, and compelling storytelling. You will be at the forefront of city-scale innovation, guiding governments, developers, and communities toward resilient, inclusive, and tech‑enabled urban futures.
Your role- Lead regional urban strategy initiatives across MEA and APAC, delivering future‑ready frameworks, master plans, and policy guidance.
- Champion thought leadership through keynote speaking, publications, and strategic advisory roles that influence urban discourse globally.
- Envision next‑generation cities by integrating emerging technologies, climate resilience, mobility innovation, and socio‑cultural dynamics.
- Develop and communicate urban narratives that inspire action—using storytelling, visualisation, and strategic framing to engage clients and stakeholders.
- Mentor and guide multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of innovation, design excellence, and strategic thinking.
- Engage with high‑level stakeholders including government agencies, city leaders, and private sector partners to co‑create urban visions.
- Translate global trends into local strategies, ensuring contextual relevance while pushing the boundaries of possibility.
- Drive innovation in planning tools, data‑driven decision‑making, and scenario modelling to support strategic foresight.
- Analyse urban trends and data using GIS and other planning tools to inform strategic decision‑making, working with our digital teams to push boundaries.
- Advocate for design excellence and innovation in all aspects of urban transformation.
- Engage stakeholders through workshops, presentations, and participatory design processes to ensure inclusive and responsive planning that feeds into strategic level planning and development.
- Postgraduate qualification in urban design, urban planning or related field and preferably with a professional affiliation (or eligible for membership).
- Minimum of 15 years of relevant working experience in strategic urban planning, master planning with a portfolio of city‑scale projects and regional leadership.
- Proven track record in thought leadership—published work, speaking engagements, or recognised contributions to urban discourse.
- Deep understanding of MEA and APAC urban contexts, including cultural, political, and economic dynamics.
- Experience working with smart city frameworks, sustainability strategies, and future mobility concepts.
- Lead the production of high‑quality urban and regional planning, design and master planning project submissions in the UAE, KSA and the wider Middle East and Africa.
- Exceptional visualization and storytelling skills—able to translate complex strategies into compelling visuals and narratives via various visual and graphic media including hand and computer graphics.
- Lead in the preparation of technical bids and fee proposals for strategic planning and master planning projects and other major projects where appropriate.
- Experience in working with a multidisciplinary team.
- Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
- Capable of working on own initiative or as part of a larger multidisciplinary team.
- Will be required to travel within the Middle East region to projects in a variety of geographical locations, including Saudi Arabia.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with clients, attending meetings, workshops and seminars.
- Other duties associated with the main role and responsibilities will be requested from time to time.
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.
- Tax‑free salary.
- Comprehensive life insurance coverage.
- Premium medical insurance for you and your dependents.
- Generous annual leave balance.
- Flexible and hybrid work solutions.
- Remote work…
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