Associate Director - Urban Strategies

Want to work with the most sought-after minds and most talked-about projects? Your interest in Urban Strategies might just make you our new Associate Director
- Urban Strategies.

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.

Your key duties

Subject to project award: A position has arisen for an Associate Director
- Urban Strategies to join our Urban Strategies team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The successful candidate will have a desire in helping make the cities of the middle east better places for its people and the environment.

Strong technical skills in strategic urban planning, development or master planning are key requirements. The successful candidate will have strong technical and project management skills in a consultancy environment, with a proven track record of delivery and be comfortable in a client facing role.

Responsibilities:

• Providing leadership and supporting the continued growth of the planning team. This encompasses the line management of junior team members, assisting and mentoring staff where needed and developing the growth and capabilities of all team members.
• Managing and leading the delivery of multidisciplinary projects, with support from junior team members. This usually includes overseeing technical inputs from numerous disciplines, including transport, infrastructure, environment, sustainability, as well as external inputs, such as architects and landscape architects.
• Operating as a technical lead across a broad range of planning projects, with an understanding of spatial and regional planning, master planning, plan and policy making, governance and implementation frameworks and action plans.
• Supporting the technical management and performance of the planning team with particular emphasis on quality.
• Balancing demands and priorities, whilst reviewing project deliverables, planning project resources and finances and monitoring job financial performance.
• Taking the lead on developing and maintaining work winning relationships in the region to support future project pipeline, including preparing bid submissions and fee proposals. This includes promoting and communicating current and future offerings of the planning team and being active in exploring opportunities for new business offerings by the planning team and cities in general.

• Technical background and experience working across a range of urban planning related projects, such as spatial and regional planning, plan and policy making, master planning and sustainability.
• A track record of winning urban planning-related work and maintaining client relationships, and an understanding of the market and key collaborators.
• Proven ability to devise solutions to clients, as well as an raising their awareness to the value of quality.
• Demonstrable project management experience, including experience of successful multidisciplinary project delivery and of leading complex city scale projects.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and motivating a medium-sized team.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Desire to lead continuous quality improvement in our work and be up to date with the current industry trends, approaches, tools and methods.
• A willingness to travel.
• Degree qualification in Urban Planning, Design or Town Planning
• A registered member of a relevant professional institution, ideally chartered status (such as the RTPI or APA)
• Must have extensive experience working in the Middle East
• A…