Senior / Principal Urban Designer

Job description / Role

tkins has been established in the Gulf for over 40 years, having first carried out design and supervision commissions in the Gulf area in 1967. The regional head office (Dubai) was established in 1979.

We provide a full range of design, engineering and project management services for buildings, transportation and other infrastructure programmes

Atkins in the Middle East now employs around 2,000 staff serving Gulf clients across all market sectors from offices in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah.

Role:
The senior urban designer will provide technical and professional support in the execution of urban and regional planning projects in UAE and the wider region, with a particular expertise in concept and detailed master planning.

The candidate would play a key role in the development of the Atkins planning business in the UAE and region. The urban designer will work closely with urban planners and designers and also support the UAE team in business development initiatives, bid preparation and marketing.

Job Summary:
To be a member of the infrastructure sector master planning team in the UAE and provide urban design services to external and internal clients as part of the Atkins Middle East planning team.

To be involved in strategic planning studies, urban master planning and urban design and public realm projects in the Middle East.

Responsibilities:
- Technical management of urban design elements of projects in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the Middle East;
- Support in the preparation of technical and fee proposals for master planning and urban design projects and other major infrastructure projects where appropriate;
- Project management of medium and large scale projects involving multi-disciplinary teams;
- May be required to travel within the Middle East region to projects in a variety of geographical locations; Will be responsible for the management of teams and meeting agreed budgets;
- Other duties will be requested from time to time.

Requirements

- Degree or postgraduate qualification in urban design
- Minimum 10 years solid experience in master planning and urban design projects
- Preferable to have relevant experience in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, as well as the Middle East with an understanding of Emirati and Arabic urban morphology and culture, housing typologies, and/or appropriate design standards in the Emirate and the region;
- Ability to convey urban design and master planning concepts and solutions in real time to clients and others using drawings, freehand sketches and other mixed media material.
- Sound knowledge of all necessary software programmes including as a minimum GIS, CAD, Photoshop, 3D Max, Adobe design suites, MS Office.
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills, be a team player and have a customer focus;
- Must have previous consultancy experience and technical management skills;
- Must have excellent graphic and oral expression capability and be very comfortable with the core of his/her skill set in urban planning and design;
- Ability to solve problems by thinking laterally and be able to understand the needs and requirements to provide design solutions in a developing country;
- Must be able to work in a multicultural team and manage challenging multicultural client relationships;
- Able to be flexible and adapt to working in a demanding Middle East environment including the need to travel when required.

Rewards & Benefits:
A competitive salary
Accommodation allowance
Transportation allowance
22 calendar days annual leave (based on 5 day working week)
Medical and life insurance cover
Company gratuity scheme
Discretionary bonus scheme
Annual flight allowance to point of origin
Employee Well-Being Programme - 24 hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants

About the Company

Atkins is one of the leading providers of professional, technology based consultancy and support services to the industry, commerce and governments in all of the worlds major economies. With over 17,000 staff operating in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas, Atkins has a broad range of skills and resources and provides Clients with a comprehensive service throughout the entire life cycle of the projects in the built environment.

We aim to be the international first choice supplier of technical and integrated services. Shaped by our customers' needs, our vision is to:

• focus on quality
• seek world class design and excellence
• strive to add value
• be flexible to the evolving needs of a changing society

Atkins first carried out design and supervision commissions in the Gulf area in 1967. From its regional head office in Dubai, U.A.E. Atkins Middle East now employs over 2000 staff located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Oman (Muscat ), Qatar (Doha) Bahrain (Manama), Kuwait (Kuwait City) and India (Bangalore).