Associate Urban Designer

We are seeking a creative, experienced, and client-focused Associate Urban Designer to join our Dubai team on a full-time basis, with 8+ years of professional experience.

In this role, you will lead and coordinate the design and delivery of complex urban development projects and coordinate project technical requirements to ensure successful project delivery from initiation through to close-out. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Urban Design, Planning, or a related field, with experience working on similar projects in the region. Local client relationships and knowledge of industry policies and standards are important aspects of this role.

You will demonstrate strong creative design flair grounded in technical experience, a high level of professionalism, and the ability to clearly articulate ideas through presentations, quick sketches, and illustrations.

You will focus on delivering multiple projects across the MENA region, working closely with the UK-based design team and engaging with clients and technical partners. Primary responsibilities include design leadership, technical delivery, stakeholder engagement, and overall project delivery.

As an Associate Urban Designer, you will coordinate a wide range of tasks simultaneously across multiple projects, both locally and with the London office. The role reports to a regional line manager, with technical reporting to a discipline and practice lead in the UK. Frequent regional and international travel will be required to interface with clients and coordinate closely with UK project teams.

Key responsibilities will include the application of professional knowledge and expertise across the following:

• Lead and contribute to the design, development, and option testing of masterplans (pre-concept, concept, and detailed design);
• Effective verbal and visual communication of design ideas;
• Conduct site analysis and assessments;
• Provide synthesis and analytical outcomes of the spatial attributes of sites and plans;
• Sketch and present ideas clearly and effectively;
• Produce illustrations and visualisations across different formats (reports, presentations, sketches);
• Contribute to the development and alignment of development schedules and project datasets;
• Liaise with sub-consultants and design partners;
• Contribute to the preparation of design briefs;
• Contribute to and lead design reviews in meetings;
• Deliver and communicate presentations to clients and stakeholders;
• Lead site allocation and capacity studies to inform design briefs;
• Contribute to client workshops and meetings;
• Attend key meetings and workshops regionally and internationally;
• Coordinate with the design delivery team, providing technical guidance where required;
• Attend and contribute to internal team meetings and coordination.

• 8+ years’ experience working as an urban designer and master planner, delivering complex, large-scale, district- and neighbourhood-scale projects;
• A collaborative, curious, ambitious, and entrepreneurial approach;
• Ability to take initiative and work with limited guidance when required;
• Experience leading and managing teams, with confidence mentoring junior colleagues;
• A strategic thinker with strong hands-on design capability;
• Strong visual, graphic, verbal, and written communication skills;
• A strong team player with excellent problem-solving abilities;
• Self-motivated, organised, and proactive, with strong time-management skills and the ability to work to deadlines;
• Commitment to delivering high-quality work in a fast-paced consultancy environment;
• Willingness to travel regionally and internationally;
• Comfortable working with both remote and local teams;
• Fluency in spoken and written English;
• Strong understanding of, and exposure to, regional planning applications and guidelines is essential;
• Experience engaging with MENA-based clients, with a strong understanding of regional business culture, practices, and dynamics;
• Strong technical and digital design proficiency, including:
  • Expected: comprehensive knowledge and experience using Adobe Creative Cloud; comprehensive knowledge of AutoCAD or Rhino including 3D modelling; competency in at least one GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS); competency in CAD-to-GIS workflows;
  • Desirable: competency in developing and using complex Microsoft Excel spreadsheets (knowledge of developing Macros is advantageous); experience using rendering software (VRay, TwinMotion, Enscape); experience using climate and wind modelling software or CAD extensions (Forma, ClimateStudio, Ladybug);
  • Advantageous: experience developing Grasshopper scripts or other parametric design tools; experience using generative AI workflows (text-to-image/video models such as Midjourney, Nano Banana, Flow) to create illustrative outputs; experience using BIM software (Revit); experience modelling in gaming engines (Unreal Engine 5, Unity).

Salary will be commensurate with experience. We will offer the opportunity to further your career in a well-established, busy and expanding firm, with the remit to engage directly with clients.

Prior + Partners is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an open, respectful environment where people can build lasting careers and do their best work. We welcome applications from candidates returning to the profession following a career break.

About Prior + Partners

Prior + Partners is one of the UK’s largest specialist consultancies integrating design, planning and economics, with headquarters in London and an expanding Dubai-based team.

We are recognised as sector-leading experts with a design-led approach to creating people-centred and viable places, with a project culture based on collaboration and rigorous review. Since our founding in 2017, we have grown to over 100 team members, including urban designers, planners, economists and landscape professionals, all with deep experience in shaping and visualising new urban and rural environments.

Prior + Partners works across district, city and regional scales, moving between strategic and conceptual ideas to development and implementation. Our portfolio includes projects throughout the Middle East such as supporting the Royal Commission of AlUla in the articulation and implementation of their strategic vision, regional development framework, and detailed masterplans, and regeneration masterplans and economic strategies for large-scale sites in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

In line with this commitment to our MENA clients and projects, Prior + Partners is seeking to grow our team operating out of the region, with a current opportunity to join our Dubai office.