Senior Urban Designer

We are seeking a creative, client-focused Senior Urban Designer to join our Dubai team on a full-time basis. The successful candidate will have 5+ years of professional experience and a strong track record in delivering complex urban development projects.

In this role, you will coordinate and support the Project Lead in the design and delivery of projects from initiation through to close-out, ensuring technical requirements are met and projects are delivered successfully. The ideal candidate will hold a degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, or a related discipline, with proven experience delivering projects within the region. Established local client relationships, along with a strong understanding of regional policies, industry standards, and best practices, are highly desirable.

You will bring a high level of creativity underpinned by technical expertise, professionalism, and the ability to clearly communicate ideas through presentations, quick sketches, and illustrative material. The role involves working across multiple projects throughout the MENA region, collaborating closely with the UK-based design team, and engaging with clients and technical partners.

Key responsibilities include design ideation, design development and delivery, technical coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project delivery. You will manage multiple tasks simultaneously across several projects, coordinating locally and with the London head office.

The position 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:

• Contributing to the design development and evaluation of masterplans at pre-concept, concept, and detailed design stages;
• Supporting the preparation of place visions and strategic growth frameworks;
• Undertaking site analysis, assessments, and baseline studies;
• Communicating design ideas through sketching, diagrams, and verbal presentations;
• Producing illustrations and visualisations across multiple formats; reports, presentations, and sketches;
• Contributing to the development and co-ordination of development schedules and projects datasets;
• Co-ordinating with sub-consultants and design partners;
• Contributing to the preparation and refinement of design briefs;
• Supporting and participating in design reviews and meetings;
• Undertaking site allocation and capacity studies;
• Participating in client workshops and collaborative design meetings;
• Attending key meetings and workshops regionally and internationally, as required;
• Coordinating with the design delivery team, providing technical input and guidance;
• Participating in internal team meetings and cross-office coordination.

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Planning, or a related discipline;
• 5+ years of professional technical experience delivering masterplanning and/or strategic planning projects within the MENA region;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with fluency in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage;
• Strong communication, organisational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines;
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach, combined with the ability to work independently when required;
• 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 the practice

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, including work 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.