Associate Director - Urban Design

• Legal Entity: AECOM MIDDLE EAST LIMITED ABU DHABI
• Business Line: U&P
• Work Location Model:
  Hybrid
• Operating Group:
  International
• Primary
  
  Location:
  
  AE - Dubai, UAE - UBora Tower

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be h accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

AECOM are currently seeking an Urban Design Associate Director, to join our Urbanism + Planning studio, based in Dubai.

The Urban Design Lead will provide strategic leadership for urban design and master planning projects, shaping high-quality, sustainable, and commercially successful urban environments. This role combines design excellence with client leadership, business development, and team mentorship, contributing to the AECOM's regional growth.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of masterplans, urban strategies, frameworks, and design guidelines at city, district, and precinct scales.
• Set the urban design vision and quality standards across projects, ensuring design excellence and consistency.
• Review and approve project briefs, scopes of work, programmes, and fee proposals from a design perspective.
• Allocate resources appropriately across projects, ensuring the right skills are deployed at the right stages.
• Monitor workload, delivery performance, and design quality across designated portfolio.
• Lead the development of design concepts, spatial structures, and urban narratives for major projects.
• Provide critical design input on land use planning, massing strategies, public realm networks, and place identity.
• Contribute to regional growth strategy, identifying new opportunities in urban design, master planning, and advisory services.
• Ensure a consistent, high-quality client experience across all touchpoints.
• Support account management strategies and key client plans.
• Drive repeat work through strong delivery performance and value-added advisory.
• Represent AECOM in high-level client meetings, public forums, and stakeholder engagements.
• Lead client workshops, stakeholder engagement sessions, and design reviews with senior decision-makers.

• Degree in Architecture, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 15+ years’ experience in urban design and master planning, with significant leadership responsibility.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale urban and mixed-use developments.
• Strong experience working with public-sector authorities, developers, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated success in client management, business development, and work-winning.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic mindset.
• Applicants must be willing to travel frequently

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and…