The Urban Designer will delegate work to junior team members, use business software independently, identify new business leads, travel as needed to global Atkins offices, and contribute to bids and proposals. The role requires strategic thinking to expand the urban design business in the ME, cross-disciplinary design thinking, and ensuring compliance with regional design standards.
Role & Responsibilities
- Take ownership and lead small to medium Urban design and Urban Planning projects and work packages under the supervision of Senior Urban Designers/Practice Lead.
- Develop master planning and urban design concepts using the 3D and digital mediums.
- Be responsible for production of drawings, graphics, models and reports through concept to detail design stages.
- Lead Middle East projects with complete design and delivery ownership reporting to Practice Lead.
- Draft technical reports and contractual documents, of acceptable technical and presentation quality with minimum guidance.
- Work to a program for the project and proactively advise Senior team members of any issue which affects the efficient completion of the project.
- Set out / agree design standards and parameters with senior team members.
- Check the work of team members and ensure the quality of deliverables meet the Atkins standards of delivery and client expectations.
- Be willing to undertake and where required lead interdisciplinary technical co-ordination.
- Be responsible for completion of specifically assigned tasks to time and cost.
- Be able to assign work to Junior team (Landscape Architects or urban designers), BIM/CAD technologists and administrative staff.
- Use business related software independently with ability to guide work of team members.
- Demonstrate competency in software, clear communication skills to gain understanding of required tasks, and a quick and methodical decision-making approach for design & related tasks.
- Be successful in identifying and following through on leads/suggestions associated with additional work prospects on the projects they are involved with.
- Be required to travel at times to different Atkins offices and sites globally and interface with the team based there.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking to expand the landscape & urban design business across different regions in the ME.
- Can contribute to bids and proposals to win work.
- Can crossover through design thinking between the three disciplines of the practice on large scale projects.
- Design and manage multi-disciplinary urban development projects.
- Liaise with key clients and technical and non-technical stakeholders for positive project outcomes.
- Ensure the team is aware of the design standards, codes and compliances of countries within the ME region and the same are complied to, in the Design.
Qualification
- A Masters Degree in Urban Design from universities of National and International repute is a must.
- Minimum 8-10 years of Professional Working experience in Master planning Projects, in a reputed firm.
- Middle East experience will be an added advantage.
- Bachelor Degree holders in Urban Design or Architecture will be considered, if they can showcase relevant experience in Urban Design Project Stages, including Design, Documentation and site implementation.
- Chartered candidates shall have an added advantage.
Technical Competency
- Must have good experience delivering Urban Design/Public Realm & Master Planning projects in the public or the private realm.
- Working knowledge of standard regulations and best practice principles, with strong problem-solving skills.
- International experience of the UK, the ME or the APAC regions will be considered an added advantage.
- Must be competent in design, project management, efficiency matrices.
- Must be conversant of the evolving standards of the profession primarily with respective to collaborative and multi-disciplinary design.
- Must be proficient in AutoCAD, GIS (QGIS or ArcGIS), Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator, MS Office, Advanced Excel, Sketch up and Google Pro.
- Candidate having working knowledge in Rhino, Grasshopper and basic knowledge in Ai software and further prototyping competencies will be considered an added advantage.
- Advanced experience of BIM related software in Urban Design/Infrastructure works will be considered an added advantage.
Behavioral Competency
- Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.
- Capable of working on own initiative or as part of a larger multidisciplinary team.
- Have a logical and organized approach to project delivery and able to follow instructions and guidance by senior team members.
- Be aware of the effect of delivery time on financial performance and proactively manage time, resources and budget on a project.
- Be able to identify and communicate concerns of the project/team to immediate Line Manager.
- Be able to discuss career goals and aspirations.
- Willingness to share information and knowledge with team members.
- Demonstrate initiative and basic leadership skills to give directions in a small work group.
- Showing commitments to raising design standards, improving your skills, keeping up with the latest technical and digital developments and with the field of urbanism generally.
- Ability to work and crossover into all three interrelated disciplines of Planning, Landscape & Urban Design.
What We Can Offer You
- Varied, interesting and meaningful work.
- A hybrid working environment with flexibility and great opportunities.
- Opportunities for training and, as the team grows, career progression or sideways moves.
- An opportunity to work within a large global multi-disciplinary consultancy on a mission to change the ways we approach business as usual.
