Principal Urban Designer

DescriptionWe're looking for a Principal Urban Designer or Masterplanner to join our team at WSP. You'll play a leading role in shaping vibrant, sustainable, and people-centred places across the Middle East — helping deliver creative, high-impact master plans that respond to the region's growth, climate, and cultural context.This is an opportunity to work on large-scale, design-led urban projects while collaborating with talented designers, planners, landscape architects, engineers, and sustainability specialists. You'll also mentor younger colleagues, lead multidisciplinary design teams, and help drive design excellence, innovation, and integration across all project stages.Responsibilities• Lead and manage urban design and master planning projects from concept visioning through detailed development, ensuring alignment with client objectives, local regulations, and WSP's quality standards.• Translate visions and strategies into high-quality, buildable master plans that balance creativity, technical rigour, and sustainability.• Prepare, review, and present design reports, drawings, visual materials, and documentation for clients and internal teams.• Use a range of digital tools to develop compelling graphics, diagrams, and visual narratives that communicate design intent.• Collaborate with landscape architects, architects, engineers, and environmental specialists to deliver integrated, resilient, and human-scale environments.• Lead design charrettes, workshops, and presentations, clearly communicating design direction and rationale to clients and stakeholders.• Support business development through design input, bid strategy, technical writing, and visual content for proposals.• Mentor and develop graduate and mid-level designers, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous professional growth.• Stay current with emerging technologies, sustainability frameworks, and global best practices in urban design and landscape-led masterplanning.Qualifications• A degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, or a related discipline; a master's degree in Urban Design or Masterplanning is preferred.• 10+ years of professional experience in urban design or master planning, ideally within the Middle East and on large-scale, mixed-use, or coastal developments.• Strong creative design thinking with the ability to develop innovative, context-sensitive, and deliverable design solutions.• A proven record of translating conceptual ideas into well-resolved, visually engaging master plans and urban design frameworks.• Strong design leadership and presentation skills, with proficiency in tools such as AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Rhino, and MS Office.• Experience with 3D visualisation, GIS, or data-driven design tools such as Power BI or AI-supported workflows is an advantage.• A solid understanding of sustainable urbanism, placemaking, and the integration of landscape and environmental systems into urban design.• Proven experience leading teams, coordinating across disciplines, and managing design deliverables to tight deadlines.• Excellent communication and client engagement skills, comfortable leading discussions and presenting to diverse audiences.• Membership (or eligibility) in a recognised professional body such as RTPI, UDG, PIA, ASLA, or equivalent is desirable.• A collaborative, proactive mindset — and a genuine passion for creating inclusive, liveable, and enduring urban places.BGV:Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification ("BGV") check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process — including documents uploaded — is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner".