Urban Development

Technical Director – Urban Development

Full Time

Meinhardt SUIT

Transforming Cities. Shaping the Future

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic & Technical Leadership

  • Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams across all design stages—from strategy and concept to technical delivery and implementation.
  • Provide vision and direction for the integration of urban planning, landscape architecture, transport, sustainability, and nature-based solutions within projects.
  • Develop and enforce M-SUIT’s technical standards, design methodologies, and quality assurance protocols.
  • Guide strategic design reviews and integrated design frameworks on large-scale, complex projects in urban regeneration, public realm, nature services, and masterplanning.

Project Oversight & Delivery

  • Direct project planning, design, and execution across varied geographies and contexts.
  • Oversee the translation of concept into deliverables, ensuring that environmental systems, public realm frameworks, cultural contexts, and urban design principles are embedded from inception to handover.
  • Ensure all work complies with relevant regulations, codes, and best practices locally and internationally.
  • Coordinate seamlessly with infrastructure, architecture, and engineering teams to ensure holistic delivery of integrated design solutions.

Studio Culture & Mentorship

  • Champion a creative, supportive and multidisciplinary studio culture that fosters growth, design excellence, and cross-discipline collaboration.
  • Actively mentor junior and mid-level team members internally.
  • Embed a culture of environmental awareness, design innovation, and continuous learning.

Client Engagement & Business Development

  • Lead high-level client engagements, managing relationships and ensuring strategic alignment and satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Hands on work on high-quality presentations and reports to present design concepts, progress, and final master plans to clients, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies.
  • Support the Business Development team by identifying opportunities, participating in proposal development, and presenting at client pitches.
  • Represent M-SUIT in key industry events, conferences, and public forums to position the studio as a leader in integrated landscape and urbanism.
  • Support strategic growth by developing service offerings around Nature Services, Smart City strategies, Cultural Landscapes, Public Realm Guidelines, and Regeneration Frameworks.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS & ATTRIBUTES

  • Bachelor’s and/or Master’s in urban planning, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
  • 15–17 years of professional experience in master planning, urban development, and integrated urbanism.
  • Proven track record as Design Director / Project Director / Project Manager for regionally significant and globally recognized masterplanning projects—particularly in the Middle East (e.g., NEOM, The Line, Expo 2020, King Salman Park, SDC Downtowns).
  • Professional experience across diverse geographies, with emphasis on Gulf and MENA regions.
  • Proficiency in CAD software, geographic information systems (GIS), MS Office, and other technical tools relevant to urban development.
  • Registered with or certified by a recognized urban planning or urban design body (e.g. RTPI, AICP, or equivalent).
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate large multidisciplinary teams across complex project lifecycles, from strategy to implementation.
  • Familiarity with regulatory codes, international best practices, and international guidelines
  • Committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and environmentally responsible studio culture.