Urban Planner III

Company Description

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 at AECOM. With 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.

Job Description

AECOM is hiring a Senior Urban Planner for its Abu Dhabi office to help develop innovative, sustainable, and context-driven planning solutions. The role focuses on large-scale strategic, spatial, and master planning, as well as urban design projects.

Working within the Urbanism + Planning team, the planner will collaborate with a multidisciplinary group—including designers, architects, economists, and environmental specialists—and coordinate with teams across AECOM to deliver integrated planning services.

The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable, and capable of delivering high-quality work independently or within teams, often under tight deadlines.

Job Duties

• Guiding project outcomes, managing teams and resources, contributing to proposals, and supporting client engagement. Projects span regional master plans, mixed-use developments, resorts, entertainment districts, and residential communities.
• Manages, coordinates and leads smaller, less complex projects independently with less oversight. May lead smaller project client meetings and take ownership of report structure and content.
• Coordinates teams to prepare projects deliverables and applicable planning authorities’ requirements and coordinate with various disciplines technical input and output into a project or a proposal.
• Works with client planning team and is able to manage and negotiate project expectations and deliverables independently and more complex ones with assistance.
• Initiates and drives innovative approaches to efficient project delivery. E.g. improved site analysis assessment or site planning, due diligence and high-level developer assessment.
• Has solid understanding of various scale of planning projects and determine differences and requirements and communicates effectively.
• Has the ability to carry out baseline assessment, analyse various data and develop criteria for the assessment of master plans.
• Has the ability to develop implementation and phasing planning. 
• Has sound understanding of planning / environmental governance and policy and can communicate planning / environmental governance and policy and make recommendations to clients where relevant.
• Has strong writing skills and ability to communicate the planning /environmental solutions concisely and succinctly.
• Prepares/reviews and understands datasets to correlate population projections against market demands and supply.    
• Prepares ‘Methodology’ for small scale proposals without direct supervision and able to understand and carry out the necessary internal processes to obtain approvals for proposal submission.
• Leads speciality topics / interests in urban planning e.g. wellness planning / placemaking.
• Up to date with the current industry trends, approaches, tools and methods.
• Provides mentorship / coaching to graduate planners. 

Specific Skills Required 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience working on a range of urban planning projects.
• Experience on planning, development and design projects at different scales.
• Ability to work on multi-disciplinary projects to successful delivery of outcomes within budget and programme.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality input to planning and master planning projects.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to develop practical options and solutions.
• Strong ability to write, refine and deliver final reports
• Ability to work either in a team, or alone with proven positive results from either scenario.
• Strong oral, graphic and written communication skills.
• Skills in Adobe Suite InDesign, ArcGIS, MS Powerpoint and llustrator and other packages will be advantageous.

Person Specification (Behavioral Attributes)

• Ability to confidently work with people and on a range of projects.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are essential.
• A positive, proactive approach to work is required.
• Positive and interactive approach to projects and general work is essential.
• A self-starting and positive person is preferred.
• Strong technical skills in environmental planning and sustainability
• A flexible and responsive attitude.

Safeguard - To operate ethically and with integrity, while prioritising safety and security in all that you do

Be decisive - Know how to prioritize, advocate focus and accountability

Be impactful - Use clear and frequent communications, drive execution and results.

Be client-focused - Be collaborative, innovative and strategic.

Be the role model - Lead by example, demand excellence, maintain safety and integrity as top priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in planning and design, environment, urban policy, sustainable development or equivalent.
• Masters degree preferred.
• Professional membership such as RTPI, AICP, PIA, CIP, SIP or equivalent preferred
• The ideal candidate should have minimum of 6 years’ experience in Planning and/or Environmental Planning; applicants would ideally have a mixture of private sector and some government experience.

Additional Information

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 buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work 

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.