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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead urban design projects, from concept to completion, while mentoring junior designers.
- Company: Join AtkinsRéalis, a global leader in engineering and design.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salaries, flexible working, and tailored benefits for your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on urban spaces and shape better places for communities.
- Qualifications: Master's in Urban Design or related field, with strong project management skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Principal Urban Designer to play a senior project-running role within our urban design and masterplanning team. This position is ideal for an experienced urban designer who is ready to step up from a Senior role and take on greater responsibility for project delivery, client engagement and team support.
Within our structure, a Principal Urban Designer leads defined projects or workstreams, working with a high degree of autonomy while being supported by Associate and Director-level colleagues. The role combines hands-on design, day-to-day project leadership and active involvement with clients and junior team members.
Your role
- Project & design leadership
- Lead the day-to-day delivery of urban design and masterplanning projects or defined workstreams, from concept through to completion.
- Contribute strongly to design development, spatial strategies and design narratives, ensuring high standards of quality and clarity.
- Exercise sound professional judgement in balancing design quality, deliverability, programme and stakeholder priorities.
- Review and coordinate project outputs to ensure consistency and quality across drawings, reports and presentations.
- Project management & coordination
- Manage programme, budget and resources for your projects or workstreams.
- Coordinate multi-disciplinary inputs from planning, transport, landscape, architecture, economics and engineering colleagues and external consultants where appropriate.
- Support effective project delivery with appropriate oversight of internal governance and quality processes.
- Client engagement
- Act as a key day-to-day contact for clients on your projects.
- Lead and contribute to client meetings, design reviews, workshops and stakeholder sessions.
- Communicate clearly and confidently with clients, helping to build trusted and productive working relationships.
- Team support & mentoring
- Provide day-to-day guidance and mentoring to junior urban designers.
- Support line managers and Associates in the development of junior staff through informal mentoring and project-based learning.
- Contribute positively and help shape a collaborative and supportive team culture.
- Business development support
- Contribute to bids, tenders and fee proposals, including methodology writing and design input.
- Support senior colleagues in identifying opportunities and maintaining client relationships.
About You
- Experience & background
- Experience in urban design and/or masterplanning.
- A Master’s degree in Urban Design or a related discipline (with a first degree in architecture, landscape architecture or similar preferred).
- Strong experience across UK-based and International projects, particularly residential-led development, urban regeneration or strategic land.
- A good working understanding of the UK planning system, including experience contributing to SPDs, outline applications and design codes.
- Experience on infrastructure-related or complex urban regeneration projects is advantageous.
- Prior exposure to work winning activities will be an advantage.
- Skills & Capabilities
- Strong spatial thinking and design judgement, with the ability to communicate ideas clearly through drawings, diagrams and written narrative.
- Experience managing projects or defined workstreams, including programme coordination and team inputs.
- Confident contributing to and, where appropriate, leading client meetings and workshops.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong graphic skills with fluency in AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite.
- Experience using GIS, hand sketching and 3D modelling software (e.g. SketchUp, Rhino).
- Experience and interest in innovative AI software applications (including research, text and graphic production).
- Advantageous previous experience and interest in the use BIM for masterplanning tools (Autodesk Forma).
- Personal attributes
- Proactive, organised and comfortable taking responsibility for your work.
- Collaborative and supportive, with an interest in mentoring and team development.
- Curious about people, cities, infrastructure and the role of urban design in shaping better places.
- Willing to travel within the UK and/or internationally as required.
Application
Please share a short PDF portfolio of your recent projects along with your CV.
Reward & benefits
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.
About AtkinsRéalis
We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Additional information
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.
We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
Principal Urban Designer/Masterplanner employer: AtkinsRéalis
Contact Detail:
AtkinsRéalis Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Urban Designer/Masterplanner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals at events or online. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Principal Urban Designer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring along a slick PDF of your recent projects. We want to see your design skills in action, so make sure it’s visually appealing and highlights your best work.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your experience and how it aligns with the role. We suggest rehearsing your key points so you can confidently communicate your value during interviews or client meetings.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the easiest way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Don’t miss out on that opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Urban Designer/Masterplanner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Experience: When writing your application, make sure to highlight your relevant experience in urban design and masterplanning. Use specific examples from your past projects to demonstrate your skills and how they align with the role.
Tailor Your CV and Portfolio: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect the key skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Also, ensure your portfolio showcases your best work, particularly projects that relate to residential-led development or urban regeneration.
Communicate Clearly: Your written communication skills are crucial for this role, so make sure your application is clear and concise. Avoid jargon where possible and focus on conveying your ideas effectively, just like you would in client meetings.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at AtkinsRéalis
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly review your portfolio and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. Highlight your role in project delivery, design development, and client engagement. This will show your depth of experience and readiness for a Principal role.
✨Master the Art of Communication
As a Principal Urban Designer, you'll need to communicate effectively with clients and team members. Practice articulating your design ideas clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've built productive relationships in previous roles, as this is crucial for client engagement.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in leading projects and mentoring junior designers. Share specific examples of how you've guided teams and contributed to a collaborative culture. This will demonstrate your capability to take on greater responsibility and support team development.
✨Stay Updated on Industry Trends
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in urban design and masterplanning, especially regarding UK planning systems and innovative technologies like AI and BIM. Being knowledgeable about current practices will not only impress your interviewers but also show your commitment to continuous learning.
