Urban Development Director in London

At Buro Happold, we are shaping how cities evolve, connect, and thrive. As part of this ambition, we are seeking an Urban Development Director to play a key role in driving our growth strategy across London and the wider South of the UK. Based in our London office near Old Street, this role will combine strategic leadership with hands-on delivery, with an expectation of being on-site 2–3 days per week to collaborate with our multidisciplinary teams.

This is a senior leadership position focused on shaping major opportunities—from early-stage positioning through to winning and delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects that transform urban environments. If you’re passionate about influencing city-scale development and leading high-impact pursuits, this is your opportunity to make a real mark.

What you’ll be doing

• You’ll take ownership of major urban development pursuits and lead from strategy through to delivery. Key responsibilities include:
• Leading work-winning activity
• Shape and secure high-value opportunities in regeneration, mixed-use developments, growth corridors and major campuses
• Develop compelling bid strategies, win themes and client propositions
• Lead tender processes, interviews, and strategic pursuits
• Building and growing client relationships
• Develop long-term relationships with key stakeholders across public and private sectors
• Identify and nurture strategic partnerships and collaborations
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients throughout the project lifecycle
• Driving market strategy and pipeline growth
• Identify priority clients and opportunities in line with business objectives
• Build and manage a robust pipeline aligned to UK+ Cities growth plans
• Contribute to market positioning and visibility of our urban development offer
• Leading multidisciplinary collaboration
• Work closely with technical, commercial and business development teams
• Align delivery strategies to ensure profitable, high-quality outcomes
• Support the transition from bid-winning through to successful delivery
• Acting as Project Director where required
• Maintain continuity from winning work through to delivery
• Ensure strong client outcomes and commercial success

What success looks like

• This role is designed to build and accelerate growth in a structured way:
• First 6–12 months
• Establish market positioning and a strong opportunity pipeline
• Convert early positioning into initial commissions and framework wins
• Secure early-stage advisory and multidisciplinary work
• Beyond Year 1
• Deliver sustained revenue growth through matured opportunities
• Win and deliver major urban development commissions
• Build long-term client relationships and repeat business

About you

You’re a credible, commercially focused leader with a strong track record in urban development and work winning. We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Proven success in winning major urban development or regeneration projects
• Strong understanding of UK planning, procurement and development models ideally with a technical background in transport planning
• Experience leading multidisciplinary bids and project delivery
• Ability to build strategic client relationships and influence decision-makers
• Expertise in shaping bid strategies, pursuit planning and commercial positioning
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to align multiple stakeholders

What we offer you

Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies. Hybrid working arrangements. Attractive salary and benefits package including, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection. 10% Car allowance. Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements. Generous company pension scheme. Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts. Enhanced parenthood leave policies. 3pm finish on the last Friday of the month. A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you. Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions. A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities. A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring. An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.