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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: Flexible working, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape cities and make a real impact on urban environments.
- Qualifications: Master's in urban design or related field with strong project management skills.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with a focus on innovation and sustainability.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ 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.
- 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 to 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
- 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.
- 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).
- Personal attributes
- Proactive, organised and comfortable taking responsibility for your work.
- Collaborative and supportive, with an interest in mentoring and team development.
- Curious about cities, infrastructure and the role of urban design in shaping better places.
- Willing to travel within the UK as required.
About AtkinsRéalis
We are 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 are committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Additional information
- Security clearance
- 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 in London employer: SNC-Lavalin
Contact Detail:
SNC-Lavalin Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Urban Designer/Masterplanner in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the urban design field, attend industry events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best projects and design work. When you get the chance to meet potential employers, bring it along and be ready to discuss your thought process and design choices.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in areas like project management and client engagement. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search and genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Urban Designer/Masterplanner in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Urban Designer role. Highlight your relevant experience in urban design and project management, and don’t forget to mention any specific projects that align with our values at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Skills: We want to see your strong spatial thinking and design judgement! Include examples of your work that demonstrate your graphic skills and proficiency in tools like AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite. Visuals can really make your application stand out!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to communicate your ideas and experiences. Remember, we appreciate excellent written communication skills, so make every word count!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at SNC-Lavalin
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the projects you've worked on. Be ready to discuss your role in detail, especially how you led design development and managed project delivery. This will show your potential employer that you're not just experienced but also deeply engaged with your work.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Principal Urban Designer, you'll need to communicate effectively with clients and team members. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led client meetings or workshops in the past. Highlight your ability to build relationships and convey complex ideas clearly, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Design Judgement
Be prepared to discuss your design philosophy and how you balance quality with deliverability. Bring along examples of your work that showcase your spatial thinking and design judgement. This will help illustrate your capability to contribute to high standards of urban design.
✨Emphasise Team Support and Mentoring
The role involves mentoring junior designers, so be ready to talk about your experience in guiding others. Share specific instances where you've supported team development or contributed to a collaborative culture. This will highlight your leadership qualities and commitment to fostering talent.
