
AtkinsRealis
Technical Director – Urban Planning
- Permanent
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Experience 20yrs+
- Urgent
Job expiry date: 19/04/2026
Job overview
Date posted
05/03/2026
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary
SAR 60,000 - 100,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
20yrs+
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
19/04/2026
Job description
The Technical Director – Urban Planning at AtkinsRéalis in Riyadh will lead strategic and high-profile urban development initiatives across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, directly supporting Riyadh's spatial and infrastructural transformation in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. This senior leadership role is responsible for setting technical direction and strategic vision for national, regional, and local urban planning projects, ensuring that comprehensive plans, structure plans, city visions, zoning regulations, and land use strategies meet international best practices and local regulatory requirements. The Director will integrate land use planning with transportation systems, environmental sustainability, smart city technologies, and public realm enhancements, while managing multidisciplinary teams including planners, architects, engineers, and GIS specialists. Acting as a key advisor to government agencies, private developers, and international consultants, the Director ensures alignment with regional frameworks and advocates for innovative, sustainable, and inclusive urban policies. This position demands extensive experience in delivering complex strategic plans, exceptional stakeholder engagement capabilities, and the ability to represent the department in public forums and high-stakes client interactions.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Lead the technical direction and strategic planning of high-profile urban development projects across Riyadh and Saudi Arabia
- Manage multidisciplinary teams including planners, architects, engineers, and GIS specialists to ensure cohesive and collaborative project delivery
- Oversee design, review, and approval of regional and local plans, metropolitan land strategies, zoning regulations, and long-term spatial frameworks
- Collaborate with government agencies, private developers, and international consultants to ensure alignment with national and regional planning frameworks
- Provide expert guidance on infrastructure integration, mobility planning, smart city technologies, and public realm enhancements
- Represent the department in public forums, stakeholder meetings, and policy discussions with clarity and professionalism
- Serve as a unifying force across teams and stakeholders, ensuring seamless coordination and achievement of strategic urban objectives
- Champion innovation, sustainability, and data-driven planning approaches throughout the planning and execution of projects
Experience & skills
- Master’s degree in Regional and Urban Planning
- Minimum 20 years of experience in urban planning, including at least 5 years in senior leadership roles
- Proven experience in planning and delivering major strategic plans at national, regional, and city levels, including comprehensive and long-range spatial frameworks
- Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale urban and regional development projects
- Strong understanding of Saudi Vision 2030 and implications for urban growth and development
- Exceptional presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including handling high-stakes clients
- Demonstrated capability to unite diverse teams and drive collaboration toward shared strategic goals
- Fluency in English required; Arabic proficiency is a plus