At Buro Happold, we are redefining what great cities look like—creating places that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. We are now seeking an Associate Director to join our Global Urban Strategies team, playing a key leadership role in shaping city-scale solutions across the UK and internationally.
The role will be based from our London office with hybrid working.
Shape the future of cities. Lead at the forefront of urban transformation.
This is a rare opportunity for a highly experienced urbanist to step into a strategic leadership position combining technical excellence, commercial acumen, and people leadership to drive impactful, multidisciplinary projects.
The Role
- As an Associate Director, you will take ownership of delivering high-profile urban strategy and masterplanning projects, while contributing to the growth and strategic direction of our Cities offering.
You will:
- Lead the delivery of complex, multidisciplinary urban strategy and planning projects
- Act as Project Lead, accountable for quality, programme, risk, and client outcomes
- Build and nurture strong relationships with public and private sector clients
- Lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams
- Drive business development—winning work, growing client relationships, and contributing to long-term pipeline growth
- Translate strategic priorities into operational delivery, balancing commercial performance with technical excellence
About You
We’re looking for a recognised leader in urban strategy, with the ability to operate at both strategic and delivery level.
You will bring:
- Extensive experience in urban planning, masterplanning, or city-scale development
- Strong consultancy background with proven delivery across public and private sector projects
- Deep understanding of integrated urban challenges across planning, infrastructure, sustainability, economics, and environment
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
- A track record of delivering commercially successful, high-quality outcomes
- Strong leadership capability, with experience mentoring and developing teams
- Strategic mindset with the ability to shape and influence business direction
Desirable Experience
- Chartered or professionally accredited in a relevant discipline
- Thought leadership or industry engagement (public speaking, publications, etc.)
- Experience growing teams, capabilities, or regional presence
- Commercial mindset with a strong focus on winning work and developing client relationships
Apply today and be where exceptional is everywhere. #LI-TG1 #LI-Hybrid#
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. #LI-TG1 #LI-Hybrid
Apply today and be where exceptional is everywhere. #
A place for everyone
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. #LI