About Prior + Partners
Prior + Partners is a specialist placemaking practice integrating masterplanning, planning and economics to unlock the potential of places and communities.
Our work spans district, city and regional scales, moving between strategic visioning, concept and detailed masterplans, and implementation. We work on major regeneration projects, new communities, mixed-use districts and strategic development frameworks in the UK and internationally.
Our international portfolio includes transformative projects across the Middle East, including strategic visions, regional development frameworks, and concept and detailed masterplans for large-scale urban development projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the wider region.
We are now seeking an Urban Designer to join our London team and support the design and delivery of major international masterplanning and urban development projects, with a particular focus on projects across the Middle East.
About the role
The successful candidate will be a creative, curious and motivated urban designer, ideally with up to 1-3 years of professional urban design and masterplan experience, or relevant fields such as architecture and landscape design. We would also welcome applications from strong recent graduates with relevant design skills and a clear interest in urban design and masterplanning.
This role will suit someone who is keen to develop their design, technical and communication skills within a multidisciplinary practice. You will support project teams across a range of tasks, from research, site analysis and concept design through to drawings, diagrams, presentations, reports and visualisations.
You will be working on interesting, large-scale, fast-moving, and multidisciplinary projects across the Middle East and wider international markets. Previous Middle East or international project experience is welcome, but not essential. More important is a strong design sensibility, good graphic communication skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn how complex international masterplanning projects are developed and delivered.
Key Responsibilities:
The role will include:
- Supporting the preparation of masterplans, urban design frameworks and spatial strategies;
- Undertaking research, site analysis, precedent studies and baseline reviews;
- Preparing drawings, diagrams, plans, illustrations, reports and presentations;
- Supporting design option testing and concept development;
- Assisting with the preparation of place visions, design narratives and strategic diagrams;
- Supporting the production of design codes, design guidelines, plot sheets and project-specific design material
- Helping to prepare development schedules, project datasets and supporting technical information;
- Working with Senior Urban Designers, Associates and Project Leads to develop and coordinate project outputs;
- Participating in internal design reviews, team meetings and project workshops;
- Supporting coordination with planners, economists, landscape architects, engineers and other consultants;
- Contributing positively to the design culture of the studio.
The candidate we are looking for will have:
- A degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Landscape Architecture or a related discipline;
- Up to 1-3 years of professional urban design and masterplanning experience, or related fields such as architecture and landscape design, although strong recent graduates are also encouraged to apply;
- A clear interest in urban design, placemaking, masterplanning and the design of cities, neighbourhoods and public spaces;
- An interest in working on major Middle Eastern projects;
- Strong design, drawing and graphic communication skills;
- Good written and verbal communication skills;
- Ability to explain design ideas clearly through drawings, diagrams, sketches and presentations;
- A proactive, organised and collaborative approach;
- Willingness to learn and take direction from senior members of the team;
- Ability to work carefully and creatively as part of a project team;
- Previous UK, Middle East or international project experience would be beneficial, but is not essential;
- Fluency in English.
Technical and digital skills
Strong technical and digital design proficiency is expected, including:
- Adobe Creative Cloud;
- AutoCAD and/or Rhino, including 3D modelling;
- Good drawing, layout and presentation skills
Experience in the following would also be beneficial:
- GIS software such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS;
- CAD-to-GIS workflows;
- Rendering software such as V-Ray, Twinmotion or Enscape;
- Grasshopper or other parametric design tools;
- Excel-based schedules or data coordination;
- Revit, Unreal Engine, Unity or generative AI workflows for illustrative outputs.
How to apply
Salary will be commensurate with experience. We offer the opportunity to further your career within a busy, growing and multidisciplinary practice, working alongside urban designers, planners, economists, spatial data specialists and public realm professionals.
To apply, please submit your CV and portfolio in confidence to: careers@priorpartners.com
Prior + Partners is an Employee-Owned Trust and an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an open, respectful environment where people can build lasting careers and do their best work. We welcome applications from candidates returning to the profession following a career break.