Lead - Urban Planner

Lead- Urban Planner 

Joining Arup

Arup is a global leader in urban planning and design, renowned for shaping the future of cities and communities across the world. With over 20,000 planners, designers, engineers, and consultants working from more than 95 offices in over 34 countries, Arup’s Cities, Planning & Design teams are at the forefront of delivering innovative, sustainable, and people-centred solutions. Our urban planning professionals have played a pivotal role in hundreds of cities, guiding transformative masterplans, regeneration schemes, and large-scale urban development projects that set new benchmarks for liveability, resilience, and decarbonisation.

From strategic masterplanning for new cities and districts, to award-winning regeneration and adaptation projects, Arup’s integrated approach brings together technical excellence, creative vision, and deep engagement with communities and authorities. Our portfolio includes landmark projects such as the City of Adelaide Plan, Dongtan Eco-City, and contributions to the world’s most ambitious urban environments.

The Opportunity

Arup is seeking a talented and experienced Urban Planning Lead to join its growing planning and urban design team in India. This role involves leading significant and complex projects, particularly those involving Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Schemes, Town Planning Schemes, and urban policy implementation. The successful candidate will work within large global multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions, engaging with government bodies at all levels in India and contributing to international projects as well.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the conceptualisation, design, and implementation of Masterplanning projects and/or TOD schemes including land reconstitution, infrastructure planning, and multimodal integration. Coordinate with ministries, development authorities, and metro agencies. Lead the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of TP Schemes including land reconstitution, infrastructure provisioning, and stakeholder coordination.

Apply GIS tools for land use analysis, zoning, infrastructure mapping, and impact assessments. Support data-driven decision-making for sustainable urban growth through use of various GIS tools and plugins.

Contribute to master plans, regional plans, and development control regulations using spatial data insights. Contribute to national and state-level urban policy formulation, including TOD guidelines, form-based codes, and decongestion strategies, as relevant. Support policy review and institutional strengthening initiatives.

Conduct suitability studies, impact assessments, and infrastructure gap analysis using geospatial dat with Coordinating with government bodies, consultants, and community groups to ensure inclusive and transparent planning processes.

Oversee urban planning projects from concept to execution, ensuring compliance with statutory norms and timelines. Manage project timelines, budgets, and stakeholder engagement for large-scale urban development projects. Create high-quality maps, dashboards, and reports to communicate planning proposals and spatial data findings.

Engage with central and state ministries, municipal corporations, and statutory bodies to secure planning approvals. Navigate regulatory frameworks including Town Planning Acts, Land Pooling Policies, and Development Control Regulations.

Lead multidisciplinary teams across planning, transport, and infrastructure domains. Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. Leverage experience from international assignments (e.g., UK, ME, APAC) to inform local planning strategies. Ensure compliance with Arup’s Quality Management System and project standards.

Preferred Attributes

Requirements

·        Master’s degree in urban planning or any related Planning Field (e.g. Environmental Planning, Regional Planning, Infrastructure Planning, etc.) with 15+ years of professional experience in urban planning, with at least 5 years in TOD and/or TP Schemes.

·        Demonstrated experience working with Indian government bodies and navigating approval processes and international project experience in TOD, placemaking, sustainable urbanization or related masterplanning projects would be desirable.

·        Proficiency in GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS), AutoCAD, and planning software is essential with strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

·        Fluency in spoken and written English, with strong graphic communication skills and working knowledge of commercial aspects of projects and contracts is required and Experience in preparing and/or facilitating/ implementing Town Planning Schemes.

•          Familiarity with integration of land value capture, financial modelling, and investment promotion strategies in urban planning with proficiency in GIS-based urban planning.
•         Experience with national missions and donor-funded projects (ADB, World Bank, GIZ, KFW, etc.)

What we offer

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. 
Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.  

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. 

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs  

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.  

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup. 
We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. We will do everything we can to support you. 

What happens next?

If this could be the next step in your journey, please apply online. All applications will be considered, along with portfolio and we will try our very best to respond to you within 72 hours of receiving your application. 
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