Senior Urban Planner

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

This role provides expert Urban Planning services to Arup’s New Zealand planning team, based in our Auckland office. You will bring curiosity, problem-solving skills, and professional insight to lead the strategic planning workstream across multidisciplinary projects. Working across transport, urban development, and infrastructure sectors, you will help shape inclusive, sustainable, and future-focused places.

The Opportunity

· Deliver planning input and support for a wide range of urban, regional, and socio-economic projects across multiple sectors.
· Work directly with clients and multidisciplinary teams with minimal supervision, representing Arup at internal and external meetings.
· Respond to client challenges by applying integrated planning and design approaches that promote inclusive, sustainable urban environments.
· Support strategic decision-making by combining planning expertise with investment and infrastructure insights, and contribute to proposals and tender submissions.
· Lead, guide, and develop junior team members while upholding Arup’s Quality Management System and ensuring high standards of project delivery.

Location: Arup Auckland Office
Employment Type: Full-time (40 hours per week, minimum guaranteed)
Salary Range: NZD $115,000 – $135,000 per annum

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

· At least 5 years of experience and recognised tertiary qualifications in Urban and Regional Planning or a related discipline.
· Strong knowledge of the New Zealand planning system, including current reforms, and a proven track record in urban planning, city economics, or transport planning.
· Professional membership or eligibility toward membership of relevant planning or industry bodies.
· Consulting experience in the development and implementation of planning projects, with excellent written communication and report-writing capability.
· Strong leadership, relationship-building skills, and the ability to motivate, mentor, and inspire team members while remaining calm and effective under pressure.
· Minimum qualifications, skills, and experience listed above meet the requirements for this role under the New Zealand Job Check framework.

What we offer you

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 of 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 eligible members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Explore the perks of a career with Arup New Zealand:

· Hybrid working policy and flexible working hours
· Paid parental leave for the primary carer of 16 weeks or 32 weeks at half pay, plus generous unpaid leave benefits
· Paid parental leave for the support carer of 2 weeks, with options for additional paid/unpaid leave if becoming the primary carer later
· Birthday leave
· Ability to purchase up to 20 additional days of leave (permanent employees)
· International mobility opportunities
· Insurances (life, travel & income protection)
· Interest-free bicycle loans
· Free & confidential counselling sessions

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. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

Please apply directly through our applicant tracking system. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Talent Acquisition to discuss next steps.

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