The Director of Masterplanning will lead the planning, vision, and design direction for major development programmes across a leading Abu Dhabi developer's portfolio. The role will shape large-scale communities, destinations, mixed-use developments, waterfront projects, and strategic urban initiatives from concept through delivery. This is a senior leadership role requiring strong masterplanning expertise, commercial awareness, consultant leadership, and the ability to balance design excellence with development viability, infrastructure integration, sustainability, and long-term place value. MUST HAVE MIN 3 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN UAE Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership * Lead the planning and design direction for complex masterplanning programmes. * Establish planning strategies aligned with commercial objectives, market positioning, and placemaking ambitions. * Advise executive leadership on planning opportunities, risks, and design direction. * Translate corporate objectives into practical planning frameworks and implementation strategies. * Champion design excellence while balancing programme, commercial, and delivery requirements. Project Leadership * Direct multidisciplinary consultant teams from early visioning and feasibility through authority approvals and implementation. * Lead the preparation and review of masterplans, planning frameworks, development strategies, and urban design proposals. * Resolve complex planning, design, infrastructure, and delivery challenges across multiple projects. * Ensure planning solutions respond to commercial, environmental, operational, and customer requirements. * Maintain consistency and quality across all planning deliverables. Development Strategy * Maximise land value, development efficiency, and long-term project performance. * Lead land-use optimisation, density studies, phasing strategies, and development scenarios. * Work closely with Development and Commercial teams to support business cases and investment decisions. * Ensure planning decisions are informed by market demand, infrastructure capacity, and delivery constraints. * Identify opportunities to enhance project value while maintaining design quality. Design Governance * Establish planning standards, design governance processes, and quality assurance procedures. * Lead design reviews and provide clear direction to internal teams and external consultants. * Ensure alignment with approved visions, planning principles, and corporate objectives. * Drive continuous improvement in planning methodologies, tools, and design standards. Stakeholder Leadership * Build strong relationships with executive leadership, government authorities, utility providers, and strategic partners. * Present planning strategies and recommendations to executive committees, boards, and external stakeholders. * Lead complex stakeholder discussions and negotiate balanced planning outcomes. * Represent the developer in senior planning and design forums where required. Team Leadership * Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing masterplanning team. * Foster a collaborative, accountable, and innovative team culture. * Support succession planning, capability development, and professional growth. * Provide coaching and technical leadership across planning disciplines. Innovation & Best Practice * Promote innovation in planning methodologies, digital tools, and urban development practices. * Encourage integration of smart city principles, sustainability, and data-driven planning. * Monitor global planning trends and apply relevant best practice across the portfolio. * Support the organisation's reputation as a regional leader in city-making and destination development.

Qualifications & Experience * Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or related discipline. * Master's degree in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Architecture, or related field preferred. * Minimum 18+ years' experience delivering large-scale masterplanning and urban development projects. * MIN 3 years UAE EXPERIENCE * Significant experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams on complex developments. * Background with a leading developer, master developer, or internationally recognised planning/design consultancy. * Proven track record across mixed-use, residential, waterfront, destination, tourism, or city-scale developments. * Strong understanding of development strategy, land-use planning, infrastructure coordination, and project delivery. * GCC experience and exposure to government/public-sector stakeholders required. Skills & Competencies * Exceptional masterplanning and urban development expertise. * Strong understanding of development economics, land-use optimisation, and project viability. * Ability to influence senior stakeholders and build consensus. * Proven ability to lead multiple complex programmes simultaneously. * Sound understanding of planning approvals, governance, and regulatory processes.