Associate Director Urban Design Masterplanning

We have an exceptional opportunity for a Associate Director Urban Design & Masterplanning to join our growing Manchester studio.

This is a rare chance to shape the strategic direction of our studio in Manchester, influence high-profile projects across the North of England, and make a lasting impact on local communities. You will play a pivotal role in the leadership team, driving business growth, nurturing a culture of design excellence, and mentoring the next generation of urban design talent.

Please submit a portfolio of your work when applying.

About The Team:

Our Manchester-based, multi-disciplinary team brings together expertise in Urban Design, Town Planning, Architecture, Graphics, and Landscape. We operate in a vibrant, open-plan office that fosters creativity and collaboration, with breakout spaces and dedicated drawing areas that reflect the inclusive and innovative culture we uphold at Stantec.

Our projects include complex residential-led and mixed-use masterplans, public realm interventions, regeneration schemes, new communities, urban extensions, and town and city centre planning across Manchester and the wider North West region. Our clients include landowners, promoters, residential developers, local authorities, and government agencies, often commissioning projects considered strategically important and technically challenging.

About The Role:

• Shape the strategic vision for the Manchester studio, driving business growth and positioning the studio as a leader in urban design across the North of England.
• Lead business development by cultivating client relationships, identifying opportunities, and representing the studio at networking events and industry forums in Manchester and nationally.
• Oversee high-profile projects in Manchester and surrounding regions, from strategic frameworks for new settlements to detailed masterplans and urban extensions ranging from 500 to 15,000 homes.
• Inspire and mentor senior and junior staff, fostering innovation, collaboration, and professional growth across the Manchester studio and wider business.
• Develop visionary, place-led concepts that balance design ambition with technical feasibility, sustainability, and commercial viability.
• Ensure the highest quality of design outputs, including masterplan drawings, design strategies, 2D and 3D visualizations, and illustrative material.
• Lead and approve the production of Design and Access Statements, Vision Documents, and Design Codes, ensuring consistent quality and alignment with client objectives.
• Manage large multi-disciplinary project teams, coordinating with consultants, clients, and internal stakeholders.
• Promote Stantec’s expertise externally, contributing to thought leadership, publications, and high-profile industry panels.
• Champion community and stakeholder engagement, leading workshops, public consultations, and presentations to diverse audiences.

Your Impact:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Manchester studio, influencing both the design ethos and business performance.
• Bring extensive experience delivering large-scale UK masterplans, urban extensions, and complex development projects.
• Demonstrate exceptional consultancy experience, leading high-value projects and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Exhibit strong project and financial management skills, balancing design excellence with commercial realities.
• Confidently present to clients, public authorities, and internal stakeholders, articulating visionary concepts and design rationale.
• Advocate for design innovation, sustainability, and the creation of high-quality, liveable communities.
• Mentor senior staff, sharing expertise and developing the next generation of design leaders.

• Hold a relevant qualification in Urban Design, ideally complemented by a Masterplanning qualification or experience, and demonstrate a genuine passion for creating high-quality, sustainable communities.

Why Join Us?

• Our People Culture: We're a close knit team and very proud of our friendly and collaborative environment
• Awards: Stantec were awarded the Stantec named ‘Best place to work’ and ‘International consulting firm of the year’ at NCE Awards at the 2024 NCE awards as well as being consistently recognised in the top 10 Corporate Knights most sustainable companies in the world.
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, pension plan, holidays, free private medical insurance, discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Flexible / Hybrid working arrangements
• Great Projects in all of our sectors across the UK&I
• Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions

To hear what some of our employees say about life at Stantec, please click on My Stantec Stories

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world-class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.