Associate Director, Masterplanning & Urban Design FTC

Job Description

Benoy’s London Studio is seeking a creative and driven Associate Director with expertise in Masterplanning and Urban Design to join our team. This is a 12 month fixed-term maternity cover role.

As an Associate Director, you will lead and inspire our design team to deliver innovative, thought-provoking, and high-quality projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. From concept to completion, you will oversee the creative process with autonomy, working closely with Senior Associates/Directors only as needed for minimal supervision.

You will also play a crucial role in mentoring and developing junior colleagues to reach their full potential. In addition to supporting corporate-level business development strategies, you will actively engage in generating new business opportunities across current and emerging markets.

What We’re Looking For

• Highly creative with a proven track record of delivering innovative and high-quality designs across large-scale Masterplanning and Urban Design projects.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills to engage effectively with clients and stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and identifying new business opportunities.
• Commercially astute, demonstrated through sound decision-making, budget management, and efficient project resourcing.
• Strong Leadership skills to inspire, mentor, and develop junior talent, fostering collaboration, innovation, and maximising team performance.
• Strong organisational skills to plan, coordinate, and manage project processes from concept to completion, maintaining involvement throughout.
• Degree in a related design field or equivalent certification or skill level.
  
  

Why Join Us?

At Benoy, we are passionate about design excellence and fostering a culture of collaboration and growth. Working with us, you will have the opportunity to lead exciting projects, develop your skills, and be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team.

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Agile working with the option of three days in the studio and two days working from home.
• Opportunities to learn and grow within a fast-paced, global company.
• A fun, inclusive, and collaborative studio environment with an active calendar of social activities.
• 23 days annual leave, with the option to buy more.
• A range of benefits, including private medical/life insurance and a pension plan.
  
  

If this role interests you, read on for details about the role responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Manages multiple projects and teams to consistently deliver design and technical excellence that meet high quality standards.
• Develops an expertise in design and/or areas, working towards establishing themselves as a specialist in a particular field.
• Plans, coordinates and manages the project process, maintaining involvement throughout.
• Liaises with Senior Associate Director, Director or Global Director to ensure that innovative and thought-provoking projects are delivered consistently.
• Leads project meetings and some client presentations, increasingly acting as the primary contact for client interaction and maintaining good relationships with clients to maximise opportunities for repeat business.
  
  

Management & Leadership

• Role models Benoy’s values and fosters a collaborative environment in which innovation is encouraged and best practice shared.
• Leads, guides and provides training to junior talent, providing timely feedback that contributes to their continuing creative, technical and professional development.
• Initiates or participates in organisation of studio or group activities, leads brainstorming sessions and manages conflict effectively.
  
  

Client Relationships & Business Development

• Engages with colleagues to support the development of new business, enhancing internal and external communication via functions, events, forums and publications.
• Assists in the preparation of fee bids, and undertakes fee proposals and fee negotiations for projects.
  
  

Financial & Budget Control

• Demonstrates a sound understanding of cost control, fee charging and project finance, and ensures project targets are achieved through sensible management of time and allocated resources.