Explore Urban Design Director jobs across the UK. Shape the future of towns and cities while leading teams and driving strategic design direction.
Urban Design Directors sit at the top of placemaking and masterplanning teams, guiding studio vision, securing new work, and leading the delivery of high-impact urban strategies. These senior roles combine creative leadership, commercial oversight, and client development across a portfolio of regeneration schemes, town centre frameworks, and complex mixed-use masterplans.
Ideal for those with 12+ years of experience, Urban Design Directors typically have a background in architecture, landscape, or planning and bring a strong reputation for delivering large-scale projects and mentoring high-performing teams. Their influence extends from project concept to stakeholder engagement and business development. For salary guidance at this level, visit our Urban Design Salary Guide.
If you’re aiming for an Urban Design Director role or hiring for one, these FAQs highlight what’s expected in terms of leadership, project vision, and commercial growth.
They provide strategic design leadership, oversee large-scale urban projects, manage senior teams, win new work, and shape the direction of the studio or division.
Usually 12+ years in urban design or related fields, with experience in project leadership, business development, team management, and a strong design portfolio.
Directors lead the business unit or discipline, focusing on high-level strategy and growth, while Associates manage key projects and teams but with less commercial responsibility.
Salaries typically range from £75,000 to £95,000+, with additional bonuses or profit shares in senior leadership roles. Visit our Urban Design Salary Guide for full benchmarks.
Large urban design consultancies, multidisciplinary practices, planning firms, developers, and regeneration-focused agencies or public/private partnerships.
Yes, but at a strategic level. Most focus on setting the vision and direction for projects, guiding teams rather than doing day-to-day drawing or modelling.
Very much so. Directors are expected to present to major stakeholders, win work through bids and competitions, and maintain strong client relationships.
Future progression could include roles such as Partner, Studio Head, Group Director, or even co-founding a practice. At this level, leadership impact often expands beyond individual projects.
Meet the team at HAUS Careers. An Architecture and Design recruitment agency in London, we are a team of ex-industry professionals with varied backgrounds and specialist knowledge in a multiplicity of sectors. At HAUS we love design and have a passion for great Architecture.
Our varied backgrounds and relevant experience allow for a deeper understanding of our industry. Our expert knowledge of Architecture, BIM, Landscape, Interior Design, Urban Design and Creative Support allows us to identify talented professionals and the best practices.
We work with London’s best practices and ensure our candidates are always placed in the right environment. We have a great relationship with both our clients and candidates for this exact reason. We are always looking for the most talented designers and professionals to ensure our industry’s future continues to grow.
At HAUS we understand from experience that recruitment is more than just matching someone’s skillset to a job description.
We are always looking to launch professionals next step in the industry. That’s why we get to know our candidates. We welcome the opportunity to meet over a coffee, tea or beer (or all of the above) so we can get a stronger understanding of their career aspirations and match their specialist skills and experience to the right role.
If you know someone who you think would be suitable for one of our positions, then please do not hesitate to send your name, and the contact details for the person you are referring, to hello@hauscareers.com
If the person you refer is successfully placed, and they pass a three-month probationary period, you’ll receive £150, and we will also donate £150 to a charity of your choice.
There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make either.
Refer a friend and get a £300 referral fee when we get them a job.
We use necessary cookies for essential site functions and optional cookies to understand usage and support marketing. You can accept, reject, or choose which optional categories to allow. Read our cookie policy
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
uc_consent | hauscareers.com | Stores the visitor’s privacy choices and the consent-policy version. | 180 days |
No cookies are currently registered in this category.
No cookies are currently registered in this category.
No cookies are currently registered in this category.