1.Position Information

Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).
VA No.: VA24-80
Position Title: Principal Urban Planner
Consultancy Type: International Expert
Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Duration: 12 Months
Vacancy Date of Issue: 29 May 2024
Vacancy Closure Date: 4 June 2024
Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

2. Project Description

The project will provide a strategic framework for UNDP and UN-HABITAT to provide substantive technical assistance, advisory, and quality assurance services to the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MoMRAH) to deliver on the following six initiatives of the Spatial Planning and Visual Appeal Program that are the focus of this project:

• The Regional Plans, Local Plans and Urban Codes under MOMRAH’s jurisdiction are efficiently and effectively delivered following international best practices.
• A National Urban Policy is developed and implemented.
• Local planning departments are empowered and enabled through a new Operating Model for Planning Departments.
• The municipal system is improved and restructured, updating settlements boundaries, revising classification and categorization of Saudi human settlements, and optimizing service delivery towards efficiency and sustainability.
• The Saudi Planning framework is restructured, planning tools are redefined, updated and improved in line with the new classification and categorization.
• The existing MoMRAH Urban Design Studio is upscaled in a fully-fledged Urban Lab and capacitated to spearhead and device innovative tools and projects-based satellite Labs in support of MoMRAH mission.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates with and aligns the work of the three UNDP initiatives by progressing into the Spatial Planning and Visual Appeal Program and providing quality assurance and monitoring of regional plans, masterplans, and urban codes.
• Assists in reviews and recommendations for approval of key urban planning and related discipline items.
• Works in conjunction with other groups within the project in the preparation of policy documents, guidelines, and necessary planning studies.
• Prepares technical proposals and review of development projects within the relevant urban planning departments at the Ministry.
• Provides technical backstopping and quality control for the delivery of the master plans and urban codes.
• Undertakes the preparation of reports and other presentation material related to planning studies and projects and participates in presentation when necessary.
• Prepares original conceptual, preliminary, and final urban development plans, supporting documents, reports, maps and plans for development projects.
• Develops planning and design criteria for scope documents using acquired knowledge and skills.
• Develops the scope of planning activities and supports the ongoing urban planning projects/studies within the project.
• Determines the assumptions, methods, and procedures to be used in urban planning studies to develop and implement plans and policies.
• Ensures alignment to Vision 2030 and relevant Vision Realization Programs, including the Quality-of-Life Program, other national initiatives, and global development frameworks (e.g., Sustainable Development Goals, New Urban Agenda).

4. Institutional Arrangement

The Principal Urban Planner will report technically to the Chief Technical Advisor and administratively to the National Project Officer, and in coordination with the National Project Manager.

5. Duty Station

The assignment will be office-based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The option of a hybrid work model can be arranged and agreed on with the Chief Technical Advisor and National Project Manager.

6. Schedule of Payments

Monthly salary upon the signing of the contract

7. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IC

Education:

A master’s degree or equivalent in Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Built Environment, Real Estate Development, Architecture, Urban Design, or any other closely related fields.

Experiences:

master’s degree with minimum of 18 years of relevant work experience or a bachelor’s degree with minimum of 20 years of relevant work experience.

Required Skills:

• Experience in research and understanding regulations, policies, strategies, guidelines, and precedents that guide urban planning.
• Experience in developing regional plans and master plans.
• Strong analytical and writing skills and a track record in producing relevant reports and other materials.
• High level of communication and interpersonal skills and experience in working effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen.
• Experience with SDGs & Resilience.
• IT skills: AutoCAD, QGIS, SketchUp, Adobe (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Presto, WordPress, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Desired skills

• Master planning experience and ability to understand the linkages between urban scales at the governance level.
• Technical experience in the multiple scales of city planning and its sectors, such as infrastructure, transport and mobility, sustainable development, urban regeneration, master planning, green cities, etc.
• Exposure to UNDP’s SDGs, MoMRAH’s activity and framework, and financial mechanisms in the municipal systems.
• Understanding of the municipal structures and operating models in Saudi Arabia.

Required Language:

Proficiency in the English language is required.