Principal Urban Designer - Landscape & Urban Design job in Derby, East midlands - Competitive

Principal role, hybrid working, sustainable masterplanning projects

Job Summary

Principal Urban Designer Job Derby is available with a leading development consultancy delivering sustainable masterplanning projects. This role is based in Derby within the Landscape & Urban Design sector, focused on residential, renewable energy, and community projects.

The successful Principal Urban Designer will lead masterplans from concept through outline and reserved matters planning applications. You will manage projects, work directly with clients, create strategic design documents, and support small teams.

The consultancy has an ambitious three-year growth plan and a robust pipeline across impactful UK projects. This Principal Urban Designer Job Derby offers hybrid working, strong benefits, and the chance to shape meaningful schemes within a collaborative and innovative environment.

About the Company

The consultancy is a leading development practice with a strong reputation for sustainable, community-focused design and planning across the UK. Their expertise covers urban design, planning, and environmental services, supporting projects across residential, renewable energy, health, education, and community sectors. T

he team delivers impactful schemes that balance planning requirements, placemaking principles, and long-term environmental value. With an ambitious three-year growth plan and a robust pipeline, they are expanding across multiple levels. The Derby office now has an opportunity for a Principal Urban Designer to support project leadership and continued growth.

Role & Responsibilities

• Develop masterplans for projects of varying sizes from concept through planning application stages
• Take a lead role in managing projects, programmes, design outputs, and client expectations
• Work on large-scale masterplans, residential layouts, and complex projects across varied sectors
• Create vision statements, design codes, and strategic documents guiding future project development
• Work directly with clients to support project progress, design decisions, and delivery outcomes
• Collaborate with the Urbanism team while managing small teams and working independently
• Support sustainable placemaking across residential, renewable energy, community, health, and education projects

Skills & Experience Required

• Degree, Masters, or Diploma in Urban Design, Architecture, or related built environment field
• Minimum four years of UK project experience within urban design or related consultancy environments
• Experience within private practice, consultancy, or commercial housebuilding settings is highly beneficial
• Detailed design or reserved matters application experience would be advantageous for this position
• Proficiency using CAD software with Vectorworks or SketchUp knowledge considered an advantage
• Familiarity with local authority guidelines, planning systems, and design-led development processes
• Self-driven and detail-oriented approach with strong communication and collaborative project coordination skills

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive salary available upon enquiry and dependent on experience and suitability
• Profit related bonus scheme provided as part of the overall employee reward package
• Private healthcare and life assurance included within the employment benefits structure
• Seven percent employer pension contribution supporting long-term financial planning
• Professional fees paid to support continued development and industry involvement
• Hybrid working available with two remote working days offered each week
• Additional Christmas leave and regular staff social events included within benefits package

Who Is This Role Ideal For?

This role is ideal for a Principal Urban Designer seeking project leadership within sustainable masterplanning and community-focused development. It would suit someone with strong UK project experience, client-facing confidence, and a detailed understanding of planning-led design.

The position is well matched to professionals who enjoy managing projects, supporting teams, and creating strategic documents. Principal Urban Designer Job Derby will appeal to candidates seeking hybrid working, strong benefits, and long-term progression.

Urban designers with residential, renewable energy, health, education, or community sector experience will find this opportunity highly relevant.

About Hunter Dunning

Hunter Dunning is a specialist property and built environment recruitment consultancy established in 2004, focused on quality and long-term partnerships in the UK and Ireland property and construction market.

We specialise in full lifecycle property recruitment, covering architecture, interior design, surveying, land and planning, fire safety and wider construction roles. We offer informed and confidential discussions for both clients and candidates and welcome conversations about this opportunity and your wider career plans within the built environment.

Apply

If you meet the criteria above, send us your CV and portfolio. We receive a large number of applications so if you do not hear back within 7 days consider your application unsuccessful this time.

We will keep a copy of your details on file for future vacancies. In accordance with GDPR, by applying for this position you give us your consent to process your data in-line with our Privacy and Data Protection Policies which can be read on the privacy policy page on our website.

Referral

Did you know we run a referral scheme? We pay a £1000 referral bonus if you introduce us to anyone who we then successfully place into a new job role. Just send us their information and we’ll do the rest.

Terms: A candidate is deemed to have been successfully placed once they have started a new job as a result of an introduction made by Hunter Dunning and when they’ve successfully completed the probation period. See website for full terms & conditions.

Principal Urban Designer job in Derby – Your Property Recruitment Specialists ( Job Ref: 14983) #LI-Hybrid