Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Arup is seeking a dynamic Principal to lead our Cities, Planning & Design (CPD) service across our Americas region. You will champion and integrate Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, and Transportation Planning to address clients’ most complex city‑scale challenges. We partner with public and private sector clients on initiatives that improve residents’ lives, transform and regenerate places through major infrastructure investment, advance decarbonization, promote equity and inclusion, and bolster climate resilience—shaping a sustainable future for all.

The Opportunity

• Grow strategic client relationships across key national accounts and priority agencies; expand CPD’s share of city and transport programs.
• Lead pursuits and win work—from positioning and capture through proposal, interviews, and negotiation.
• Deliver excellence as Project Manager/Project Director on complex, multi‑disciplinary planning and design engagements.
• Drive technical rigor, creativity, and innovation across the five CPD disciplines to differentiate Arup’s integrated offer.
• Build, mentor, and scale high‑performance teams spanning Architecture, Urban/landscape design, urban planning, and transportation planning/advisory.
• Represent Arup at conferences, technical forums, and regional events; contribute thought leadership that advances practice and policy.
• Collaborate across Arup—partnering with portfolio and market leaders in the Americas and globally to deliver on the firm’s mission.
  

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, or a related field.
• 20+ years’ experience leading large‑scale transportation planning and/or city‑scale planning/design programs as PM/PD.
• Professional license (PE, RA, AICP, ASLA or equivalent) or the ability to obtain licensure within 6 months of joining.
• Proven track record with major public clients (city, regional, state/provincial, federal), including procurement and delivery.
• Business development acumen—relationship building, pipeline creation, and consistent win rates.
• Multi-disciplinary leadership—mentoring and directing integrated teams across Architecture, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, and Transportation Planning.
  

Locations and working model

Open to major Arup offices across the United States, Canada, and Latin America (hybrid working encouraged). Regional travel will be required to engage with clients and teams.

Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for, but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to our Talent Community where you will be kept up to date with roles suitable for you to shape a better world.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future

Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available

San Francisco Hiring Range – Hiring Range - The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in San Francisco is $250,000 to $300,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of San Francisco will differ.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

Our Application Process

We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly.

Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of a protected veteran, or disability.

Stay safe online. Recruitment fraud is on the rise, and Arup’s name, logo, and branding have been used in fraudulent job advertisements. Arup will never ask for bank information as part of our recruitment process.

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