Senior Program Associate: Urban Designer

WRI India is seeking a Senior Program Associate: Urban Designer based in Mumbai. The role involves providing technical support for Urban Development initiatives, focusing on Local Area Planning and Transit-Oriented Development. Responsibilities include preparing technical deliverables, coordinating project implementation, facilitating workshops, and supporting stakeholder relationships. Candidates should have a Master's degree in Urban Design or a related field.
About us
WRI India, an independent knowledge organisation registered as India Resources Trust, provides objective information and practical proposals to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable development. Through research, analysis, and recommendations, WRI India puts ideas into action to build transformative solutions to protect the earth, promote livelihoods, and enhance human well-being. Know more: wri-india.org
Program Overview for Sustainable Cities and Transport


WRI India's urban development work aims to transform the way cities are planned and designed to ensure that urban development benefits people, nature and climate. We focus on integrated solutions to long-standing urban challenges, leveraging evidence-based data, applied research and our network of partners and experts. We collaborate at all levels with the government, city administrations, urban stakeholders and partners to help cities become resilient, low-carbon and liveable while balancing their socio-economic goals.


Our work seeks to shape a future where cities work better for everyone.


Job Highlight:
You will be primarily based in Mumbai to provide technical support to the Urban Development team, Leveraging expertise in Local Area Planning, Transit-Oriented Development, mixed use walkable neighborhoods, and inclusive public spaces. You will support ongoing and upcoming implementation and research initiatives, with a primary focus on the LAP projects in Mumbai. You will report to the Senior Program Manager, Urban Development, WRI India.
Job Responsibilities

Provide technical support across WRI India’s Urban Development initiatives, including Local Area Planning, Transit-Oriented Development, Complete Streets, walkable neighbourhoods, mixed-use urban design, and inclusive public spaces.
Lead and support the preparation of technical deliverables in collaboration with project partners and stakeholders. This includes design development and review for Local Area Plans (LAPs) for TOD projects, conducting primary and secondary research, report writing, and preparing analytical outputs.
Contribute to on-ground project implementation by supporting site activities, coordination efforts, stakeholder consultations, and execution of convenings and dialogues.
Assist in the coordination and day-to-day management of the LAPs initiative, working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure timely and effective delivery.
Support the organization and facilitation of workshops, forums, coalitions, and conferences aligned with project goals.
Undertake technical reviews and analysis of ongoing and proposed initiatives, and contribute to outputs such as design layouts, review notes, recommendations, reports, visualizations, and dashboards.
Maintain regular communication with internal teams to track progress, ensure alignment with project objectives, and support timely reporting.
Support relationship management with donors, implementation partners, and other stakeholders to enable smooth project execution.
Contribute to the design and delivery of technical trainings and capacity-building programs for stakeholders, including those aligned with national and state urban missions.

Job Qualifications

Master’s degree (or higher) in Urban Design, Urban Planning, Transport/Mobility Planning, or a related discipline. Specialization in Transit-Oriented Development, mixed-use planning, or sustainable urban development is desirable.
4 to 7 years of relevant professional experience in neighborhood, city, or regional planning, with a focus on the design and implementation of on-ground projects related to Transit-Oriented Development, mixed-use development, and neighborhood-scale interventions.
Demonstrated expertise in inclusive, mobility-led urban planning approaches, including experience with micro-planning, form-based codes, active street design, and project implementation. Strong analytical skills, including both quantitative and qualitative data analysis, are required.
Solid understanding of India’s urban development landscape, including planning frameworks, mobility patterns, and emerging environmental trends for building climate resilience such as Urban Greening, water-sensitive Urban Design, sponge city concepts, Blue-Green Infrastructure, nature-based solutions etc.
Experience in research and design using tools and methods such as network analysis, integrated modelling, and neighbourhood-level planning strategies focused on walkability, inclusivity, and sustainability. Proficiency in GIS and design/visualization tools is highly desirable.
Proven ability to manage stakeholder relationships, coordinate across teams, and oversee multiple workstreams effectively.