Senior Urban Designer

About the role

dhk Architects, one of Africa's largest and leading design-led architectural studios, is looking for a Senior Urban Designer to join its Cape Town team. The role covers urban projects locally and internationally, working with internal architecture and landscape teams and external consultants. It suits urban designers with a background or strong interest in landscape design, strong conceptual design ability and an understanding of spatial and ecological systems.

Key responsibilities

• Lead urban design projects from inception through to report production and concept development.
• Integrate landscape and public realm design thinking into urban frameworks and master plans.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver cohesive, sustainable, people-centred urban environments.
• Contribute to the strategic vision of urban interventions aligned with the studio's architectural and landscape ethos.
• Engage with clients, municipalities and stakeholders on spatial development plans.
• Translate complex urban and environmental challenges into practical, innovative design responses.
• Prepare design reports, visualisations and presentations.
• Champion design excellence, sustainability and contextual responsiveness across built and natural systems.

Required profile

• Postgraduate qualification in Urban Design or Architecture with an urban design focus.
• Minimum 5 years' post-graduate experience specifically in urban design.
• Robust portfolio showing urban frameworks, master plans and design reports.
• Registration with SACAP or UDISA (advantageous).
• South African citizenship (mandatory).
• Advantageous: ability to mentor junior team members; self-driven, organised, detail-oriented, with strong interpersonal and leadership skills.

Required skills

• AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Graphic, drawing and illustrative communication; report writing and strategic thinking.
• Visual narrative and analytical mapping.
• Advantageous: GIS proficiency, Rhino or other parametric tools.

What we offer

• A competitive salary commensurate with experience and expertise.
• Exposure to iconic urban and architectural projects across the continent.
• Career development in a progressive, design-led environment.
• A studio culture grounded in innovation, excellence and collaboration, with mentorship and development initiatives.