Designation: Senior Manager – Urban Design
Studio: Urban Design Studio
Location: Guwahati, Assam
Experience: 8+ years
About Jana Urban Space Foundation
Jana Urban Space Foundation (Jana USP) is a Bengaluru-based not-for-profit institution working to transform the spatial dimension of India’s cities and towns — enhancing quality of life through urban planning and design across both policy and practice. Placing communities and environmental sustainability at the heart of design, Jana USP works on land titling, spatial and street design reforms, and the preparation of regional, master, and neighborhood plans. Its projects span the Tender S.U.R.E. (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) program for road infrastructure improvement; the rejuvenation of public spaces such as markets, bus stands, lakes, parks, heritage precincts, and community centers; and Neighborhood Improvement Plans NIPs) as building blocks of cities.
In the two decades, Jana USP has partnered with governments at the union, state, and city level including NITI Aayog (formerly the Planning Commission), the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and the Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan to advance urban planning and design reforms.
Currently, Jana USP has partnered with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, supporting the Urban Roads Infrastructure Development Agency (URIDA) under the Chief Minister’s Green Road Infrastructure Development Scheme (CM GRIDS) — managing road redevelopment projects across 17 cities. In collaboration with the Urban Development Department of Uttar Pradesh, Jana USP is also preparing a Green Schedule of Rates, Street Design Guidelines, and Urban Street Branding Guidelines. In Odisha, Jana USP runs the Odisha Urban Design Hub (OUDH) — a state-level PMU that identifies, designs, and executes projects while formulating urban design policies, including the ongoing design of the Mahanadi Waterfront in Cuttack. In Assam, Jana USP is a partner to Doh Shaher Ek Rupayan to transform 10 cities, specifically on identifying projects and implementing them under a Move Play, Eat, Include framework. In Karnataka, it is piloting 15-Minute Neighborhoods in Bengaluru and Manipal.
Our Key Projects in Urban Design
- Junction Improvements: Prioritizing pedestrian and non-motorized transport (NMT), creating iconic intersections across India.
- Street Design: From design to execution, we focus on capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and project monitoring.
- Green Infrastructure: Creation of vibrant green lungs for cities including parks, wetlands, urban forests etc.
- Blue Infrastructure: Waterfront masterplan and guidelines focusing on climate resilience and incorporating green infrastructure techniques to create memorable waterfront public spaces.
- Community-centric Architecture: Socially architecture projects that cater to underserved populations.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior Manager – Urban Design with a passion for transforming urban spaces across India. The ideal candidate will bring a mix of creativity, leadership, and hands-on experience in urban design projects to shape vibrant, sustainable public spaces. This role will be based out of Guwahati.
Key Responsibilities
As Senior Manager – Urban Design, you will play a critical role in driving partnerships and projects, while managing and coaching a team of urban design professionals.
Client Engagement
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with government stakeholders.
- Communicate project updates, presenting milestones through reports, presentations, and visual materials.
- Represent Jana USP at meetings, conferences, and other professional gatherings.
Project Management
- Define project goals, timelines, and milestones, ensuring timely and quality execution.
- Manage resources efficiently and maintain comprehensive project documentation.
- Monitor progress closely to identify and address any deviations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams within Jana USP and other group entities.
- Conduct periodic site visits for supervision and ensure project adherence to standards.
Technical and Team Management
- Lead project concept development and visioning.
- Conduct primary and secondary research relevant to the project.
- Oversee and guide the team in preparing concept designs, technical drawings, and presentations.
- Ensure through vetting of any documents / drawings being issued.
- Ensure high standards in graphical and technical outputs across all deliverables.
- Work with the team to ensure timely completion of the tasks and the best outcomes.
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree in Urban Design or M. Arch and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture is mandatory.
- 8+ years of experience in urban projects, ideally including streets, parks, waterfronts etc..
- Demonstrated experience working with senior government or civil society stakeholders.
- Familiarity with the full project lifecycle, including execution and costing (BOQs) for government-led projects.
- Experience working with non-profits, think tanks, or government agencies.
Desired Competencies
- Proven leadership skills, with experience managing teams and delivering high-quality outputs.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) Adobe Suite (Illustrator & InDesign), and other relevant analytical and design software.
- A sharp eye for detail and a strong sense of design and aesthetics.
- Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills in English.
- Team player with an interest in systems thinking and inclusive urban development.
JanaUSP is an equal opportunity employer and offers a highly dynamic and enabling work environment. We provide competitive remunerationcommensurate with relevant experience skill-sets and background.
This position is based out of Guwahati, Assam.
Please write to us with your CV and portfolio, along with a link to your updated LinkedIn profile at work@janausp.org with “Senior Manager – Urban Design” in the subject line.