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JOB DESCRIPTION

Urban planner

Role Overview

Urban planners are specialists in urban planning, responsible for the development of towns and urban areas. Their job is to design a functional and pleasant living environment for residents. At the request of elected representatives, they design and develop new neighbourhoods or renovate old ones. They may also be responsible for planning transport routes, creating hospitals, secondary schools, leisure centres, green spaces and commercial or industrial zones.

To carry out their work, urban planners study a number of factors, such as the environment, sociological and economic aspects, and existing infrastructure. They then propose a development plan, providing supporting information to help elected representatives and developers reach a decision.

Urban planners coordinate all the skills required to carry out an urban planning project. They work with various experts such as architects, landscape architects, engineers and many other professionals. Thanks to their training in architecture and their knowledge of geography, they are able to ensure effective collaboration between all those involved in the project.

Urban planners have a global vision and understand that the city is a dynamic environment with interdependent elements. Drawing is an important part of their work, but they are also involved in the early stages of development projects, whether for the renovation or construction of an area or town.

 

Alternative Job Titles

  • Head of urban planning studies
  • Urban planning project manager
  • Urban designeR
  • Urban planning architect 

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Missions principales

Main Responsibilities

Urban planners are involved in all the projects for which they are responsible, whether upstream, downstream or during construction. They collect all the relevant demographic, land, economic, sociological, spatial and physical data, then interpret and present it to the various parties involved in the project. They play a key role in the decision-making process and take part in discussions on structuring policy. Town planners can work for the local or national civil service, or in the private sector.

Within local authorities, they propose and organise projects linked to the social environment. They mediate between user associations and decision-makers. The planner encourages discussions leading to a final decision by elected representatives. Research work is also part of the urban planner's remit. They may teach at a school of architecture or university.

A planning professional may find employment opportunities in the Ministries of Transport, Housing, Spatial Planning, the Environment and Ecological Transition, as well as in the private sector as a consultant. Remuneration is generally on a fee basis. Urban planners may also be employed as salaried staff in consultancies specialising in urban planning.

Competencies & Skills

 

  • The ability to analyse and identify: urban planners must be able to analyse the socio-economic data of an area and identify new areas in which they can intervene.
  • Ability to synthesise: a town planner must be able to synthesise information from different fields, particularly legal, economic, administrative and architectural.
  • Computer graphics skills: a planning professional must also be proficient in computer-aided design and drafting software (CAD).
  • Skills in geographic information systems (GIS)
Missions principales

Education & Training

  • Professional degree in land-use planning and urban development, territorial development and project management, urban planning and geomatics environment, urban land-use planning or management and sustainable development of spaces and resources.
  • Master's degree in urban planning and development with specialisations in heritage development, sustainable construction and development, environmental design for regional development projects or urban planning and regional projects.
  • Diploma from an engineering school specialising in town planning
  • Master's degree in territorial and urban strategies, environmental law and urban planning, cities and the urban environment
  • Master's Degree level specialising in urban and property management, urban development and project management 

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