Associate Director - Analytics & Crowd Dynamics

About the opportunity

This role is for an experienced crowd and people-movement specialist to join a respected consultancy team in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. The position focuses on transport and mobility projects across Jeddah and the wider Middle East, with responsibility for leading delivery, growing team capability and contributing to business development on complex assignments.

The organisation offers a strong learning culture, an entrepreneurial environment and the chance to work on impactful projects where sustainability, equity and performance outcomes are central. The role is intended for someone who can combine technical expertise with leadership, client management and work-winning capability.

What you will do

• Take charge of multidisciplinary crowd-movement and people-flow workstreams, acting as project director or discipline lead on major commissions and owning programme delivery, commercial outcomes, risk oversight and client engagement.
• Coach, support and mentor junior and mid-level colleagues, helping shape their technical growth, performance and long-term development while contributing to the build-out of a strong regional crowd team.
• Help win new work in Saudi Arabia and across the Middle East by spotting opportunities, shaping technical responses, preparing and reviewing proposals, and participating in interviews and presentations with public- and private-sector clients.
• Apply specialist knowledge in crowd dynamics, pedestrian flow and people-movement planning, including strategy development, pedestrian modelling, egress and emergency analysis, operational input and design guidance for complex developments and event settings.
• Advise clients and stakeholders on crowd-related solutions and ensure these are integrated with master planning, transport strategy, architecture, venue planning, public realm design and operational needs.
• Maintain strong project quality through rigorous internal reviews, clear technical ownership and consistent use of regional and global best-practice methods.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, serving as a key adviser on priority crowd and people-movement projects.
• Coordinate with global crowd specialists and regional teams to exchange expertise, align technical standards, improve delivery capability and apply international best practice on Middle East projects.
• Review and produce technical reports, model results and presentations, and present practical, risk-aware recommendations to clients, design teams, operators, authorities and other senior stakeholders.
• Help expand the regional crowd-dynamics service offering by shaping service lines, building capability, supporting hiring and positioning the team for long-term growth in Jeddah and the wider region.

What you need

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, transport planning, urban planning, architecture or a related discipline, with strong exposure to crowd movement, safety or complex buildings and public-realm environments.
• At least 15 years of experience in crowd dynamics, pedestrian movement or a related field, with a solid record of leading complex crowd and people-flow projects in the Middle East, including major events, master plans, station and venue studies, and advisory work.
• Experience acting as project director or in an equivalent leadership role on multidisciplinary crowd, mobility or master-planning projects, with accountability for commercial performance, schedules, risk and senior client relationships.
• Practical expertise in advanced crowd and pedestrian simulation tools such as MassMotion, Legion, Pathfinder, STEPS, Pedestrian Dynamics or similar software, plus the ability to turn model outputs into actionable design and operational recommendations.
• A reputation as a thought leader in crowd and people movement, with the confidence to refine technical approaches, question conventional methods and deliver innovative, human-centred solutions in high-density, complex or high-risk settings.
• Strong understanding of crowd psychology, behaviour in normal and emergency situations, and modern crowd-management and event-safety principles, with the ability to apply this knowledge in KSA and the wider Middle East.
• Proven success in winning work, including identifying prospects, contributing to bid strategy, leading proposal development and taking part in client presentations and interviews for major crowd, venue and people-movement commissions.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder-management abilities, with the skill to explain complex technical material clearly and persuasively to clients, authorities, operators and partners.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, including experience using large datasets, observational studies and operational inputs to support crowd assessments and movement strategies.
• Ability to lead, manage and mentor teams, while encouraging collaboration and performance across Jeddah and the wider Middle East region.
• Comfort working independently and within multidisciplinary teams, collaborating closely with transport planners, master planners, architects, engineers and operational specialists.
• Capability to manage competing priorities, handle several projects at once and deliver to tight deadlines in a fast-paced consultancy and major-project environment.

Perks and benefits

• Opportunity to contribute to high-profile work with a respected global consultancy.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Ongoing learning and development support to help you grow at every stage of your career.
• Entitlement to two professional memberships or subscriptions.
• International working culture with access to an exceptional global network.

Additional information

The company values flexible working patterns and welcomes applications from people seeking flexibility in their careers. It also places strong importance on diversity of thought, identity, background and experience, and encourages applicants from underrepresented groups in the built environment. Adjustments to the application process can be requested to make it more comfortable and accessible.