Transport Sector Leader – EME

About Woods Bagot – Architecture for Worlds Ahead

We design places that meet the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly changing world. Our commitment to exploration, impact and community creates enduring, forward‑thinking outcomes, unlocking humanity’s highest potential. With a global design culture devoted to creativity, resilience, and purpose – we ensure every project contributes to our client’s vision, inspiring future generations.

Woods Bagot is part of the 7C Network. The 7C Network is an integrated network of design and architecture companies that provides “Total Place Design,” a holistic approach to creating transformative environments. It combines capabilities from its constituent brands – including Woods Bagot, ERA-co, Impact Futures, and Customs Bureau – to offer services in placemaking, sustainability, architecture and interior design, and luxury concepts.

About the Role

Woods Bagot is seeking an accomplished, commercially driven, and highly respected Transport Sector Leader to lead the growth, delivery, and market positioning of our transport and mobility portfolio across the Middle East and Europe. This senior leader role is responsible for driving business growth, strengthening strategic client relationships, leading multidisciplinary teams, and overseeing the successful delivery of complex transport infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will be a recognized market leader with extensive transport sector experience, a strong industry profile, and a proven track record of growing business, winning major commissions, and delivering exceptional project outcomes. The role requires a balance of strategic business leadership and hands-on project expertise, with the ability to step into critical projects when required to help structure, guide, and enable successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Growth & Market Leadership:

• Develop and execute the regional Transport Sector growth strategy aligned with Woods Bagot’s business objectives and long-term vision.
• Drive sustainable revenue growth through the acquisition of new projects and expansion of strategic client accounts.
• Identify emerging opportunities across aviation, rail, metro, transit-oriented developments (TODs), mobility hubs, stations, ports, and broader transport infrastructure sectors.
• Lead major pursuits, bids, and strategic opportunities, converting market relationships into profitable business outcomes.
• Establish Woods Bagot as a leading design partner within the transport and mobility sector across the Europe and Middle East region.
• Build and maintain a strong market profile through industry engagement, thought leadership, conference participation, and professional networks.
• Contribute to annual business planning, forecasting, and achievement of agreed growth and profitability targets.

Client Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with transport authorities, government agencies, developers, operators, and key private-sector clients.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing strategic guidance throughout project development and delivery.
• Lead client engagement activities, key presentations, negotiations, and contract discussions.
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Ensure exceptional client satisfaction and strengthen Woods Bagot’s reputation for excellence in transport design and delivery.

Project Leadership & Delivery Excellence:

• Provide executive oversight and leadership across major transport and infrastructure projects, ensuring excellence in design, delivery, commercial performance, and client outcomes.
• Actively support the structuring of projects from inception, establishing appropriate governance, delivery strategies, resourcing plans, risk frameworks, and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Act as an executive advisor to project teams, helping shape project delivery models that support successful outcomes.
• Engage directly in key projects when required, providing leadership to resolve complex challenges, strengthen delivery performance, and maintain client confidence.
• Ensure projects are set up with the right commercial, operational, and design leadership to meet programme, budget, quality, and client expectations.
• Support Project Directors and Design Leaders in managing risks, commercial performance, stakeholder relationships, procurement strategies, and project controls.
• Champion innovation, sustainability, and best practice in transport infrastructure design and delivery.
• Provide leadership during critical project phases, including pursuits, project mobilization, design management, stakeholder engagement, project recovery, and delivery optimisation.
• Leverage lessons learned and industry best practices to continuously improve project performance and client outcomes.

Team Leadership & Capability Building:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing transport sector team across the region.
• Build and develop sector capability through recruitment, mentoring, succession planning, and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative culture that promotes design excellence, innovation, accountability, and knowledge sharing.
• Support cross-sector and cross-discipline collaboration to deliver integrated solutions for clients.
• Create an environment that attracts, develops, and retains leading industry talent.

About You

The ideal candidate is a highly respected transport industry leader who combines strong business development capability, deep transport project expertise, and proven leadership experience. They are well connected in the market, trusted by clients, capable of driving significant growth, and able to step into critical projects to provide the leadership and structure necessary to deliver successful outcomes. They are equally comfortable in the boardroom, with clients, leading teams, winning work, and guiding major projects through complex delivery challenges.

You will be able to Demonstrate:

Experience:

• 15-20+ years of experience in the design, delivery, and leadership of major transport and infrastructure projects.
• Extensive experience delivering complex transport projects, including airports, metro systems, rail stations, transit hubs, and large-scale mobility infrastructure.
• Proven track record of winning work, growing business, and developing long-term client relationships within the transport sector.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple projects and geographies.
• Strong understanding of transport procurement, project delivery methodologies, stakeholder management, and commercial drivers.
• Significant experience within the Middle East market, with a thorough understanding of regional opportunities and challenges.

Market Profile:

• Well-known and highly regarded within the transport and infrastructure sector.
• Established network of relationships with transport authorities, government entities, infrastructure operators, developers, and strategic partners.
• Recognized industry leader with experience speaking at conferences, participating in industry bodies, and contributing to thought leadership initiatives.
• Strong professional credibility and reputation for delivering successful project and business outcomes.

Leadership & Commercial Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute growth strategies that achieve revenue, profitability, and market share objectives.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing business performance against growth targets.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to translate market opportunities into successful pursuits and project wins.
• Proven capability to structure, mobilize, and lead major complex projects, ensuring projects are established for successful execution from the outset.

How to Apply

Please submit your up-to-date resume including a link to your portfolio via our EME Transport Sector Leader LinkedIn post. Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or names from agencies. Mandatory requirement: It is an essential requirement that at the time of applying for this position applicants must have the legal right to work in the Middle East.

7C – Total Place Design Network

7C is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status. At 7C, we are committed to creating an environment where difference is celebrated, valued and respected, practices are equitable, and our people feel like they belong. We accept that none of us is smarter than all of us. We believe building a diverse workforce is the foundation to creativity and innovative design – it is only by working together that we can realise the potential of our people, clients and communities around us. Through our inclusive leadership and our truly global studio network, you will find your voice and have the support and flexibility required to bring your whole self to work and build an exceptional career.