Jaime Torres, Urban planning specialist - senior associate

Jaime Torres

Urban planning specialist - senior associate

Aecom

Location
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
Education
Master's degree, Development Management
Experience
21 years, 4 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :21 years, 4 Months

Urban planning specialist - senior associate at Aecom
  • Saudi Arabia - Tabouk
  • My current job since November 2020

On the transition from start-up towards becoming an authority and planning development body, support the definition and alignment of planning structures, planning modifications, approval processes, authority structure etc through preparing or supporting the production of laws, regulations and guidelines such as the NEOM planning hierarchy, the land use zoning schedule, planning glossary, land use permit guidelines, plot sheets alignment through ongoing master plans, etc. Moreover, supervision of consultants’ masterplans for NEOM-wide alignment and general planning advice for design and management.
Reports to: Urban Development Strategy and Integration Senior Manager, AECOM Director and UD Director.

Codes and standards manager at Royal Commission for AlUla
  • Saudi Arabia - Ula
  • May 2020 to November 2020

The Royal Commission for AlUla is the authority in AlUla County to develop the Municipality into a world class tourist destination. Tasks have involved developing guidelines that were inexistent at the moment based on international benchmarking and best practice in a high tempo for example in terms of dark sky protection, commercial signage, setting the CAD & GIS structure, irrigation guidelines, County bicycle strategy, road hierarchy, coordination tasks among departments to streamline efforts, etc.
Review development proposals and support with existing or bespoke guidelines.
Reports to: Codes and standards Director.

Assistant Director Urban Planning at Louis Berger / WSP
  • Saudi Arabia - Medina
  • January 2019 to July 2019

Supporting the Madinah Region Development Authority for residents and visitors’ mobility, preparing a Transportation and Mobility Master Plan, analyzing and humanizing the public realm, restructuring the pedestrian network and adjusting public realm designs to climatological requirements reducing heat island effect and improving the city walkability.

Business Development Leader/ Master Planning Manager at BAS / VANTEM
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • January 2015 to December 2017

Lead the implementation of an innovative construction system in Saudi Arabia mainly for the social housing program of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Housing.
Coordinate the construction of model homes and presentation of design proposals as per Saudi social housing standards.
Coordination with authorities at Saudi Building Code and SASO.

Master Planning and Urban Design Manager at PARSONS SAUDI ARABIA - PMO
  • Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
  • April 2013 to January 2015

Provide consulting for development of the housing program for the Ministry of Housing to achieve the production of 500 000 dwelling within the respective master plans.
• Design in-house and supervision of consultants for maste plan production from 4 to 10 million sqm,
• Concept design, preliminary development, detail development and tender packaging, from new site to final delivery,
• Guide and manage master planning in all designing phases from concept to development, detail and tender, from 4 to 10 million sqm,
• Present, discuss and deliver to client,
• Elaboration of the Development Control Guidelines for the planning program for housing, design stage and developers control,
Report to: Design Director.

Senior Urban Planner at Local Planning Authority - Municipality of Värmdö
  • Sweden
  • June 2011 to September 2013

LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY
Municipality in fast developing Greater Stockholm area (covers 10, 000+ islands).
Planning Dept. employees: 10.
Leads planning process and project manages the implemention of infrastructure for prioritised development areas. Coordinates planning development for Gustavsberg, the municipality’s main city. Develops capacity and builds local planning team.
Reports to: Head of Planning Dept.
 Currently project managing planning process for 400 dwelling units and associated city
centre services.

Senior Urban Planner at National Consulting Bureau NCB - WSP International Sweden
  • Libya - Tripoli
  • September 2009 to June 2010

National Consulting Bureau (NCB) joint venture with WSP International to develop regional planning for the Tripoli region. Employees: 25.
Assisted development of five sub-regional plans in Tripoli region. Plans covered environmental, economic, infrastructural, social and land use studies with a proposal document including development of viable strategic alternatives. Led social factors team: analysing population, housing, education, health, administrative/sport facilities and recreation spaces. Upskilled local staff to build capacity. Coordination with GIS-system developed within project's scope.
Reported to: Technical Manager (Urban Planning Agency).
Direct reports: 3 junior urban planners.
 Successfully delivered project within target timescales and budget.

Head of Urban Planning Department at ORIGO Arkitekter AB www.origoark.se
  • Sweden
  • September 2008 to September 2009

Private consultant position developing planning proposals with successful achievements in terms of gaining confidence from local authorities, private investors and companies. Formal planning for the local authorities, urban design proposals for private investors as well as urban landscape design and planning consulting for architecture projects within the studio.

Architect at Reppen Lizell Arkitekter AB
  • Sweden
  • January 2006 to September 2008

Architecture job. Design proposals, discuss with clients, obtain construction permits, coordinate construction, coordinate infrastructure, prepare material description, colour setting projects etc.

Local Authority Officer, Architect and Urban Planner at Local Planning Authority of Badalona, Barcelona
  • Spain
  • May 2000 to June 2006

LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY
Local public planning authority.
Planning office employees: 8.
Developed urban plans from initial drawings to final delivery. Ensured private development proposals complied with municipality planning guidelines. Analysed city infrastructure and recommended long-term development improvements. Provided technical support to citizens, politicians and other departments. Improved inter-departmental communication and led multidisciplinary planning team. Functioned as LA Planning Officer.
Reports to: Head of Planning Dept.
 Produced highly innovative (and widely lauded) planning projects. Highlights included:
- Abat Escarre urban plan, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Extension: 15, 500 m2, 200 dwellings
Land use: dwelling, park, street and facilities.
Budget whole operation: €25.5
- Estrella urban plan, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Extension: 43, 200 m2, 296 dwellings
Land use: dwelling, park, street and facilities.
Budget for public urbanization: €7.7m
- Cultural Center in Dalt Vila Plan, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Extension: 500 m2
Land use: facility, street.
Budget: €700k
- Metro Station & Mary Ward School plan, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
Extension: 3, 000 m2
Land use: transportation and cultural facility
 Improved office productivity by teaching colleagues how to optimise use of computer
assisted design (software AutoCAD) as well as establishing models and standards for presentation of projects.

Architect and Urban Planner at Santi Bertran Architecture Studio
  • Spain
  • July 2002 to June 2003

Private architectural practice. Employees: 4
Developed master plan for Municipality of Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain (14, 000 inhabitants). Devised planning regulations for whole municipality - urban/rural land - following LA guidelines.
 Successfully delivered a completed plan (data and printed maps) and a public presentation for local citizens.
 Restructured municipality map database and improved/defined information municipality needed.

Education

Master's degree, Development Management
  • at The Open University
  • May 2020

Currently studying the Online Master in Development Management dealing with the complex process of development, managing conflicts of interest, handling political agendas in projects, preparing impact assessments, etc. Development Management refers to any kind of development and my intention is to focus on urban and rural development in subjects like planning at all scales (national, regional, urban and rural), transportation, waste management and urban design for an improved life quality.

Master's degree, Urban Planning and Design
  • at KTH
  • December 2006

One semester of the master course. Autumn 2006

Master's degree, Architecture
  • at ETSAB, Architecture School Barcelona
  • May 2002

The studies last 6 years. One study year at the Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Sweden 1998-99 following the Socrates-Erasmus Program. Final project: social centre in a war damaged area in Maglaj (Bosnia i Herzegovina)

Specialties & Skills

Architecture
Regional Planning
Urban Planning
Project and Program Management
AutoCAD
Microsoft Office Pack, Word Excel PowerPoint
Photoshop

Languages

Spanish
Expert
English
Expert
Swedish
Expert
Italian
Beginner
French
Beginner
Arabic
Beginner

Memberships

Spanish Architecture Association
  • Member and Representative in Saudi Arabia
  • January 2003
Swedish Architecture Association
  • Member until 2011
  • August 2006
Swedish Society for Town and Country Planning
  • Member until 2011
  • September 2008

Hobbies

  • Painting
    Watercolour amateur painting.
  • Sailing
    Captain of my own boat in Sweden being the archipelago of Stockholm one of the most challenging places to sail, but one of the most beautiful too.