Arlinda Rushaj-Sadiku
Pristina
Summary
Enthusiastic Urban Transformation Leader with a proven track record on sustainable urban planning and urban transformation, particularly at the municipal level, leveraging GIS, AI and data analysis tools for sustainable city planning. Excellent in stakeholder engagement and team leadership, and leading pioneering urban solutions. Demonstrates strategic thinking and a calm approach under pressure, driving impactful and complex initiatives.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Lead- Urban Transformation
UNDP Kosovo
Prishtina
02.2021 - Current
- Country Coordinator for City Experiment Fund: Addressed urban challenges in Prishtina and Prizren with strategic, sustainable solutions.
- Urban Rehabilitation of Block 1: Transformed Prishtina’s oldest apartment neighborhood with parks, greening, sports areas, permeable parking, and energy-efficient facades.
- Repurposing City Library: Converted the City Library into the Center for Narrative Practice, incorporating solar panels and heat pumps.
- Municipal Co-Financing: Secured co-financing with municipalities for urban projects like Block 1.
- Sustainability Planning: Designed urban solutions aligned with climate resilience and sustainability goals.
- Researching Best Practices: Studied urban design and transportation planning to improve local projects.
- Project Management: Managed teams, budgets, and stakeholder engagement for urban transformation initiatives.
- Data-Driven Solutions: Used GIS and AI and data tools for inclusive, adaptive urban development frameworks.
Urban Planner/ Project manager
INSI-INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Prishtina
04.2019 - Current
- Company Overview: Focusing on intra-urban socio-spatial patterns and designing sustainable cities
- Using data and GIS in policy mapping, aiming to develop frameworks that better utilize participatory planning and stakeholder involvement in problem-oriented planning
- Project Manager for Municipal Zoning Map for Skenderaj
- Project Manager for Municipal Zoning Map for Prizren
- Project Manager for the Municipal Development Plan for Gjilan Municipality (funded by GIZ Kosovo)
- Project Manager for the drafting of the Municipal Development Plan for Obiliq Municipality
- Project Manager for Municipal Development Plan for Shtime
- Part of the team working on Municipal Development Plans for Prishtina, South Mitrovica and Municipal Zoning Map for Prishtina
- Focusing on intra-urban socio-spatial patterns and designing sustainable cities
- Using data and GIS in policy mapping, aiming to develop frameworks that better utilize participatory planning and stakeholder involvement in problem-oriented planning
- Strong understanding of spatial planning system, design and construction, public services and public participation procedures
- A motivated and very meticulous person, with a curiosity that kills the cat
Urban and Architecture Design Manager
Pozhegu Brothers Kosovo
Prishtina
10.2018 - 01.2019
- Company Overview: Real Estate Development Company
- In charge for the planning and execution of all activities for negotiations with owners for final urban layout, getting a construction permit, and quality control of the final designs, within budget and within the allotted time frame
- Under the contract timeline two main construction permits were obtained, 1
- Sofalia Neighborhood (55 Houses, Kindergarten, And Recreational) and 2
- Two high rise housing urban blocks, Mati, Pristina
- Translate Urban conditions for the specific sites, such as organizing streets, parking, buildings placements, access, greenery, traffic, etc
- Draft and proceed documentation for getting an Environmental consent
- Prepare and review functional and conceptual architectural design
- Review in line infrastructure designs (water, sewage, heating and air conditioning)
- Prepare technical documentation for applying for construction permit
- Monitor the project implementation, as needed
- Prepare technical documentation for applying for occupancy permit
- Real Estate Development Company
- Softwares: AutoCAD, Archicad (architectural drafts, master plans), ArcGIS, QGIS (visualization, editing, analysis), 3Ds Max, Artlantis (visualisation and rendering), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Policy Development Manager
EU Project Creative Active, North Macedonia
07.2018 - 10.2018
- Responsible for the development and proposal of policy changes targeting local government to use participatory processes to improve inter ethnical relations in the Ohrid Region
- Develop the concept of the participatory processes and activities for six months period
- Develop the concept, methodology and timeline for a two weeks workshop
- Develop the survey purpose, questions, analysis methodology and present results, and develop outcome leaflet
- Propose local level policy changes to the local government to use participatory processes to improve inter ethnical relations in the Ohrid Region
Construction and Spatial Planning Specialist
USAID Partnerships for Development
03.2014 - 07.2018
- Provided technical support, research, implementation and reporting for construction and spatial planning policy reforms
- Responsible for primary and secondary legislation on spatial planning, construction permitting and legalization at the central and local level
- Research and provide solution for technical and legal requirements, environmental risks and protection, social development, and policy goals and financial needs to effectively implement spatial planning reforms
- Identify solutions and support the process of institutionalize mechanisms for engagement between the municipal level, central government and the private sector to implement the spatial planning reforms, improve communications within municipalities, government and the private sector
- Increase use of performance-based indicators to track spatial planning action plans' implementation
- Organization, conducting and preparing presentations, workshops and launching events
- Developing projects related to spatial planning, construction and legalization and managing grantees (TOR, signing of memorandums, grantee reports, and grantee produced documents review, reports, etc.)
- Preparation of weekly, quarterly and yearly reports
Social Development Impact Assessment Advisor
Stimi Konsalting, Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje
09.2016 - 12.2017
- Provided on case by case technical assistance, consulting, and research capabilities tailored to specific socio-economic development and aid urban areas in becoming more environmentally and friendly
- Preparation of Strategic Environmental Assessment for Local Urban Plan to build a catering facility, Village Kamenjane, Municipality of Bogovinje
- Preparation of Strategic Environmental Assessment for Urban Plan village of Zelino, Municipality of Zelino
- Preparing Environmental Protection Report for manufacturing products of aluminum services and distribution, Municipality of Tetovo
- Preparing Environmental Protection Report for construction of hostel/ restaurant Kalaja, Village Zajas, Municipality of Zajas
Project Engineer
EU- IOM Beautiful Kosovo Programme
05.2011 - 02.2014
- Company Overview: A programme funded by the EU, targeting to beautify Kosovo environment and create employment opportunities through small and medium scale infrastructure projects
- Responsible for the development of the design, acquiring construction permit and other consents as needed, and implementation 47 small and medium infrastructure projects, within budget and within the allotted time frame
- Responsible for the overall contract management
- Prepared design, technical specification, detailed bill of quantities including confidential cost
- Supported the tendering process and selection of contractors, including preparation of works contracts with selected contractors and dynamic plans
- Ensured a construction permit and consents as needed, for each project
- Provided inspection of the contractors works quality and quantity together with the assigned municipal engineers
- Monitored closely the implementation, drafted progress reports and final evaluation reports
- Manage the budget for the assigned project and ensure all expenses are according to budget and meet IOM and donor standards
- Prepared the documentation and conducted the project final acceptance procedure
- Organized and conducted the inauguration events and press release
- A programme funded by the EU, targeting to beautify Kosovo environment and create employment opportunities through small and medium scale infrastructure projects
Construction Manager
03.2012 - 06.2012
- Developed the design, technical specification, detailed bill of quantities including confidential cost, tendering process and selection of contractors, including preparation of works contracts with selected contractors and dynamic plans for the reconstruction and refurbishment of Canadian Visa Application Centres in Prishtina, Tiaran and Podgorica
- Proposed possible locations and facilities to the Steering Committee for the new Application Centers
- Developed the design, technical specifications, BoQ’s, acquired construction permit and other consents as needed
- Followed the procurement process and monitored the implementation process
Junior urban planning officer
Municipality of Tetovo, North Macedonia
Tetovo
01.2009 - 04.2011
- Coordination of the drafting and approval of Detailed Urban Plans
- Planning and impact assessment for infrastructure and public service lines (environmental impact assessment, land planning, facility siting & permitting, risk assessment and resources management, etc.)
- Promoting participatory and inclusive governance through planning, advocacy, and consultative processes
Education
MSc - Architecture and Urban Planning
Ss. Cyril And Methodius/ Faculty of Architecture
Skopje, Macedonia04-2017
Architecture engineer - Architecture, construction and urban planning
Ss. Cyril and Methodius/ Faculty of Architecture
Skopje, Macedonia01.2008
Skills
- and community Solid understanding of land-use policies, and EU or similar environmental standards
- Use of the software used in urban planning like GIS and data analysis tools
- Taking initiative and strategic thinking
- Good cartographic and visual communication skills
- Being calm and tolerant under tensioned situations
- Team leadership and agile methodology
- Project and Infrastructure management
- Stakeholder management and community co-design
Certification
- Use of Arch GIS in urban planning, 01/2008
- Use of Q- GIS for urban planning, 01/2013
- Licensed Urban Planner, 01/2008
- Licensed Architect, 01/2008
Languages
Albanian/ Mother, English/ Fluent, Macedonian/ Fluent, Serbian/ Fluent, Turkish/ Basic.
Timeline
Technical Lead- Urban Transformation
UNDP Kosovo
02.2021 - Current
Urban Planner/ Project manager
INSI-INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
04.2019 - Current
Urban and Architecture Design Manager
Pozhegu Brothers Kosovo
10.2018 - 01.2019
Policy Development Manager
EU Project Creative Active, North Macedonia
07.2018 - 10.2018
Social Development Impact Assessment Advisor
Stimi Konsalting, Skopje, North Macedonia
09.2016 - 12.2017
Construction and Spatial Planning Specialist
USAID Partnerships for Development
03.2014 - 07.2018
Construction Manager
03.2012 - 06.2012
Project Engineer
EU- IOM Beautiful Kosovo Programme
05.2011 - 02.2014
Junior urban planning officer
Municipality of Tetovo, North Macedonia
01.2009 - 04.2011
MSc - Architecture and Urban Planning
Ss. Cyril And Methodius/ Faculty of Architecture
Architecture engineer - Architecture, construction and urban planning
Ss. Cyril and Methodius/ Faculty of Architecture
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