Title:  Principal Planner (Traralgon or Leongatha, Gippsland or other regional locations/partly hybrid)

About Us

 
The Department of Transport and Planning seeks to create thriving places and connected communities by ensuring Victoria’s transport and land use is safe, sustainable and integrated. Our job is to further integrate the transport network, and land uses to improve the delivery of services to Victorians for simpler, quicker and safer journeys that connect people and places and support Victoria's prosperity and liveability.

The department is committed to building a culture where we say 'yes' to flexible work arrangements, provide personal and professional development programs and support ways of working that help employees balance work and life.

The department is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including veterans, people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, have a disability, are from varied cultural backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTIQ+.  The department provides workplace adjustments for applicants with disabilities. 

Planning and Land Services is a Group within the Department of Transport and Planning, and manages the state’s planning, land use, and property systems as well as assessment of environment, heritage and development matters. The Group administers statutory planning responsibilities and facilitates urban development and is responsible for a number of significant Statutory Authorities and Administrative Offices including Planning Panels Victoria.  

The State Planning Division provides development of planning policy, emergency recovery coordination, administration of statutory planning processes relating to planning scheme amendments, planning permit applications, and environmental impact assessments including major infrastructure project assessments and approvals and implementation of planning reform.   

About the Role

Usual place of work will be based in Gippsland, primarily Traralgon or Leongatha, with flexibility to work from other regional locations. 

The Principal Planner will provide high level technical land use planning expertise to inform the delivery of complex planning and priority projects for government. The position will assist with the delivery of complex planning projects, including scoping, review and assessment of projects. 

The Principal Planner will also work across regional and rural Victoria to deliver the Regional Planning Hub program, including support and resources to assist councils with their statutory and strategic planning priorities and to build land use planning capability and capacity. 

The Regional Hub program delivers a series of planning initiatives that supports social, environmental and economic recovery across Victoria’s regions in consultation with local governments and key government agencies. The work program has been funded to improve the prosperity of regional and rural Victoria and delivering projects that will contribute to making regional and rural Victoria a great place to live, work and visit.

The Principal Planner will mentor, coach and guide project teams. 

To access the Position Description, please click here.

We are looking for a strategic leader with expertise in critical thinking, project delivery, and stakeholder management, who can navigate complex environments to develop sustainable solutions. The ideal candidate will guide strategic planning processes, engage senior stakeholders, and balance organizational priorities while mentoring others and building capability.

Position Outcomes / Accountabilities 

•    Provide high level technical land use planning expertise to inform the delivery of complex planning projects including mentoring, coaching and guiding project teams. 
•    Provide high level statutory services to support the delivery and implementation of the Regional Planning Hub program and align to the new planning and regional development policies, programs and projects in the regions. Lead and drive the delivery of complex planning projects, including scoping, monitor overall project performance against project plans and ensure that objectives are met. 
•    Initiate, maintain and manage effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, gain cooperation, and influence views on complex, contentious and sensitive matters within established parameters.
•    Maintain standard practices and processes for managing projects to reduce project related risks and manage costs, in line with departmental or government practices and standards. 
•    Identify emerging issues and ensure appropriate responses, including risk analyses and the preparation of reports for consideration by the Executive Director, government, management and stakeholders. 
•    Provide authoritative advice to senior management on complex project issues and solutions and prepare detailed reports, business cases, Cabinet submissions, Ministerial briefings, discussion papers and legislation, on time, and that demonstrate an understanding of the policy, political and legal context. 
•    Work flexibly and collaboratively across the business to deliver business unit, group and departmental priorities and initiatives as required. 
•    Practice cultural safety by creating environments, relationships and systems free from racism and discrimination so that people can feel safe, valued and able to participate.
•    In line with Section 31A of the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic) other duties may be assigned consistent with employment classification, skills, and capabilities. 

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory 
•    A relevant tertiary qualification in Planning, or a related field, is required. 
•    A thorough working knowledge of the planning system.
•    Proven technical leadership skills and expertise, including demonstrated capacity to provide strategic advice, direction and guidance in a complex business environment. 
•    Exceptional conceptual and analytical skills, with the ability to apply complex concepts from non-related fields to address policy issues and provide strategic direction. 
•    Demonstrated experience in the delivery of complex land use planning projects in the public or private sectors

ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
•    Driver’s License.  
•    May occasionally involve evening or weekend work during emergencies including occasional overnight, regional and interstate travel.  

What we offer
 
•    Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable 
•    Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services
•    A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork
•    Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements
•    Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs
•    We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture

Culture Value

We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.