Title:  Principal Planner

About us

We create thriving places and connected communities. We bring together transport, planning, land use, precinct and policy functions in a single department to deliver the best outcomes for Victorians.  

Together with our portfolio agencies, we are responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining Victoria’s transport, planning and land services for use by all.  

We foster a safe, inclusive and constructive place to work.

About the group

Planning and Land Services delivers responsive, customer focussed, high quality planning, land administration and property services that support thriving places and connected communities.

About the role

This is a Full TIME FIXED TERM position until 30/06/2027

The Principal Planner is a technical lead responsible for statutory assessment of planning permit applications and planning scheme amendments where the Minister for Planning is the responsible authority. This includes a range of complex projects through the Development Facilitation Program and other Ministerial pathways. The Principal Planner has a key role in supporting managers and contributing statutory planning expertise to major projects and other planning initiatives or programs. The position requires a highly motivated individual with demonstrated experience in statutory planning, project delivery, stakeholder management and governance in the public or private sectors.

The successful candidate will be a technical specialist in urban planning and be able to lead projects, develop and facilitate proposals, provide well thought out advice and be able to contribute to a dynamic team.

To access the Position Description, please click here

We are seeking a collaborative and outcomes-focused professional to work across the business in delivering departmental priorities and fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing team culture. The ideal candidate will build strong partnerships, apply strategic and critical thinking, and uphold public sector values to achieve meaningful outcomes for the community.

Position accountabilities

– Lead the facilitation and delivery of authoritative, timely and accurate advice on all aspects of development applications, planning scheme amendments, priority projects and statutory planning matters to deliver the Minister for Planning’s responsibilities.
– Prepare (and review) planning assessment reports, briefs and correspondence that demonstrate a detailed understanding of the policy, statutory and political context.
– Provide authoritative advice to senior management on major projects and other planning initiatives or programs.
– Pro-actively case manage complex statutory approvals and projects to meet required timelines.
– Manage key stakeholder relationships and partnerships within the department and with other government agencies and key stakeholders to negotiate the successful delivery of advice and assessments.
– Provide assistance and advice to managers to ensure effective management of resources and workflow to maximise team and individual performance.
– Mentor, coach and provide guidance to team members, where appropriate.
– Represent State Planning at high level working groups, meetings, conferences and forums to ensure department interests are effectively represented.

Qualifications and experience

– A relevant qualification in planning (mandatory)
– Significant experience in private consulting, local or state government statutory planning (mandatory)

Culture Value

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds representing the community that we serve, including veterans, parents, carers, First Peoples, people with disability, multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+ individuals.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture. Through shared actions and behaviours aligned with our strategy and direction, we empower our people to thrive and meaningfully contribute to the department’s goals.

Culture Value

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds representing the community that we serve, including veterans, parents, carers, First Peoples, people with disability, multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+ individuals.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture. Through shared actions and behaviours aligned with our strategy and direction, we empower our people to thrive and meaningfully contribute to the department’s goals.

What we offer

Working at the Department of Transport and Planning provides people with the opportunity to contribute to creating thriving places and connected communities for all Victorians.

For further details please refer to Careers at the Department of Transport and Planning.

Pre-employment checks and employment conditions

All new appointments to the department will be subject to a National Criminal Records Check, Misconduct Screening, and a Qualification Check where there is a requirement for a mandatory qualification. Information provided to the Department of Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence consistent with the requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa necessary for the nature of the position.

Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply.

Non-VPS applicants will be subject to a probation period of six months.

How to apply

Click the ‘Apply’ button to be redirected to our recruitment platform, where you may need to create an account to submit your application.

If have any issues, click here for Quick Reference Guide on how to apply.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Thursday, 23rd of October 2025.

Please include both your resume and a cover letter. All applications must be submitted via the online portal, we’re unable to accept email or manual submissions.

For further information about the role, please contact Erin Baden-Smith, A/Director Development Assessment via erin.baden-smith@transport.vic.gov.au. 

Important Information:

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