Title:  Senior Planner

About Us

The Department of Transport and Planning oversees key planning, transport and land use policy decisions and management across the State. A life-cycle approach to planning, building, connecting and sustaining communities means our people can come together to; improve services, deliver sustainable projects, focus on customer engagement, streamline regulatory approval pathways, facilitate community consultation and better realise local economic opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

About the Housing Building and Land Group

Housing Building and Land Delivery is a Group within Department of Transport and Planning which defines and plans the needs and approach to Victorian places and communities.

The Connected Places division sits within the Housing, Building and Land Delivery group. The division works collaboratively across government to lead the delivery of complex integrated land use and transport planning strategies, projects and guidance in areas undergoing significant change or pressure, shaping how places and transport networks are designed and planned to achieve thriving places and connected communities.

The Connected Places branch supports the seamless integration of land use and transport initiatives across government by coordinating and advancing high-priority projects that create vibrant, well-connected communities throughout Victoria.  The branch leads and supports planning initiatives enabling government-wide oversight, coordination, and monitoring of outcomes in greenfield areas, including land supply, infrastructure sequencing, prioritisation, and delivery.

We’re focused on outcomes that deliver more choice, connections and confidence in our travel, ensuring the whole transport network works as one to deliver better services and outcomes.

About the Role

This is a Fixed Term, full-time position for 3 years.

The Senior Planner is an exciting role that will input into the planning and delivery of greenfield growth areas and significant precincts. Supporting the Connected Places leadership team, you will work with land use and transport planners at State and local levels to ensure integrated transport and land use is achieving priority Government policies and outcomes.

The Senior Planner will have a lead role implementing initiatives from the Economic Growth Statement, Victoria’s Housing Statement and the 10-year plan for Melbourne’s greenfields.  This work will include but not be limited to undertaking land supply investigations (residential and employment), facilitating development through a dedicated greenfield subdivision concierge, developing initiatives to support the development of zoned greenfield land and providing input into key land use initiatives such as the 10-year plan for industrial land.

With demonstrated experience of working with multi-disciplinary internal expert or consultant teams to deliver complex urban renewal and/or greenfield projects and strategic planning, you will have a hands-on role as a land use planning expert facilitating outcomes in a highly complex public-sector environment. 

To access the Position Description, please click here

Position Outcomes

We are seeking a dynamic planning professional to lead the delivery of major land use planning and development initiatives in growth areas and key precincts. This role involves managing complex projects, budgets, procurement, and stakeholder relationships while ensuring integrated transport and land use outcomes. You will collaborate across government and with local councils to develop innovative planning solutions, contribute expert advice on policy and statutory matters, and prepare high-quality reports, business cases, and Cabinet submissions. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally safe, and collaborative workplace.

Key Selection Criteria –

Strategic Planning (Applied)

• Ensures that day to day planning and work processes are in line with team/organisational strategy.
• Identifies and develops own and team objectives linking strategies to action to achieve these.
• Guides others in strategic planning process.

Partnering and Co-creation (Applied)

• Identifies and partners with users/stakeholders/experts to ensure active collaboration in the design process to understand user needs, obtain ideas, insights and input.
• Work with stakeholders/users to build prototypes and coordinate testing to validate the strategy, program or product.
• Ensures decisions are made within agreed timeframes.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (Applied)

• Resolves issues through deep understanding or interpretation of existing guidelines. Where guidelines are not available, analyses ideas available and takes action through self, or in consultation with others to resolve problems. If required, determine additional information needed to make informed decisions.
• Applies critical thinking and problem-solving concepts in the right context

Project Delivery (Accomplished)

• Defines tasks to be delivered to meet agreed outcomes.
• Leads and guides others in the execution of work activities.
• Monitors progress of tasks against plans and takes corrective action when required Is regarded as a thought leader in project management.

Communicate with Impact (Applied)

• Prepares and delivers logical sequential and succinct presentations.  
• Uses clear and concise language.  
• Uses media appropriate to the audience and presents information to develop the understanding of the topic.   

Stakeholder Management (Accomplished)

• Identifies issues in common for one or more clients or stakeholders and uses them to build mutually beneficial partnerships; Identifies and responds to stakeholder’s underlying needs.
• Uses understanding of the stakeholder’s organisational context to ensure outcomes are achieved.

On a personal level the candidate will be required to demonstrates strong flexibility and collaboration by swiftly adapting to changing priorities, guiding others to foster a collaborative culture, and proactively identifying opportunities to work across teams to achieve shared outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory

• A tertiary qualification in planning or a related discipline.
• Excellent working knowledge of the Victorian planning system.
• Demonstrated experience in project management and delivering complex planning projects.

Desirable

• Experience working within statutory and strategic planning in a greenfield or major brownfield development context.
• Minimum 6 years planning experience.
• Previous experience working in a government environment.

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.

How to Apply

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Applications close 11.59pm on Sunday, 6th of July 2025. 

All Applications should include a resume and a cover letter. For further information about the role please contact Shelley Bennett - Principal Planner – Connected Places Strategy and Precincts via (03) 5172 2311 or shelley.bennett@transport.vic.gov.au and Ella Adams - Principal Connected Places Housing, Building & Land Delivery via (03) 7040 5502 or ella.adams@transport.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know by phone or email if you need any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process. If you require the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print) due to viewing difficulties or other accessibility needs, we are happy to accommodate.