Title:  Senior Planner

About Us

We create thriving places and connected communities by bringing together transport, planning, land use, precinct and policy functions in one 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 workplace.

Planning and Land Services is a Group within the Department of Transport and Planning, and is responsible for a number of significant Statutory Authorities and Administrative Offices ranging in size, complexity and core functions. The Planning and Land Services Group manages the state’s planning, including developing long-term, integrated land-use strategies and policies, adminstering statutory planning responsibilities and facilitating urban development.

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

About the Role

Multiple fixed-term full-time roles until 30 June 2027.

The Department of Transport and Planning is seeking skilled professionals to join our team as Senior Planner. In this role, you will provide high-quality, technically sound advice on development applications, planning scheme amendments, statutory planning matters and priority projects, preparing reports and briefings that guide decision-making while reflecting policy, legal and political contexts. You will also advise senior management on complex development and built form issues, preparing Cabinet submissions and Ministerial briefings to support key initiatives.

The role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with internal teams, government agencies, and external stakeholders, negotiating effectively to achieve optimal planning outcomes. We are looking for flexible, proactive professionals who can collaborate across business units, contribute to departmental priorities and influence projects that shape our communities. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on urban planning and development outcomes.

To access the Position Description, please click here.

Key Selection Criteria

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidte will demonstrate:
•Partnering and co-creation (Applied) - Identifies and partners with proponents/stakeholders/ experts to ensure active collaboration in the design process.
•Critical thinking and problem solving (Leading) - Considers a broad range of topics (beyond immediate area of work), works across government and at senior levels.
•Political and organisational context (Accomplished) - Uses formal and informal influencing relationships and decision-making processes.
•Influence and persuasion (Accomplished) - Gains agreement to proposals and ideas.

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory

•    A relevant tertiary qualification and significant experience in urban planning; in particular, the assessment of large scale and complex development approvals, is required.
Desirable

•    Experience in statutory planning permit, planning scheme amendment and development processes (including Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Planning and Environment List) matters).
•    Experience in assessing complex and/or strategically significant development proposals within a Melbourne central city, metropolitan and regional environment contexts.
•    Effectively negotiates with clients/stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
•    Critically evaluates problems from multiple perspectives and delivers effective solutions.

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 you encounter any issues, refer to our  Quick Reference Guide  for step-by-step instructions.

Applications close at 11.59pm on  Tuesday, 14 October 2025.

For more information, contact via email Adam Henson, Director Planning Facilitation, adam.henson@transport.vic.gov.au.

If you encounter any issues, refer to our  Quick Reference Guide  for step-by-step instructions.