Director, Land Planning & Approvals

Victoria, Australia

Land Planning Approvals Director

• Make a real difference and help shape our customers’ Energy Future. 
• Elevate your career at one of Australia’s best energy organisations. 
• Inclusive and Supportive Culture> Flexible Work Environment 

When you choose AusNet, you’ll join genuine people working together making Real. Progress

At AusNet, we’re the link between renewable energy sources and local communities, playing a key role in the clean energy transition and providing essential energy to every Victorian family.

 Help us lead the way, while enriching your career with real people who encourage you to bring your best and make real impact – for your career, our communities, and Australia’s cleaner energy future.

Purposeful work with genuinely good people. That’s refreshing.

Are you passionate about making a tangible impact on major infrastructure projects? Do you excel in navigating complex environmental regulations and statutory approvals? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you at AusNet. 

As a vital member of our team, you will play a critical role in delivering AusNet’s landmark projects that require an Environment Effects Statement (EES) and other essential statutory approvals. Your expertise will be instrumental in shaping the future of sustainable energy infrastructure. 

Your immediate priority will be within the Western Renewables Link (WRL) project team. Here, you will lead a dynamic team, collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders, including specialists from various project streams. Your mission: to provide expert statutory planning and EES advice that ensures the successful approval and execution of this groundbreaking project.

Supported by our approvals team, you will spearhead the submissions for the WRL and other AusNet projects, securing necessary approvals from relevant authorities. Your role will be pivotal in providing strategic insights and leadership, ensuring that our projects not only meet but exceed regulatory standards.

With a 3/2 Hybrid split Office / WFH , this role is based in Melbourne CBD and is part of the Western Renewables Link project team, Development & Future Networks team. 

This role will deliver real outcomes, including but not limited to:

• Lead the Land Planning & Approval team by role modelling company values, to manage team performance and achieve strategic objectives of AusNet to secure complex statutory approvals in Victoria and other jurisdictions for the construction and management of electrical infrastructure.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for the development and implementation of complex planning, heritage and environmental approval strategies to deliver the WRL project and other AusNet projects.
• Lead the team’s contribution to tender submissions and requests for tenders including scoping, cost estimation, evaluations and reviews with regards to planning and environment effects / requirements
• Manage budgets and forecasts in accordance with delegation of authority
• Provide regualry briefings to the AusNet executive leadership team on progress and key issue management regarding project approvals and compliance during constrution and opeartion within regulatory frameworks of AusNet proejcts
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, government agencies and the community to support the developent and delivery of projects.
• Lead the team to work with a variety of stakeholders to collate the required inputs to obtain planning permits, scheme amendments, heritage approvals and completeion of the EES for WRL
• Lead meetings and workshops with multi-disciplinary teams and consultants to resolve proejct issues and facilitate the delivery of project approvals
• Participate in community information sessions and stakeholder meetings including with environmental interest groups.
• Develop high performing teams and fosters the development and growth of our workforce
• Play a leadership role across the WRL Leadership team in the achievement of strategic objectives and continually improving the culture and engagement of the team
• Manage effectively senior internal stakeholders including DFN and Ausnet Executives leadership team

You don’t need to check every box; however, we are looking for a good combination of:

• Tertiary qualification in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning or other relevant discipline
• Demonstrated understanding of the statutory planning and State and Federal environmental approvals processes and utility legislation (ability to provide sound technical advice)
• Demonstrate subject matter expertise and experiece in participating  in design reviews, identifying opportunities for improved environmental outcomes; being a trusted advisor and source of expert guidance on project approvals and EES matters for proejct delivery   
• Demonstrated success in leading proejct teams deliverying complex and high-profile land, planning and environment approvals for major infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams undertaking environmental assessments, preparation of technical deliverables, reports, project monitoring and resourcing to meet deadlines and budgets for large-scale projects
• Proven experience leading or contributing significantly to completion of an EES and obtaining projects approval on similar major infrastructure projects
• Experience in managing delivery of approvals and project construction through use of subcontractors
• Experience managing large multifisciplinary teams of specialists with planning and environment scope

A real place to belong   

We celebrate unique voices, refreshing perspectives and diversity in our team. Engage and connect through our social club, family day, wide range of events or by joining one of our Employee Network Groups.  

We believe in more than just competitive pay. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Flexibility: whether this is hybrid work, flexible hours, or part time arrangements, we’ll work with you to help balance work and life.
• Leave: more than typical personal leave and a generous 14 weeks of paid parental leave, with no minimum service.
• Community giving: a paid day to volunteer with our social impact partner, Foodbank, or for a cause that matters to you.
• Perks: we offer all the other perks you’ve come to expect like purchased leave, income protection insurance, novated leasing, corporate discounts, private health cover discounts and more.

As an industry in transformation, we’re excited by the possibilities ahead.

So, if you’re passionate about our purpose and committed to making real progress, bring your energy and join AusNet. Together, we can shape a new way forward.