Manager Planning & Growth

About the role: 
As the Manager of Planning and Growth, you'll lead our team in delivering the City's integrated planning program, encompassing everything from land use planning policy to environmental planning. Your role will be crucial in shaping the future development and growth of the Geelong region. Operating autonomously within legislative frameworks, you'll work closely with the Executive Director and peers to ensure alignment with the Council Plan and promote sustainable development, thereby realising the community's vision. 

Your responsibilities will include driving the preparation and monitoring of various strategic plans and policies, such as the City’s social infrastructure planning strategy, regional and municipal transport strategy, stormwater strategy and policy, integrated water management portfolio, environmental management strategy, natural and biodiversity strategy, and climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. 

Work type: Temporary, full-time (5-year contract)   

Key responsibilities include: 

• Developing a clear, inspiring vision for the department's future, formulating strategic goals to achieve it, and communicating it effectively to lead the department. 
• Working closely with the peers, in particular the Manager Urban Design and Place and Engineering to establish effective ways of working.  
• Being a trusted and sought after advisor by providing considered and evidence-based intelligence on integrated place-based policies and strategic plans.  
• Providing strong leadership that values diversity and is adaptable to growth and change and developing and promoting a cohesive culture within the department. 
• Driving the development and delivery of the long-term departmental initiatives and business plans in line with the Directorate Strategy. 
• Maintaining close working relationships with diverse internal and external industry stakeholders and leveraging the network to advocate and build effective partnerships.  
• Providing subject matter expertise and advice to CEO, executive leadership, Councillors and other relevant stakeholders, and positively represent the City in public meetings or media.  
• Driving the development of planning policy and consistent application of the policy for all residential, commercial, community, open space, port, and rural areas.   
• Managing the delivery of the City’s growth area planning program ensuring land is available in the right location and planning is used to facilitate the best outcome for the community and environment.  
• Overseeing the implementation of strategic plans to achieve the City’s strategic planning vision and objectives, ensuring the planning is evidence based, coordinated, and considers costs and asset maintenance.  

About you 
To be successful in this role you will have strong experience in integrated strategic planning with significant experience with growth areas. 

Essential Experience: 

• A tertiary qualification in strategic planning for the built and natural environment or a related field and significant comparable experience.  
• Senior leadership experience in strategically leading similar teams in a comparable organisation.  
• Strong understanding of the political landscape, including the nuance and sensitivities around political matters as well as the policy creation processes.  
• Strong analytical and research abilities with experience and understanding of delivering exception place-based planning and design outcomes. 
• Proven change management skills with the ability to be adaptable and facilitate business improvements in complex environments. 
• Well-developed stakeholder management skills with the ability to advocate, build and maintain strategic relationships across the organization, with levels of government and industry networks and partnerships.   
• Project management skills with demonstrated ability to oversee multiple large projects to quality outputs, within tight deadlines and budget. 
• Demonstrated experience in the development, implementation and advocacy of policies, plans and strategies related to the disciplines highlighted above. 

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now!  

Child Safety Responsibilities:  

We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy. 

Diversity and Inclusion 

At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience. 

A career with us 
Central Geelong-based City employees are now based in our new Civic Precinct, Wurriki Nyal. Meaning ‘speak and talk together’ in local Wadawurrung language.  Wurriki Nyal sets the benchmark for what a sustainable, inclusive, and culturally safe workplace can be, including industry leading sustainability standards, a flexible and people-focused design, safe and inclusive spaces and public realm. 

We’re committed to supporting better accessibility for our customers and our people.  We encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments or additional support you may require during the recruitment process, as well as how this role can be flexible for you.  

Applications and Enquiries 

Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position. 

Position Description (Word Version)

Position Description (PDF Version)

Applications close: Friday 26 April 2024 at 11.55pm 

Enquiries: Sonia Cheema | Talent Acquisition Specialist | ************@geelongcity.vic.gov.au  

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at *******@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch. 

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