Company description:

About Us

The Department of Transport and Planning seeks to create thriving places and connected communities by ensuring Victoria's transport and land use is safe, sustainable and integrated. Our job is to further integrate the transport network, and land uses to improve the delivery of services to Victorians for simpler, quicker and safer journeys that connect people and places and support Victoria's prosperity and liveability.

The department is committed to building a culture where we say 'yes' to flexible work arrangements, provide personal and professional development programs and support ways of working that help employees balance work and life.

The department is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including veterans, people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, have a disability, are from varied cultural backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTIQ+. The department provides workplace adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Planning and Land Services is a Group within the Department of Transport and Planning, and manages the state's planning, land use, and property systems as well as assessment of environment, heritage and development matters. The Group administers statutory planning responsibilities and facilitates urban development and is responsible for a number of significant Statutory Authorities and Administrative Offices including Planning Panels Victoria.

The State Planning Division provides development of planning policy, emergency recovery coordination, administration of statutory planning processes relating to planning scheme amendments, planning permit applications, and environmental impact assessments including major infrastructure project assessments and approvals and implementation of planning reform.

Job description:

About the Role

The Manager, Planning Systems is responsible for leading and managing a team to maintain the planning system and its effective operation, statutory policy and provisions, and legislation and regulations, in collaboration with other managers. The Manager provides high level leadership and guidance as part of the Management Team for the Planning Systems Reform Unit in the Planning and Building Reform division which is responsible for driving implementation of the Government's major planning and building policies, strategies, systems and reforms.

To access the Position Description, please click here.

We are looking for a strategic leader who excels in managing people, driving organisational performance, and guiding strategic planning in complex, high-stakes environments. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement, political acumen, and critical thinking, while fostering collaboration, adaptability, and a values-driven culture.

Position Outcomes / Accountabilities

• Establish and maintain standard practices and processes for managing projects to reduce project related risks and manage costs, in line with departmental or government practices and standards.
• Identify emerging issues and ensure appropriate responses, including risk analyses and the preparation of advice for consideration by the Director and Executive Director, government, management and stakeholders.
• Oversee the management of resource allocations, budget, programming, complex procurement, contract management, risks, project milestones and deliverables, project governance and reporting associated with major planning projects.
• Lead staff and ensure that role expectations are clearly defined, monitor performance, provide timely and constructive feedback and facilitate employee development.
• Foster key strategic relationships, design and lead complex stakeholder and community engagement strategies with key internal and external stakeholders, to facilitate a partnership approach and ensure that projects are implemented in a collaborative and effective manner.
• Provide authoritative and timely advice to senior management on complex project issues and solutions and prepare detailed reports, business cases, Cabinet submissions, Ministerial briefings, discussion papers, impact assessments and legislation, while demonstrating an understanding of the policy, political and legal context.
• As a member of the Planning Systems Branch leadership team, provide high level support to the Director, Planning Systems and colleagues to deliver DTP values.
• Work flexibly and collaboratively across the business to deliver business unit, group and departmental priorities and initiatives as required.
• Practice cultural safety by creating environments, relationships and systems free from racism and discrimination so that people can feel safe, valued and able to participate.
• In line with Section 31A of the Public Administration Act 2004 (Vic) other duties may be assigned consistent with employment classification, skills, and capabilities.

Qualifications and Experience

Mandatory
• A relevant qualification in planning and policy development and demonstrable experience in leading high performing teams and in the design and maintenance of strategic and statutory planning systems is mandatory.
• A high-level understanding of significant government policies and strategies, with an emphasis on transport and land use, combined with a sound knowledge of government processes involved with progressing budgets, plans, strategy, policy, regulation and legislation is required.

ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
• Driver's License.
• May occasionally involve evening or weekend work during emergencies including occasional overnight, regional and interstate travel.

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 9pm on Thursday, the 5th of June 2025.

Please include a resume and cover letter. All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We're unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.

For further information about the role please contact Redd Peters, Planning Support Officer via [email protected].

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.