Be part of shaping the Gold Coast's future

The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.

We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia and we have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:

Flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle, including hybrid/work from home options, flexible working hours and locations

Personal and professional development courses

Access to 350+ fitness facilities through Fitness Passport

4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member

1 free nutritionist and financial advice session per year

We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer-focused organisation which delivers value-for-money services to the community. We're committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture.

About the team:

Located in the Planning and Regulation Department, the City Planning Branch is responsible for long term planning and policy development to manage growth and development of our city while protecting and conserving our natural resources and heritage. The City Design business unit is responsible for providing architectural, urban design and place making services. It also manages the physical, economic and social revitalisation of commercial centre public areas across the Gold Coast to deliver attractive, vibrant places that embrace community needs and deliver contemporary, world class business and tourist destinations.

About your new role:

We are looking for someone to manage the City Place Making team and delivery of a program of work to ensure best practice place making and landscape architecture for the City. The City Place Making team ensures innovation and best practice is promoted and incorporated into all city-wide projects to optimise place making and landscape architecture outcomes and benefits to the city and community.

Key position responsibilities:

Lead, coach and mentor team members, taking responsibility and accountability for team functions and performance.

Review and sign off technical design documentation for place making and landscape architecture projects.

Monitor and ensure delivery of the City Place Making team’s program of work including concept designs, masterplans and tactical urbanism to meet key objectives for budget, quality, and timeframes.

Lead the development, review, amendment and implementation of policy and programs for the management, protection and promotion of good landscape architecture and place making within the Gold Coast.

Collaborate with other departments in relation to works concerning the City’s urban and landscape architecture, ensuring impacts on the city’s liveability are considered and identified.

Provide leadership, advocacy and specialised place making and landscape architecture advice for City projects and initiatives to support high quality design outcomes for public domain environments in the city.

Knowledge of relevant legislation and construction techniques to ensure compliance and quality control.

Provide advice and reports on place making matters to Councillors for consideration at Committee meetings and/or Council meetings.

Liaise with City officers, industry, businesses, and community representatives in relation to place making and landscape architecture projects, strategies and policies.

Work collaboratively with the Architecture and Urban Design teams, within City Design and with other council stakeholders involved in the creation of places and public domain environments.

For more information, view the position brief by clicking the paperclip icon in the top right corner of this screen.

We're looking for people who have:

Relevant tertiary qualifications in architecture, urban design or landscape architecture and/or substantial knowledge and previous experience in place making and landscape architecture advisory services.

Experience in leading, managing, and mentoring others as part of a high performing team.

A thorough understanding of place making, landscape architecture and sustainable practices.

An ability to provide place making and landscape architecture advice to internal and external customers.

Demonstrated experience in team and project management with the ability to coordinate and manage projects and resources effectively to achieve milestones and deliverables, where collaborative action is required in a diverse work environment.

Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with particular emphasis in the areas of consultation, negotiating and influencing important and often contentious projects to gain resolution.

Demonstrated high level of experience in leading the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of place making and landscape architecture policies and guidelines.

An ability to work under limited direction, take initiative, ensure the completion of tasks and manage and support others to achieve successful outcomes.

Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and investigative skills, drawing on extensive knowledge and the latest research on landscape architecture, place making, and planning practices to convert ideas and objectives into masterplans, action plans and programs.

An ability to work in complex frameworks and regulatory environments to identify significant place making and landscape architecture issues and recommend appropriate responses and solutions.

How to apply:

Click 'Apply' to submit your online application. Upload your Resume with a Cover Letter (of no more than 2 pages) outlining how your skills, experience and personal attributes would allow you to achieve success in this role.

Documents need to be less than 2MB in size and PDF format is preferred. If you encounter technical issues when applying, please [email protected]

Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.

Please note applications for all of our vacancies close at 10.30pm on the listed closing date.

The City of Gold Coast is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are committed to supporting an environment where all employees, regardless of their differences or similarities, feel valued, respected and supported. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons are encouraged to apply.