Company description:

Department of Communities and Justice

Job description:

Director Design

Based in Parramatta

Temporary role available up to June 2029

Secondments from other Government agencies for shorter periods will also be considered

$251,097 to $275,200 total remuneration payable

Your role

Homes NSW leads work to deliver more social and affordable housing, end the cycle of homelessness, and deliver quality public housing across NSW.

The Design Director leads the development of design policy, standards, strategy and their implementation to deliver quality, sustainable, social and affordable housing precincts and projects, fostering innovation and creating people-centred residences, recognising that better design will deliver greater, lasting benefits to communities.

What you'll do

As leader of the Design team within Homes NSW, you will:

• Establish best practice design standards by implementation of methodologies and provision of high-level design analysis, critique, and expert advice.
• Lead the implementation of a Homes NSW Design Guide to communicate expectations, drive value for money, ensure greater consistency and a platform for innovation across all projects.
• Engage and build relationships with the architecture and housing sectors to enhance collaboration, procurement outcomes, and deliver best practices.
• Represent Homes NSW on design committees, panels, and design excellence review panels and juries.
• Lead the strategic review and implementation of the design assurance framework, including the design review, project peer review, post occupancy review processes to ensure good quality outcomes across all building typologies.

What we're looking for

• You must hold a degree in architecture, urban design and/or other relevant discipline or display an equivalent level of relevant experience.
• You must hold, or be eligible to hold, Architect's registration in NSW.
• Significant experience working collaboratively with and across a broad range of stakeholders: diverse agencies and tiers of government, not-for-profit / industry / sectors, professional organisations and communities.
• Substantial experience providing strategic leadership across a range of circumstances in policy, practice, education and research, drawing upon innovative architectural, urban design and other design practices locally and nationally.

Download the role description.

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To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now' button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply - you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Sunday 20 July 2025 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager, Michael Wheatley, on 0484 627 467 or at [email protected].

If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Dylan Huke on 0484 362 936 or at [email protected].

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

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