Queensland Department of Education – Infrastructure Services Division
Location: Brisbane CBD or Cairns locations available
Rate: $83.99/hr plus super
Duration: 12 month placement with potential for extension

u&u Recruitment Partners is proud to partner with the Department of Education to recruit a Principal Planning Officer (AO7) to join their Service Strategy team within the Infrastructure Services Division. This role can be based in either Brisbane or Cairns and offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful community-driven outcomes across Queensland’s most vulnerable regions.

The Opportunity

This role supports place-based, community-led infrastructure planning across northern, north-western, and south-western Queensland. Working within a growing, forward-thinking team, you will help shape long-term strategies to ensure that infrastructure investments respond to community needs and promote connection to education precincts.

With a program expanding to 42 communities, this is a rare opportunity to drive impact on the ground, influencing early learning hubs, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, boarding facilities, and alternative education settings.

Required Experience

• Lead stakeholder engagement across diverse groups including teachers, school staff, parents, local councils, support agencies, and community service providers;
• Facilitate inclusive and culturally appropriate community co-design workshops;
• Support infrastructure planning that enhances operational needs and community connection to local education precincts;
• Coordinate external consultants and support the expansion of the program (currently 18 communities, growing to 42);
• Develop strategic briefs, monitor planning program outcomes, and ensure effective tracking and governance;
• Provide high-level written advice, briefings, and reports to senior stakeholders; and
• Travel to regional and remote communities is required approximately 3–4 days per quarter.

Note: Infrastructure or construction experience is not required. The focus is on stakeholder engagement, project planning coordination, and social impact.

Benefits

This is a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of education infrastructure across Queensland’s most vulnerable communities. Your work will have a tangible social impact—improving access, attendance, and engagement in schools across the state through thoughtful, inclusive, and place-based planning.

You’ll also have the chance to travel and work in some of Queensland’s most beautiful and diverse regional communities—experiencing firsthand the places and people your work will support.

In addition, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive hourly rate of $83.99 plus super;
• 12-month engagement with strong potential for extension;
• Flexible work arrangements, with the option to be based in either Brisbane or Cairns;
• Collaborative, professional team culture with strong leadership support; and
• Opportunity to work on a high-profile, growing program with long-term impact.

How to Apply

For more information or a confidential discussion please contact Celine Di Lauro at u&u on [email protected] quoting reference number 42221.

At u&u Recruitment Partners, we value diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.

Should you require reasonable adjustments or have a preferred method of communication throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to make a request via [email protected] or phone the above-mentioned u&u consultant to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement the appropriate adjustments.

Additionally, for a barrier-free and inclusive online experience, you can access u&u’s opportunities using accessibility software Recite Me at https://www.uandu.com/jobs.

Please submit your resume in Word format only.

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