Shape the future of Australia’s sixth-largest city!

The Gold Coast will welcome more than one million residents by 2046. To get there, we need smart planning that balances growth with lifestyle, climate resilience and protecting what people love most about our city.

This is where you come in.

As Strategic Planning Lead, you’ll join our small, agile Regional Planning team to deliver city-shaping land use planning. Your work will guide housing, jobs, transport, infrastructure and green space for decades to come.

What you’ll do:

Lead major strategic planning projects that set the city’s growth direction

Provide expert advice on the new planning scheme

Drive research, policy and analysis to inform land use decisions

Lead community and industry conversations on the future of the Gold Coast

Mentor team members and help foster a positive, high-performance culture

What we’re looking for

A qualified town/urban planner (Bachelor or equivalent) with extensive experience in strategic planning and policy development

A track record of leading complex projects and managing competing priorities

Strong communication skills you can distil technical policy into plain English and present to community groups, councillors or ministers with confidence

Collaborative leadership style, able to work across teams and with state and federal agencies

Sharp analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to turn data into clear, evidence-based policy

Why join us?

Work on city-defining projects that influence how and where the Gold Coast grows

Be part of a flexible, supportive, and high-trust team that values initiative and innovation

Contribute to policies that protect our lifestyle, support resilience and create opportunity for future generations

Flexible Part time hours will also be considered if requested by the successful candidate

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.

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 [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.