Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $138,631 - $185,518
Grade: VPS 6
Occupation: Planning
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: 9648
About us
We create thriving places and connected communities. We bring together transport, planning, land use, precinct and policy functions in a single department to deliver the best outcomes for Victorians.
Together with our portfolio agencies, we are responsible for planning, building, operating and +maintaining Victoria’s transport, planning and land services for use by all.
Housing, Building and Land Delivery drives balanced urban growth by delivering zoned land for housing, jobs and infrastructure in State-led areas, a pipeline of government-owned land for development, and an improved building system.
We foster a safe, inclusive and constructive place to work.
About the role
This is a Fixed Term fulltime role until 29 January 2027. The position sits within the Planning Services team in the New Communities division of Housing, Building and Land Delivery, which plays a key role in delivering streamlined statutory planning solutions across Victoria. The team supports government planning reform, delivers expert-led urban growth planning, and focuses on enabling successful communities by providing zoned land for housing and jobs, coordinating infrastructure, and supporting post-plan delivery in new communities, renewal precincts, regional cities, and towns.
Position Accountabilities
Provide technical advice and support that enables the implementation of DTP New Communities plans including planning scheme amendments and other statutory services.
Provide input to the DTP response and guidance to Victorian Government on its legislative and regulatory planning reform agenda, with a vision for innovative and streamlined processes.
Drive and support DTP New Communities input to the Victorian Government’s Housing Statement by providing innovative and clear solutions to planning scheme amendment processes.
Maintain and build strong relationships with key partners across DTP, Melbourne Water, Environmental Protection Authority, Planning Panels Victoria, etc.
Administer workload to ensure the delivery of DTP New Communities agreed work plan while supporting the Director in providing professional development of the statutory planning team.
Key Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will provide thorough knowledge and understanding of the Victorian planning system, particularly the statutory planning framework as it applies to planning permits and planning scheme amendments, relevant legislation and local government practices. It also requires a qualification related to urban planning, property, urban design, or an equivalent discipline. Strong communication skills are essential, including the ability to brief high-level stakeholders within the candidate’s area of expertise across a range of forums, as well as the capacity to influence and negotiate with stakeholders who may hold competing priorities and views.
The position demands advanced technical expertise, with responsibility for providing leadership and guidance and actively seeking improvements and innovation in processes. The role also involves responsibility for operational policy or service development with significant impact across functional areas, contributing expert input to strategic planning and decision-making. In addition, the role includes managing an area of strategic importance, which may involve significant budget oversight, staff management responsibilities, and broader administrative and corporate support functions.
Position Description, please click here Planning Services Manager
Qualifications and Experience
Qualification related to urban planning, urban design or equivalent (mandatory)
Other relevant information:
Ordinary hours of work are Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 7:00pm.
May occasionally involve evening or weekend work including occasional overnight, regional and interstate travel.
Cultural Values
We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds representing the community that we serve, including veterans, parents, carers, First Peoples, people with disability, multicultural, multifaith and LGBTIQA+ individuals.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture. Through shared actions and behaviours aligned with our strategy and direction, we empower our people to thrive and meaningfully contribute to the department’s goals.
What we offer
Working at the Department of Transport and Planning provides people with the opportunity to contribute to creating thriving places and connected communities for all Victorians.
For further details please refer to Careers at the Department of Transport and Planning.
Pre-employment checks and employment conditions
All new appointments to the department will be subject to a National Criminal Records Check, Misconduct Screening, and a Qualification Check where there is a requirement for a mandatory qualification. Information provided to the Department of Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence consistent with the requirements of the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa necessary for the nature of the position.
Recipients of Victorian Public Service (VPS) voluntary departure packages should note that re-employment restrictions apply.
Non-VPS applicants will be subject to a probation period of six months.
How to apply
Click the ‘Apply’ button to be redirected to our recruitment platform, where you may need to create an account to submit your application.
Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
If you encounter any issues, refer to our Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Please include both your resume and a cover letter. All applications must be submitted via the online portal, we’re unable to accept email or manual submissions.
For further information about the role, please contact Steve Barclay, Director – Planning Services via email [email protected].
Important Information:
If you require any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process or need the advert or attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print), please contact us by phone or email. We're here to support you.