Lead a dynamic team of specialists, designers and support staff
- Play a critical role in the delivery of critical telecommunications infrastructure
- Sydney or Melbourne location
**About AARNet**:
Australia's Academic and Research Network (AARNet) was established in 1989 and is widely regarded as the founder of the Internet in Australia and renowned as the architect, builder and operator of world-class network infrastructure for research and education.
We are Australia's National Research and Education Network (NREN). We connect over one million users—researchers, faculty, staff and students—at institutions across Australia, supporting education and research across a diverse range disciplines including high energy physics, climate science, genomics, radio astronomy and the arts.
We are an organisation of innovators, doers, and courageous thinkers. We are not constrained by traditional products and solutions, and we constantly strive to build the solutions that our customers will need tomorrow - today. If you have the imagination, foresight and drive to build the future why not come and join us?
**The Role**:
As part of its dedication to providing world-class infrastructure to support the research and education sector across Australia, AARNet has committed to extending its fibre optic cable footprint to reach new locations across the country. We are passionate about building a high-quality telecommunications network that will support the next generation of educators, researchers and students into the future.
We are seeking an experienced Planning & Approvals Manager to join the Infrastructure Development team to oversee the groups' environmental and cultural heritage activities. Drawing on your demonstrated senior leadership skills and experience you will manage, lead & motivate a planning team to secure and maintain strategic approvals for AARNet's national infrastructure projects. The role will ensure the timely delivery of approvals, and ensure the cultural heritage due diligence, environmental compliance, and statutory approvals for our optical fibre construction projects across the country are achieved.
You will bring to the role an in-depth understanding of Federal, State and local legislation complimented by your significant experience gaining environmental and cultural heritage project approvals The Planning and Approvals team is an essential driver for AARNet's infrastructure pipeline and delivery targets. Your ability to efficiently plan and execute critical planning and approvals objectives will underpin your success in this role.
**Responsibilities**:
Key Responsibilities will include:
- Lead the team to identify and deliver project approvals, environmental approvals, Native Title and cultural heritage agreements required for AARNet's telecommunications infrastructure.
- Effectively manage external planning consultants with a view to establishing a small in-house team.
- Collaborate effectively across IDG and external stakeholders to develop and implement relevant strategies to ensure strategic project objectives are achieved.
- Directly leading engagement with appropriate local, state, and federal authorities, Registered Aboriginal Parties and key landowners for fibre optic cable construction.
- Manage and maintain productive working relationships with key regulators and environmental and heritage stakeholders.
- The production of draft and final reports on the conduct and results of heritage surveys and related documents.
- Presenting to AARNet senior management proposed planning and approvals strategies and risks as well as confidently providing thorough and clear advice and direction
- Identify and drive simplification, standardisation and efficiency in the teams planning and approvals processes.
- Ensure project environmental, cultural heritage and statutory compliance to minimise risk and legal exposure by;
- Providing expert advice on all statutory obligations pertaining to the construction of fibre optic cable
- Obtaining project permits and permissions, including statutory approvals.
- Ensuring project compliance
- Ensure contractors understand obligations.
- Complete environmental due diligence assessments and reports
- Provide professional support and environmental and cultural advice to project teams during the design, construction and operation of Telecommunications Assets
- Oversee the engagement and management of environment and heritage consultants where required.
- Providing project environmental advice, supervision and auditing
- Resolving issues and negotiating conditions
**Expertise, experience & qualifications**:
- Australian Citizen and the ability to obtain a Security Clearance
- A tertiary degree in Town Planning, Cultural Heritage or related field
- Professional membership (or willingness to obtain) of an appropriate cultural heritage body
- Experience in technical report writing, editing and understanding of survey reports.
- Extensive experien