Group Leader Design and Drafting
Our Community Development team is looking for a Group Leader – Design and Drafting to lead the Design and Drafting team in South‐East Australia. The purpose of this role is to provide strong leadership to design and digital delivery teams, ensuring alignment with Stantec's vision, strategy, initiatives, and culture. The role is responsible for driving consistency and standardisation in design and digital delivery, embedding the Global Delivery Centre (GDC) into day‐to‐day operations, and championing innovation across the Business Centre. The role acts as an advocate for the business, representing Stantec internally across teams and leaders, and externally with clients and professional organisations.
The position can be based in any Stantec office located in Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Nowra, Geelong or Melbourne. This leadership position works with Team Leaders, Group Leaders and Project Managers to ensure projects are adequately resourced and teams are trained and appropriately skilled. The role also collaborates with other Business Centre teams and the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting to continuously improve and standardise design and digital delivery practices.
Responsibilities
People Leadership
* Drive the development and adoption of guidelines, standard drawings, design standards, training and marketing materials to improve consistency and efficiency of service delivery, aligned with the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting for Community Development.
* Liaise with technical staff across CD and other business lines to capture, disseminate and drive best practice across the business.
* Engage with industry to maintain awareness of current standards and trends and advocate for Stantec's position as a thought leader through conferences, industry events and professional associations.
* Assist in developing skills in Pune to grow capacity and capability in those centres.
* Manage talent lifecycle—recruitment, career development, employee engagement, succession planning, coaching, mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
* Review and monitor staff performance objectives, engagement, and wellbeing, ensuring timely management of performance issues and awareness of mental health.
* Create a success‐oriented environment with collaborative behaviours and balanced influence.
* Uphold corporate culture promoting ethical practices, integrity, customer focus, and service delivery.
* Promote a supportive and inclusive culture aligned with core values.
* Manage performance and compensation of teams through yearly reviews.
Health and Safety
* Oversee health and safety performance within teams, monitoring leading and lagging indicators.
* Partner with HSSE to ensure compliance with all safety procedures, legal requirements, and specific Health & Safety Regulations.
* Achieve minimum LISI target set by the RD for the annual period.
Quality and Innovation
* Collaborate with project delivery teams and Practice Leaders to drive quality and timely delivery of project deliverables.
* Ensure QSE requirements are met through cooperation with the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting.
* Complete all work in line with Stantec Core Values and the Stantec Quality Systems and Project Quality Procedures.
* Minimise and control risk by adhering to the Stantec Risk Management Policy, Quality, and Health & Safety programmes, and proactive use of project management systems.
Delivery
* Provide strong CAD & BIM design leadership and advice to the Business Unit.
* Participate in project delivery, ensuring high‐standard technical output.
* Develop project scope, budgets, and design approach for small projects, supporting marketing and business development professionals in positioning for potential projects.
* Complete, review, and validate design drawings and documentation.
* Coordinate and incorporate sub‐consultant design inputs.
* Lead, guide, and manage a team of drafters & designers and identify development opportunities.
* Act as technical specialist for delegated clients, providing outstanding service.
* Develop practical and commercial solutions to problems and expedite project success.
* Deliver project outcomes within client specifications and expectations.
* Monitor progress of individual work and the drafting team to ensure compliance with program and budget.
* Provide technical guidance on CAD & BIM practice, including internal standard development.
* Implement training curriculums to support CAD & BIM technologies, providing learning support.
* Maintain a strong industry presence through local, national and international organisations, advocating Stantec capability through industry engagements.
* Collaborate with the Integrated Global Working Group to enhance participation of Pune resources in Australian projects.
Qualifications
* Strong leadership experience in a design/drafting environment within an engineering consultancy, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and develop multi‐disciplinary teams across multiple locations.
* Proven track record of driving standardisation, continuous improvement and innovation in design systems, workflows, templates, and digital delivery practices across a large or distributed team.
* Well‐developed people leadership capability, including workforce planning, mentoring, coaching, performance management, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement.
* Extensive experience in civil, structural or community development design and drafting, with hands‐on knowledge of contemporary digital design tools, workflows and standards (e.g. Civil 3D, 12D, Revit, BIM/digital engineering environments).
* Experience working with offshore or global delivery teams, managing quality, communication, coordination and timelines across international teams.
* Strong commercial and project awareness, balancing quality, programme, budget and resourcing across concurrent projects.
* Effective collaboration across business lines with Project Managers, Practice Leaders, Digital Engineering teams and global delivery centres to achieve consistent, high‐quality outcomes.
* Highly developed communication and stakeholder management skills, confident in engaging credibly with clients, industry partners, professional bodies and internal senior leaders.
* Commercially astute problem‐solving skills, developing practical, client‐focused solutions and supporting business development activities including proposals, bidding and client presentations.
* Alignment with values‐based leadership, demonstrating integrity, inclusiveness, accountability and commitment to health, safety, wellbeing, diversity and ethical practice.
* Relevant tertiary qualifications in engineering, design, drafting or a related discipline; professional accreditation or industry involvement viewed favorably.
What We Offer
* Genuine Flexible Working Arrangements – including work from home opportunities, provision for school term contracts, job sharing and part‐time employment.
* Option to purchase up to four weeks additional leave.
* Learning and Talent Development Programs – including global programmes, online learning and on‐the‐job learning.
* Mentoring for your development and opportunity to mentor others.
* Friendly team environment with dedicated, enthusiastic staff committed to high‐quality service and deliverables.
* Professional Memberships.
* Salary Continuance Insurance (SCI).
* Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs.
* Service Recognition Awards.
* Employee Assistance Program.
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for current and future employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment is prohibited. Stantec is in compliance with local, state and federal laws and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. EEO including Disability/Protected Veterans.
#J-18808-Ljbffr