Overview
Permanent full-time role
Location: Hybrid (WFH + 2-3 days in Brisbane office)
Purpose
The Environmental Planning Manager is focused on securing environmental and planning approvals for development and infrastructure projects under the Queensland Planning Act and related legislation. You will be working with clients, government agencies (local, state, federal), and specialist technical teams.
You will lead approvals pathways for projects such as:
* Public and private hospitals
* Social and affordable housing, retirement villages, and aged care
* Residential, commercial and mixed-use developments
* Transport infrastructure – roads, highways, rail
* Water infrastructure – water supply, sewerage, stormwater
* Energy and renewables – power lines, substations, BESS, solar farms and related infrastructure
Key Responsibilities
* Identifying and mapping all planning and environmental approvals, permits, licences and assessment pathways required for development and infrastructure projects.
* Assessing approvals risks, constraints and opportunities, and developing practical, defensible approvals strategies.
* Planning and leading regulator engagement (e.g. pre-lodgement meetings, briefings, and negotiations) to clarify expectations, reduce risk, and improve approval timeliness.
* Supporting and coordinating broader stakeholder engagement programs (e.g. councils, government agencies, community stakeholders, Traditional Owners) as required for approvals.
* Serving as the primary client contact for allocated projects, building trusted long-term relationships.
* Leading project planning and delivery.
* Translating approvals and planning requirements into clear technical scopes of work and acceptance criteria for multi-disciplinary teams.
* Contributing to bids, scopes, and budgets, identify opportunities to support clients across the full approval lifecycle (pre-feasibility through post-approval compliance).
* Mentoring and training junior team members.
Essential Skills
* Tertiary qualifications in environmental management, planning, law, or related fields.
* Professional membership or eligibility (e.g. PIA, EIANZ) and/or professional certification (e.g. CEnvP).
* Demonstrated experience in planning and environmental approvals for development and infrastructure projects.
* Proven project management and coordination skills – managing multiple projects and deadlines, juggling specialists, and keeping clients informed.
* Strong client-facing skills and a track record of building and maintaining professional relationships with councils, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
* Demonstrated experience designing or supporting regulator and stakeholder engagement, including working with Traditional Owner groups and embedding First Nations engagement in approvals pathways.
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