Principal Strategic Planner

The City of Kingston is a vibrant and diverse municipality located in Melbourne's south-east, approximately 20km from the CBD. Kingston is a place of opportunity, transformation, and innovation. We are committed to creating inclusive, connected, and sustainable communities with dedicated and collaborative teams across planning, infrastructure, environment, and community development to deliver meaningful outcomes that support the wellbeing of our growing population.

We are seeking a capable and forward-thinking Principal Strategic Planner to lead complex projects and contribute to the long-term vision for Kingston's urban environment. Reporting to the Team Leader Strategic Planning, this role leads the development and implementation of key strategies — including the Employment Land Use Strategy and activity centre planning for key precincts such as Mentone. You will progress strategic planning projects through to implementation, manage planning scheme amendments, and facilitate internal collaboration across departments including engineering, infrastructure, and community planning.

The role balances longer-term strategic thinking with practical delivery. A key part is translating adopted strategies into planning scheme amendments, coordinating input from internal specialists and stakeholders. You will connect policy and implementation — identifying changes needed in the planning framework and guiding them through a formal process. There will also be opportunities to support advocacy work and represent Council's interests in regionally significant planning discussions and externally led projects.

We are looking for an experienced strategic planner who can take ownership of complex projects and deliver high-quality planning outcomes. You will bring a strong understanding of planning legislation, processes, and implementation pathways, ideally with experience leading planning scheme amendments. The ability to interpret evolving state policy, work with multiple stakeholders, and connect strategic thinking with real-world delivery is key. You will collaborate, operate with integrity, and understand the broader impacts of planning work across an organisation. Our Strategic Planning team is small but passionate and values knowledge sharing, especially during peak project periods. We seek someone who can work independently but knows when to collaborate, is adaptable to change, and has strong self-awareness in a multidisciplinary environment.

For a confidential discussion, contact Marcel Lafontaine at Public Sector People on 0423 668 753 or via marcel@publicsectorpeople.com.au. To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter addressing your experience and interest in the role. Applications will close on September 26, 2025.

Kingston City Council is an equal opportunity employer, committed to reconciliation and being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing people of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community, and we strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community. We support adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment.

Kingston City Council is an equal opportunity employer, committed to reconciliation and being a child safe organisation. We are dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing people of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We support adjustments throughout the recruitment and employment process.