Project Officer

The Strategic Environmental Planning Branch is seeking a Project Officer to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for ensuring strategic and statutory planning decisions effectively implement the biodiversity requirements of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment (MSA) Program.

The MSA program is the Victorian Government's approach to manage the impact of urban development in Melbourne's expanded growth areas on significant vegetation communities, plants and animals.

The role is focused on providing input to planning processes to protect and secure conservation areas within Melbourne's Urban Growth Boundary consistent with requirements of the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Melbourne's Growth Corridors (BCS). This involves working with the Victorian Planning Authority and local councils to ensure Planning Scheme Amendments associated with precinct structure plans incorporate the necessary planning controls to implement the requirements of the BCS. It also involves responding to statutory referrals that relate to subdivision and development to ensure conservation areas are protected during development and secured for conservation purposes in perpetuity.

The Project Officer will liaise closely with stakeholders such as growth area councils, the Victorian Planning Authority, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and landowners

**To achieve this, the role will**:

- Manage and coordinate input to strategic planning processes with the Victorian Planning Authority and local councils to ensure regulatory requirements associated with urban development achieve conservation outcomes of the MSA Program.
- Assess and respond to statutory planning referrals that relate to subdivision and development to ensure conservation areas are protected during the construction phase of development and secured for conservation purposes in perpetuity.
- Develop effective working relationships and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including Department of Transport and Planning, DEECA Land Management Branch, Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria, growth area councils, and the Victorian Planning Authority to facilitate effective implementation of the MSA Program.
- Contribute to the development of key policies to ensure effective implementation of the MSA program.
- Work flexibly and collaboratively across the business to deliver business unit, group and DEECA priorities and initiatives as required.

**The successful applicant will demonstrate a capacity for**:

- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Strong stakeholder management skills
- Working collaboratively within the team and across the MSA program
- Communicating with impact

**Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications**
- Qualifications in environmental planning, environmental science, natural resource management and/or significant experience in these areas.
- Demonstrated experience and skills in environmental planning.

**This is a fixed term position available for a period of 12 months. The work location for this position is 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.**

For further information please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close at midnight on **Friday 31 January 2025**.

**Other relevant information**:
To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

**A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace**
- DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave._