Program Manager, Urban Development

Classification: Infrastructure Manager/Specialist 1

Salary: $188,294 plus superannuation

Position No: 37214

Directorate: Suburban Land Agency

Advertised (Gazettal date): 07 November 2025

Contact Officer: Andrew Hendra on or

Details: Help Shape Canberra's Future – Join Suburban Land Agency (SLA) as a Program Manager

Are you ready to lead teams that make a lasting impact on Canberra's urban landscape?

The Suburban Land Agency (SLA) is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead teams and manage, plan and deliver urban development opportunities through land sales that benefit Canberrans.

What sets SLA apart is its purpose-driven approach. Revenue from our projects is reinvested by the ACT Government into public services, infrastructure, and future growth. Every land sale contributes to building a stronger, more connected city.

This is a senior role where you will lead multidisciplinary project team, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and ensure governance and compliance across all stages of development. It is a unique opportunity to contribute to Canberra's growth while working in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment.

If you're ready to flex your leadership skills, commercial acumen, and development expertise to complex, city-shaping projects, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the Program Director on strategic direction and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring delivery of high-quality advice and outcomes.
• Oversee the reporting on a program of projects, meeting targets for land release, revenue, and community outcomes like affordability and sustainability.
• Overseeing their team's procurement, contract management, and risk mitigation considerations with a strong focus on probity, safety, and legislative compliance. Applicants from the private sector are encouraged to demonstrate equivalent experience such as managing commercial contracts, navigating regulatory frameworks, or leading risk-based decision-making, even if not within a government context.
• Proactive engagement and collaboration with government agencies, industry partners, and community stakeholders to support project success and confidently represent SLA in public and industry forums.
• Preparing business cases and plans for land release strategies and lead commercial negotiations to ensure alignment with SLA's long-term goals and value creation.

This role suits a senior professional with experience in land and property development, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage complex requirements and stakeholders. They should be strategic thinkers, confident in decision-making, and committed to delivering high-quality outcomes while maintaining governance and being comfortable in engaging transparently with the community.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

Mandatory

• Workplace Health and Safety Induction (White Card) or willingness to obtain General Construction Induction Card (White Card)
• Asbestos awareness card or a willingness to obtain - Asbestos Awareness Training and evidence of completion delivered by a Registered Training Organisation is required before commencement, for further information refer to: Asbestos Awareness Training - WorkSafe ACT
• Mandatory Crystalline Silica Exposure Training: Evidence of completion of training delivered by a Registered Training Organisation for Crystalline Silica Exposure Prevention is required prior to commencement. For further information refer to: WorkSafe website

Highly Desirable

• The successful candidate will require extensive knowledge and experience of land development feasibility, master planning, infrastructure project delivery, program and project team management, high level procurement for design and civil, landscape or built form construction processes.

Positions classified as an Infrastructure Manager/Specialist require the occupant to hold:

• A degree or higher professional qualification in a related field such as: Urban Planning, Development Management or Property Development and Law, and accreditation with a professional body (ie Institute) recognised within Australia, and
• A minimum of ten years relevant planning, infrastructure and/or project management experience.

Notes: A Merit Pool will be established from this selection process and will be used to fill vacancies over the next 12 months.

How to apply:

• Applicants should submit a written response, addressing the Professional/Technical Skills and the Behavioural Capabilities, as set out in the Position Description, of not more than two A4 pages, outlining your skills and experience relevant to the role. Learn more about how to submit a written response here.
• A copy of your curriculum vitae and the contact details of at least two referees should also be provided.

Applications should be submitted .