Area Manager North Coast

Current Jobs; Grafton; On-site; AUD 171,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) is seeking an Area Manager, North Coast to lead a diverse team across Taree/Grafton and other North Coast locations. The role requires strategic and operational oversight across Crown land functions including land management, compliance and resource management.

You will engage with senior stakeholders, manage dispersed teams, and travel regularly across the region.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in a natural resources, planning, environmental science, land management or equivalent.
• Strong leadership and people management experience.
• Proven ability to manage complex programs across dispersed teams and multiple locations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational oversight across Crown land functions.
• Lead a diverse team across multiple locations with regular travel within the North Coast.
• Engage stakeholders including local councils, government agencies and communities to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication skills

Land management

Policy knowledge

Financial management

Education

Degree in natural resources / planning / environmental science / land management

Job description

Lead one of NSW's most diverse and rewarding land management portfolios on the stunning North Coast.

• Lead a high-performing and geographically diverse team across the beautiful NSW North Coast
• Ongoing full-time opportunity
• Office Locations: Taree/Grafton (other locations in North Coast may be negotiated). Regular travel across the NSW North Coast region required
• Salary from $170,841 to $178,369 plus superannuation, dependent on experience

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to make a meaningful impact across communities, public spaces and Crown land throughout the North Coast region.

About the role

As Area Manager, North Coast, you will lead a diverse team across multiple locations and provide strategic and operational oversight across a broad range of Crown land functions including:

• Property and tenure management
• Reserve management
• Asset management
• Compliance activities
• Natural resource management
• Delivery of ground-based operational works

This is a highly visible leadership role that requires strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills. You will work closely with Crown Land Managers, tenure holders, local councils, community groups, Members of Parliament and other government agencies to deliver positive outcomes for the people and places of the North Coast.

Experience in Crown land administration or government is not essential.

Please note: This role is not equivalent to a residential or commercial real estate property management position.

For more information, read the full Role Description here: Area Manager North Coast CLPS LAM

What you'll bring

You are a confident and collaborative leader who enjoys building relationships, solving complex issues and delivering results in a dynamic environment.

You’ll bring:

• Knowledge of planning, land management and natural resource legislation, together with sound commercial and financial management capabilities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven leadership experience, including the ability to lead change and manage dispersed teams
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence diverse audiences
• Initiative, sound judgement and a solutions-focused mindset
• Strong project management capability with experience driving priorities and achieving outcomes
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation and time management skills

Essential requirements

• Tertiary qualifications in a natural resources, planning, environmental science, land management or other relevant field and/or equivalent level of knowledge and experience.
• Current driver's licence and willingness to travel, including occasional air travel
• Ability to be physically based within the North Coast area during working hours

About us

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) improves the liveability and prosperity of NSW. To achieve this, we: create vibrant, productive spaces and precincts; manage lands, assets and property effectively and deliver affordable and diverse housing. We strive to be a high-performing, world-class public service organisation that celebrates and reflects the full diversity of the community we serve and builds the cultural capability of our department to improve outcomes with and for Aboriginal people, communities and entities.

We are an inclusive and accessible workplace, where your individual contributions are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to feel a sense of connection and belonging. DPHI supports various employee affinity groups, practices flexible working, offers job share and workplace adjustments.

Join us

Applications close 11:55pm, Sunday, 27th September 2026

Should you require further information about the role please contact Tim Deverell via [e-mail]

A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process (including an alternate format of the application form), ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via [e-mail] or [phone] - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'.

Check out our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for the role or contact our Aboriginal Career Pathways team for a yarn.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment. This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including a criminal record check.

Advertised: 11 Sep 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 27 Sep 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time

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