City Activation Manager

City of Palmerston; Darwin; On-site; AUD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private use vehicle

Job summary

City of Palmerston invites applications for the City Activation Manager to shape Palmerston as a vibrant, connected city. You will lead a team delivering placemaking programs that unite entrepreneurs, artists, businesses and communities to foster belonging.

You will apply best practice placemaking and CPTED, manage contracts and budgets, and prepare high-quality reports for Council and the Executive Leadership Team. Strong leadership and cross-sector collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications or extensive experience in urban planning, creative industries, event management, commerce or economic development.
• Led major, high-profile projects and events.
• Ability to influence senior figures across business, industry and government.
• Experience leading a team with high deliverables in a public-facing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team towards developing and delivering programs that bring together entrepreneurs, artists, businesses and communities to create a sense of place and belonging.
• Drive major initiatives that attract residents and investment.
• Collaborate with Councils, government, industry and community groups to deliver on the Community Plan.
• Oversee contracts, budgets and reporting for Council and the Executive Leadership Team.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Project management

Education

Tertiary qualifications or extensive experience in urban planning, creative industries, event management, commerce or economic development

Tools

CPTED principles

Job description

• Join a progressive and ambitious Council
• Lead the vision that makes Palmerston a place to live, work and gather.
• Generous salary ($135K - $145k + super) and private use vehicle

About the Role

Shape the future of Palmerston as a vibrant, connected city. As the City Activation Manager, you'll lead a team towards developing and delivering programs that bring together entrepreneurs, artists, businesses and communities to create a genuine sense of place and belonging. You'll drive major initiatives that attract residents and investment, and collaborate with Councils, government, industry and community groups to deliver on the Community Plan.

Applying best practice placemaking and CPTED principles, you'll lead key strategic frameworks, oversee inclusive civic events, manage contracts and budgets, and prepare high-quality reports for Council and the Executive Leadership Team.

About You

You bring tertiary qualifications or extensive experience in urban planning, creative industries, event management, commerce or economic development. You've led major, high-profile projects and events, and you know how to influence senior figures across business, industry and government.

As you will be leading a team with high deliverables in a public facing environment, your leadership is centred on empowering and enabling the potential of your team and inspiring performance, while nurturing their talent and professional development.

Politically and commercially astute, you make sound decisions amid uncertainty and balance competing stakeholder needs with cross-cultural sensitivity. You think strategically and holistically, and apply best-practice urban design, placemaking and project management, and communicate with impact across the organisation. A strong networker and self-starter, you build lasting industry partnerships, thrive under demanding deadlines and have substantial budget management experience.

Applicants are required to provide a brief response in their cover letter addressing each selection criterion, using examples from their previous experience.

For more information on the key duties and responsibilities for the role, please refer to the position description.

Eligibility

Only applicants with the right to work in Australia can apply.

Applications Close

Tuesday, 14 October 2026

Contact

Becky Saywell – EM Communications & City Activation l 08 8935 9963

City of Palmerston values and celebrates diversity and inclusion. We recognise a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and helps us better reflect and serve our community. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with diverse experiences and perspectives.