Director Infrastructure, Place And Development

Gem Executive; Rural City of Benalla; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full private use vehicle

Job summary

Benalla Rural City Council seeks a Director Infrastructure, Place and Development to lead a multi-disciplinary directorate and shape how Benalla grows and functions. Reporting to the CEO, you will steer infrastructure, development services, facilities/IT, and project management while guiding governance and risk across a broad asset base.

You will contribute to climate resilience, population planning, and delivery of the Council Plan 2025–2029, with responsibilities including emergency recovery

Qualifications

• Senior management experience leading a large, multi-disciplinary function.
• Experience in local government or comparable community-focused environment.
• Proven experience in managing people, budgets, stakeholders and complex projects.
• Strong financial acumen and governance understanding.
• Postgraduate qualifications and regional growth-area council experience are highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary directorate of ~60 staff and provide strategic and operational leadership across infrastructure, development services, facilities/IT and project management.
• Govern and manage a large asset base, plan for growth and ageing population, and drive climate resilience.
• Deliver the Council Plan 2025–2029 through programs and projects and oversee emergency recovery functions.
• Act as CEO in the CEO's absence as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Change management

Education

Tertiary qualification in Engineering/Construction/Asset Management/Town Planning

Job description

Director Infrastructure, Place and Development

The opportunity
Benalla Rural City is a welcoming, creative regional community about two hours from Melbourne, and it is growing. Council is creating a new Director role as part of the CEO’s new executive team, bringing together the functions that shape how Benalla looks, grows and works.
Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a multi-disciplinary directorate of around 60 staff and provide strategic and operational leadership across:

• Infrastructure and assets: engineering and design, capital works, asset management, roads, drainage, parks and open space, fleet and depot
• Development services: strategic and statutory planning, building services, local laws and environmental health, Emergency Management
• Facilities and IT: property, digital strategy, systems, data governance and cyber security
• Project management: establishing a Project Management Office and securing grant funding and external revenue

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will be a trusted adviser to the CEO and Council, and may act as CEO in their absence. You will manage a large and varied asset base, plan for population growth and an ageing community, build climate resilience, and turn the Council Plan 2025–2029 into delivered projects and well-planned places. This role also has responsibility for the emergency recovery function of council.

About you
You are a strategic, collaborative executive with a coaching and empowering leadership style. You have the judgement to handle politically sensitive situations and the communication skills to present to Council, the community, planning panels and tribunals.
You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Construction, Asset Management, Town Planning or a related discipline
• Substantial senior management experience leading a large, multi-disciplinary infrastructure, planning, environment or operations function
• Proven experience managing people, budgets, stakeholders and complex projects
• Experience in local government or a comparable community-focused environment
• Strong financial acumen and a sound grasp of asset management, risk and governance

Postgraduate qualifications, experience overseeing facilities or IT, VCAT or planning panel experience, and a regional or growth-area council background are highly regarded.

What’s on offer
An Executive / Senior Officer contract with a total remuneration package including base salary, superannuation and a full private use vehicle. You will lead in one of Victoria’s most creative regional communities and make a visible difference.

Applications close Monday 23 November.
Employment is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, evidence of qualifications and proof of work eligibility. Benalla Rural City Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to a safe, harmonious and inclusive workplace