Executive Director, Design & Sustainability

ExecThread, Inc.; Sydney; On-site; AUD 312,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

ExecThread, Inc. seeks an Executive Director for Design & Sustainability to lead the vision for a premier waterfront renewal project in Australia.

You will shape the design, place, and sustainability strategy, balancing public aspirations, policy objectives, and commercial realities to deliver outstanding outcomes. The role requires executive leadership, a strong design background (architecture/urban design/master planning), and eligibility for NSW architect registration.

Qualifications

• Executive leadership experience with large-scale design projects.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills.
• Experience leading design and sustainability strategy across master planning initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and sustainability strategy for the waterfront renewal project.
• Provide strategic leadership for major design competitions and master planning processes.
• Embed sustainability, resilience and country-reconnecting principles across planning and design initiatives and build influential partnerships.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic leadership

Education

Architecture degree

Urban design degree

Job description

Executive Director, Design & Sustainability

The Company is seeking an Executive Director for Design and Sustainability to lead the vision for one of the most significant waterfront renewal projects in Australia. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping the design, place, and sustainability strategy, with a focus on creating a precinct that sets new benchmarks for environmental performance, place-making, and community outcomes. This role demands a respected executive leader with a proven track record in architecture, urban design, master planning, sustainability, or precinct development, and the ability to balance public aspirations, policy objectives, and commercial realities to achieve outstanding place outcomes.Key responsibilities include leading the design and sustainability strategy, providing strategic leadership for major design competitions and master planning processes, and championing world-class design outcomes. The role also involves embedding sustainability, resilience, and principles of connecting with the country across all planning and design initiatives, as well as building influential partnerships with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have executive leadership experience, strong commercial acumen, exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams. Essential qualifications include a degree in architecture, urban design, or a related discipline, and eligibility for architect registration in NSW.

Functions:

• Design
• Strategy

Compensation

AUD $311,520-$350,062 (salary) per year

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