Executive Director Design & Sustainability

Job Details; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 312,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Bays West Delivery Authority is seeking a Senior Executive to lead design, place and sustainability for one of NSW’s landmark waterfront renewals. You will steer a multidisciplinary team, balancing public ambition with commercial realities while guiding master planning, design excellence and environmental performance.

You will collaborate with government and industry partners to shape a world‑class precinct and deliver enduring public value for NSW communities, with a flexible, hybrid work

Qualifications

• Extensive executive leadership experience in architecture, urban design, sustainability or precinct development.
• Track record shaping design vision and master planning for large-scale city projects.
• Strong commercial acumen balancing design excellence with investment and market realities.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement in highly visible, political environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, sustainability and place-making strategy for Bays West.
• Provide strategic oversight for major design competition and precinct master planning.
• Advise the Chief Executive and government stakeholders on design and sustainability outcomes.
• Champion world-class design while balancing public expectations and commercial realities.
• Embed sustainability and First Nations considerations across planning initiatives.
• Build influential partnerships across government, industry and design sectors.

Skills

Executive leadership

Urban design

Sustainability

Place-making

Master planning

Stakeholder engagement

First Nations considerations

Team leadership

Education

Architecture/Urban Design degree

NSW Architect registration

Job description

Shape Sydney's future. Help shape the design vision for one of Australia's most significant waterfront renewal projects

• Lead the design, place and sustainability strategy for Bays West
• Permanent full-time Senior Executive Band 2 opportunity
• Office location based in Sydney with flexible working supported
• TRP from $311,520 to $350,062 including superannuation, commensurate with experience

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future character, identity and experience of Bays West, guiding the design excellence, sustainability ambitions and master planning outcomes that will help create one of Australia's most significant new waterfront destinations. Working at the intersection of public aspiration, public scrutiny and commercial reality, you will champion world-class design outcomes while creating enduring value for the people of New South Wales.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, Bays West Delivery Authority, you will provide strategic leadership across urban design, sustainability and place, helping shape a precinct that sets new benchmarks for environmental performance, place-making and community outcomes. With a major design competition and master planning program on the horizon, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future vision and design excellence outcomes for Bays West.

The role

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will be a trusted adviser on design, place and sustainability, providing authoritative strategic advice to the Chief Executive, Executive Team and key stakeholders. You will lead a multidisciplinary team and work collaboratively with government, industry, design professionals, First Nations communities and delivery partners to maintain a clear and compelling vision for the precinct as it evolves

Operating in an environment of significant public, political and media interest, you will help balance civic ambition, community expectations and commercial realities to achieve outstanding place outcomes. Your leadership will ensure Bays West delivers high-quality public spaces, a strong sense of place, environmental sustainability and enduring public value

Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the design, sustainability and place-making strategy for Bays West.
• Providing strategic leadership for major design competition and precinct master planning processes.
• Providing authoritative advice to the Chief Executive, Executive Team and government stakeholders on design, place and sustainability outcomes.
• Championing world-class design outcomes while balancing public expectations, policy objectives and commercial realities.
• Embedding sustainability, resilience and Connecting with Country principles across planning and design initiatives.
• Building influential partnerships across government, industry, First Nations communities and the broader design sector.

Read the role description for more detail: Executive Director Design and Sustainability

About you

You are a respected executive leader with a track record of shaping exceptional places through architecture, urban design, master planning, sustainability or precinct development. You combine strategic vision with commercial acumen and understand how to navigate complex stakeholder environments to achieve enduring public value.

You have built credibility across both the public and private sectors and understand how great cities and places are conceived, planned and realised. You are comfortable engaging with leading design practices, development organisations, government decision-makers and community stakeholders. You bring the judgement to balance public scrutiny, political expectations and commercial realities while maintaining a focus on design excellence.

You will demonstrate:

• Executive leadership experience in architecture, urban design, sustainability, place-making or major urban renewal.
• A track record of shaping the design vision, master planning and design excellence outcomes of large-scale city-shaping projects.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance design excellence with investment, planning and market considerations.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the credibility to operate in highly visible and politically sensitive environments.
• Experience navigating complex heritage, sustainability, environmental and First Nations considerations in major projects and precincts.
• The ability to inspire multidisciplinary teams, consultants and partners to translate vision into exceptional place outcomes.

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in Architecture, Urban Design or a related discipline, and/or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
• Hold, or be eligible to hold, Architect registration in NSW.

About us

At the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), you could shape your world while helping us shape the future of NSW. Together, we create vibrant communities, places and precincts, and manage land, assets and property.

Join our team and shape your world in a workplace that empowers you to do your best work and build a meaningful career. In this role, you’ll help shape lives and communities across NSW while growing your own career, supported by flexible work options, impactful projects and a collaborative, diverse team. As a high-performing and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, we value your lived experience and cultural knowledge, and we are committed to helping you thrive through flexible arrangements, workplace adjustments and a culture where everyone feels supported, connected and belongs.

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

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, 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'.

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.

Role Description