Manager Adaptation & Resilience

City of Melbourne; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Study assistance

Corporate discounts

Parental leave 20 weeks

Job summary

City of Melbourne is seeking a strategic leader for the Manager Adaptation and Resilience within the Climate Change and City Resilience Branch. You will lead a multidisciplinary team delivering climate adaptation and resilience initiatives across the city.

You will develop strategic policies, build partnerships with government, industry, research institutions and communities, and drive delivery of Branch priorities while supporting organisational strategy and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing high-performing professional teams
• Experience developing and delivering climate change, sustainability, resilience, water or related strategic programs
• Proven ability to build partnerships and influence outcomes across government, industry, research and community sectors
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, including preparing strategic reports and advice
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in environment, sustainability, science, public policy or a related discipline

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team delivering climate adaptation, resilience and water-sensitive city initiatives
• Develop strategic policies, programs and partnerships that embed resilience and climate adaptation across the city
• Build and maintain influential relationships with government agencies, industry partners, research institutions and community stakeholders
• Provide strategic leadership across complex projects, ensuring successful delivery of Branch priorities, outcomes and investments

Skills

Leadership

Climate strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Policy development

Strategic thinking

Partnership development

People management

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications in environment, sustainability, science or public policy

Job description

The Manager Adaptation and Resilience sits within the Climate Change and City Resilience Branch and is responsible for leading the strategic integration of climate change adaptation, water management, sustainable urban renewal and resilience outcomes across the City of Melbourne. This role leads a team of specialists delivering key climate adaptation and resilience initiatives that help prepare Melbourne for future climate challenges.

As custodian of leading climate adaptation strategies and plans that you will drive strategic policy, programs and partnerships that support a climate-adapted and water-sensitive city. You will also play a key leadership role within the Branch, contributing to organisational strategy and fostering collaboration across Council and external stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership, people management and policy development while delivering meaningful outcomes that strengthen Melbourne's resilience, sustainability and liveability for future generations.

A little more about the role

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team delivering climate adaptation, resilience and water-sensitive city initiatives

Develop strategic policies, programs and partnerships that embed resilience and climate adaptation across the city

Build and maintain influential relationships with government agencies, industry partners, research institutions and community stakeholders

Provide strategic leadership across complex projects, ensuring successful delivery of Branch priorities, outcomes and investments

Located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, Melbourne is globally recognised as one of the most liveable, diverse, and dynamic cities.

At the heart of it all is the City of Melbourne – a passionate, purpose-driven organisation where your work truly matters. As part of Team Melbourne, you’ll help deliver what’s most important to the people who live, work, study, visit and invest in our great city.

We’re proud champions of diversity, committed to continuous improvement, and driven by a shared vision for a vibrant and sustainable future.

About you

You are a strategic and collaborative leader with a passion for climate adaptation, sustainability and resilience. You thrive in complex environments, can bring people together around a common vision and have a proven ability to deliver impactful outcomes through partnerships, innovation and strong leadership.

You may also be:

An experienced people leader who develops high-performing, engaged and accountable teams

A strategic thinker with experience developing and implementing policy, programs or long-term strategies

A skilled relationship builder who can influence and engage a broad range of stakeholders

Comfortable navigating complex, political and multidisciplinary environments

Passionate about creating sustainable, resilient and inclusive outcomes for communities

What your experience might look like – Key Selection Criteria

Demonstrated leadership experience managing and developing high-performing professional teams

Experience developing and delivering climate change, sustainability, resilience, water or related strategic programs

Proven ability to build partnerships and influence outcomes across government, industry, research and community sectors

Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, including preparing strategic reports and advice

Relevant tertiary qualifications in environment, sustainability, science, public policy or a related discipline

Benefits of working with us

• Attractive remuneration & benefits: Excellent pay package with a range of exciting benefits. Flexible working, study assistance & other reat corporate discounts.
• Excellent leave entitlements: Enjoy up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave for primary carers, in addition to the government-funded parental leave, with no waiting period to access. Part-time equivalents are also available for added flexibility.
• Career progression: Career development support and opportunities to learn new skills within a creative and exciting environment.
• Work-life balance and hybrid working: We support flexible hours, alternative work arrangements (like ADOs), and hybrid work-from-home options.

Inclusion matters

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and people of all ages and faith backgrounds.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to support all applicants. If you require any adjustments, please let us know via the application prompts or inform our Careers team if you’re contacted for an interview.