Manager Adaptation & Resilience

Council Jobs; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 144,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

20 weeks parental leave (per policy)

Career progression

Flexible hours

Job summary

City of Melbourne is seeking a Manager Adaptation and Resilience to lead the climate adaptation, water management and resilience initiatives across the city. You will manage a multidisciplinary team and develop strategic policies, programs and partnerships with government, industry and communities to strengthen Melbourne’s future.

This permanent role offers hybrid working, a competitive salary (Class 7: 144,471–162,599 AUD plus 12% superannuation) and a strong commitment to liveability,

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 a multidisciplinary team delivering climate adaptation, resilience and water-sensitive city initiatives.
• Develop strategic policies, programs and partnerships embedding 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 delivery of Branch priorities, outcomes and investments.

Skills

Demonstrated leadership

Strategic thinking

Policy development

Partnership building

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

Job description

• Lead Melbourne’s climate adaptation and resilience function to deliver lasting city-wide impact
• Class 7 - $144,471 – 162,599 + 12% Superannuation (dependent on skills and experience)
• Permanent role driving strategic long-term outcomes across the city

About the role

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.

This is more than just a role – it’s your chance to make a real impact, contribute to something bigger, and shape Melbourne’s future alongside a collaborative and forward-thinking team.

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.

Submit your application no later than 11:45pm on Sunday, 25 October 2026.