Planning Package Lead - Sydney

Populous; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Populous in Sydney seeks a Planning Package Lead to own the development, coordination and delivery of spatial planning strategies for complex architectural projects, working with project leads, clients and consultants to translate requirements into coordinated planning solutions.

You will guide multidisciplinary teams, develop planning drawings, schedules and diagrams, and mentor junior members while ensuring alignment with design intent and project objectives.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Architecture from a recognised university.
• Current Architectural Registration in Australia (desirable).
• Approximately 5–10 years' professional experience in an architectural practice.
• Demonstrated experience developing spatial planning solutions for complex projects.
• Strong understanding of spatial planning principles, user experience and adjacencies.
• Experience preparing planning drawings and accommodation schedules.
• Proven ability to translate client requirements into planning outcomes.
• Strong design and problem‑solving skills and collaboration across teams.
• Experience coordinating with consultants and stakeholders.
• Advanced BIM and Revit proficiency.
• Strong graphical, presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and support team members.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple packages.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of planning packages, from briefing to detailed design.
• Develop spatial planning strategies balancing objectives and user needs.
• Coordinate planning drawings, diagrams and documentation.
• Mentor planning team members and allocate work.
• Work with clients, package leads and consultants for aligned outcomes.
• Facilitate workshops, reviews and presentations to gather input.
• Ensure quality, timing and project objectives are met.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and internal teams.

Skills

Spatial planning

Leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Master’s degree in Architecture

Architectural Registration in Australia (desirable)

Tools

BIM

Revit

Job description

As a Planning Package Lead, you'll take ownership of the development, coordination and delivery of the project's spatial planning strategy, working closely with Project and Package Leads, clients, user groups and specialist consultants.

You’ll help translate project requirements, operational needs and design aspirations into functional, efficient and well-coordinated planning solutions, ensuring spaces support the intended user experience while aligning with project objectives and design intent.

The role requires a strong understanding of spatial planning principles, user requirements, adjacencies and operational considerations, together with the ability to coordinate planning outcomes across multiple disciplines. You'll work collaboratively with project teams and stakeholders to develop planning solutions that are functional, efficient and aligned with the project's objectives.

About us at Populous

At Populous, our teams design the places where people love to be together. From stadiums and arenas to convention centres, airports, mixed‑use developments, and entertainment precincts, we have delivered many of the world’s most iconic and community‑defining projects.

With projects spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, we bring globalexpertiseand local insight to every design. OurSydneyteam is central to this network, delivering impactful projects locally and across the region with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and community.

Why Populous

We don’t consider ourselves just another architecture and design practice. At Populous, we believe our strength lies in our people and their diversity of experiences. Across APAC, our team represents over 35 nationalities, and we actively celebrate and support this.

We provide our people with:

• The opportunity to contribute to projects of global significance in Sydney and across APAC
• A collaborative international network of experts and design leaders
• Career development opportunities, including leadership training, mentorship, and global mobility
• A vibrant workplace culture where creativity, collaboration, and innovation are valued
• An environment where everyone can be themselves and grow their careers in any direction they want, all while being in an inclusive and supportive workplace
• Oh, and we’re recognised as one of the best places to work in Australia! We’ve been recognised as a Work180 Top 101 Employer for Women two years in a row, winners of two Work180 Workplace awards and recognised as a HRD 5 Star Employer!

What will you be engaged in?

As a Planning Package Lead, you will:

• Contribute to the design, documentation and delivery of complex architectural projects.
• Take ownership of planning packages, leading their development from briefing and concept design through to detailed design and documentation.
• Develop spatial planning strategies that balance project objectives, user requirements, operational needs and design intent.
• Manage and mentor planning team members within the package, allocating work, providing guidance and fostering collaboration to support high‑quality planning deliverables
• Develop, review and coordinate planning drawings, diagrams and related documentation to communicate design intent and project requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate accommodation schedules, area calculations, room data and planning diagrams as required.
• Work closely with project and other package leads, and clients to ensure planning solutions are aligned with project goals and stakeholder requirements.
• Coordinate with consultants to support integrated and coordinated project outcomes.
• Facilitate and participate in briefing sessions, workshops, design reviews and stakeholder presentations to gather, test and communicate planning solutions.
• Review drawings, models and planning information to ensure consistency, coordination and alignment with project requirements.
• Identify planning and operational challenges early and work collaboratively with the wider team to develop effective solutions.
• Manage planning deliverables to meet project timelines, quality expectations and project objectives.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, consultants, user groups and internal project teams.
• Contribute to broader architectural design, documentation and project delivery activities as required.

What we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• A Master’s degree in Architecture from a recognised university.
• Current Architectural Registration in Australia (desirable).
• Approximately 5-10 years' professional experience, or equivalent, within an architectural practice.
• Demonstrated experience developing spatial planning solutions for complex architectural projects.
• Strong understanding of spatial planning principles, functional requirements, user experience, circulation, adjacencies and operational planning.
• Experience preparing and coordinating planning drawings, accommodation schedules, room data and related project information.
• Proven ability to translate client requirements, project objectives and operational needs into effective and well‑coordinated planning outcomes.
• Strong design and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to evaluate options and develop practical planning solutions.
• Experience coordinating with consultants and stakeholders to integrate project requirements and resolve planning challenges.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage planning packages, priorities and deliverables across multiple project stages.
• Advanced BIM and Revit proficiency, with a strong understanding of digital design and documentation workflows.
• Strong graphical, presentation and communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate planning concepts to clients, stakeholders and project teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and support team members while fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to balance functional, operational and design requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams while taking ownership of significant project packages.
• Experience working on complex or large‑scale sports, entertainment, aviation, civic or major public infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.

At Populous, we’re not only looking for technical skills but also for people who share our passion for creating places where communities come together.

We design the places that bring people together — and we know that happens best when our own team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage people of all identities, abilities, and lived experiences to apply and join us in shaping the future of design.