Project Development Manager

Davidson; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading project management firm in Australia is seeking an experienced Project Development Manager for the VNI West Project. This senior role involves leading development activities, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and managing stakeholder engagement. Ideal candidates will have strong experience in transmission infrastructure projects and exceptional communication skills. This is an opportunity to work on a nationally significant clean energy project at the heart of Australia's energy transition.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in transmission infrastructure projects.
• Ability to understand technical and design concepts.
• Clear grasp of design decisions impacting construction and community outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Leading and coordinating project development activities.
• Monitoring development workstreams to ensure milestones are met.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Transmission project experience

Stakeholder management

Multi-party coordination

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Job description

Davidson is proud to be partnering with Iberdrola on the VNI West Project - a flagship transmission project currently in development phase. This is a nationally significant piece of energy infrastructure, backed by one of the world's leading renewable energy companies.

Iberdrola's global expertise, combined with its strong Australian presence, sets the stage for a project that will reshape how energy moves across the nation. Joining this team means contributing to a high-impact program that's central to Australia's clean energy transition.

We're now looking to appoint an experienced Project Development Manager to join the VNI West team. This role sits at the heart of the project's development phase, bringing together engineering, commercial, approvals and stakeholder streams to keep the project moving forward with confidence.

This is a senior, hands-on role, best suited to someone with strong transmission project experience who can operate as a trusted lead across development activities.

What you'll be doing

• Leading and coordinating end-to-end development activities across the VNI West project
• Planning, sequencing and monitoring development workstreams to ensure milestones are met
• Coordinating multidisciplinary teams across engineering, environment, planning, land access and approvals
• Supporting procurement processes, including preparation of documentation, evaluation and contractor management
• Understanding transmission designs at a high level and translating what they mean for construction, delivery, cost and community impact
• Managing interfaces between transmission lines, substations and broader network stakeholders
• Playing a key role in stakeholder engagement, including regulators, network service providers, landowners, local councils and community groups
• Monitoring program, risks and dependencies, and adjusting strategy as conditions change
• Preparing and presenting milestone documentation and progress updates to internal leadership and key stakeholders

What you'll bring

• Strong experience in transmission infrastructure projects is essential
• The ability to understand technical and design concepts, without needing to produce detailed design yourself
• A clear grasp of how design decisions flow through to construction, delivery risk and community outcomes
• Well-developed communication skills, with the confidence to engage, influence and 'sell the story' of the project
• Proven experience coordinating complex, multi-party projects in regulated environments
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with network businesses, regulators and land stakeholders
• Commercial awareness and the ability to balance schedule, risk, cost and outcomes
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and comfort working in a fast-moving, evolving project environment

This role reports to the PMO Lead and is a key leadership position within the VNI West development team, with significant exposure across Iberdrola Australia and external partners.

Interviews will be held immediately - apply now!