Senior Community Planning and Development Project Officer

Northern Land Council; Darwin; On-site; AUD 107,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

District allowance

5 weeks annual leave

Annual airfare benefit

Meal entertainment allowance

Holiday accommodation benefit

Job summary

The Northern Land Council seeks an experienced Senior Community Planning & Development Officer in Darwin. You will lead long-term, multi-year projects across community planning and development, working with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal groups to ensure governance and practical outcomes.

You will report to the Program Coordinator, Community Planning & Development, and oversee budgets, risks, reporting, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring timely delivery within budgets.

Qualifications

• Lead complex, large-scale, multi-year projects from feasibility through delivery and evaluation.
• Coordinate budgets, risks, funding opportunities, and partnerships; establish project controls.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate culturally appropriate planning with Aboriginal groups.
• Lead infrastructure and community development projects through full lifecycle.
• Build governance and financial reporting arrangements.
• Coordinate contractors, funding bodies, government and industry partners to deliver outcomes.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Reporting

Governance

Education

Tertiary qualification in Community Development/Project Management/Infrastructure Planning/Engineering

Job description

• Location: Darwin
• Status: Full-time Ongoing

Lead projects shaped by community.

This is a senior individual-contributor role for an experienced project professional who can move confidently between community planning, project governance and practical implementation. You will work alongside Traditional Owners and Aboriginal groups to turn long-term aspirations into well-planned, properly governed and achievable community development and infrastructure projects across the NLC region.

Reporting to the Program Coordinator, Community Planning & Development, you will lead projects and stakeholder processes.

About The Role

You will lead complex, large-scale and multi-year projects from early consultation and feasibility through to procurement, contracting, delivery and evaluation. You will coordinate budgets, risks, funding opportunities and partnerships; establish strong project controls; and provide clear reporting so Aboriginal constituents can make informed decisions and maintain oversight of the projects that matter to them.

• Facilitate culturally appropriate planning and decision-making with Aboriginal groups.


• Lead infrastructure and community development projects through the full project lifecycle.


• Build practical governance, financial management and reporting arrangements.


• Coordinate contractors, funding bodies, government and industry partners to deliver agreed outcomes.

What You Will Bring

You are an accomplished project leader who combines strong commercial and delivery discipline with sound judgement, cultural capability and genuine respect for community-led decision-making. You can manage competing priorities, substantial.

In addition to this, you will have

• Tertiary qualification in Community Development, Project Management, Infrastructure Planning, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.


• Demonstrated experience leading the delivery of large-scale, complex and/or multi-year projects, preferably involving infrastructure, capital works or community development initiatives.


• Proven experience in end-to-end project and contract management, including procurement, budget management, multi-year financial planning, reporting and project delivery within agreed timeframes and budgets.


• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects and significant project budgets, including multi-year financial planning and reporting.


• A current C Class Driver Licence and willingness to travel remotely by manual 4WD vehicle or light aircraft.

For the full requirements and responsibilities, please refer to the Position Description linked below.

What’s in it for you?

Join a purpose-driven team and help deliver projects that reflect community priorities and create lasting social, cultural, environmental and economic outcomes for Aboriginal communities across the Top End.

We Offer

• A base salary of $106,570 per annum plus 15% superannuation on base and District allowance.


• Salary sacrificing up to $15,900 + Meal Entertainment and Holiday Accommodation benefits up to $2,650 per year.


• Other benefits under our Enterprise Agreement include:
  
  
  
  • District allowance of up to $5,064 (DA2) per annum for individuals with dependents and $2,777 (DA1) without dependents;
  
  
  • 5 weeks annual leave, leaving loading, 18 days personal leave;
  
  
  • Paid Christmas close down;
  
  
  • Upon completion of 12 months of service an Annual airfare with a net (in hand) value of $3,453;
  
  
  
  

Applications Close: Thursday, 1 October

About The NLC

The Northern Land Council (NLC) is an independent statutory authority of the Commonwealth. The NLC is established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) 1976 and its purpose is to serve its constituents who are Traditional Owners (TOs) and other Aboriginal people living in their region. Cultural knowledge and lived experience are central to the work that we do here at NLC. We are committed to enhancing Aboriginal peoples social, political and economic participation by supporting their aspirations and amplifying their voices on a range of issues impacting on their lands, seas, culture and communities.

The Northern Land Council is committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment. This position is a prioritised position and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants who meet the selection requirements will be given priority consideration in accordance with the NLC's Special Measures provisions and Section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

Senior Community Planning & Development Officer (CD20) PD