Senior Manager Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Projects

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW; Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 154,000 - 178,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW in Parramatta seeks a Senior Manager Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Projects to lead community engagement for major precincts. The role requires navigating diverse interests, delivering trusted stakeholder advice, and guiding engagement strategies across government and industry.

You will represent PDNSW at forums, build influential relationships, coordinate across agencies, and travel regionally as needed.

Qualifications

• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills; build trusted relationships.
• Exceptional communication and presentation abilities.
• Strong problem-solving capability with strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated leadership guiding teams and stakeholders.
• Tertiary qualifications in communications, PR, policy or related discipline.
• Willingness and capacity to travel regionally and work outside core hours.

Responsibilities

• Represent PDNSW at community forums and public engagement activities.
• Establish and maintain influential relationships across government, industry and community groups.
• Lead cross-agency coordination to resolve complex issues and ensure compliance with policy and probity.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Leadership

Public speaking

Travel willingness

Education

Tertiary qualifications in communications, public relations, policy

Job description

Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure NSW – Parramatta NSW

• Lead engagement on transformative precinct projects that shape thriving communities across NSW.
• Permanent full-time role with 35 hours per week
• Paramatta based role with hybrid working arrangements
• Salary relative to experience, and ranges from $154,231 to $178,369 + super

In this role you will

Big projects shape the places where people live, work and connect. In this role, you'll lead communications, community consultation and stakeholder engagement for some of NSW's most significant development projects. You'll help communities understand change, bring diverse voices into the conversation and build confidence in projects that deliver lasting social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Working closely with government, industry and community stakeholders, you'll provide trusted advice, navigate complex issues and lead engagement strategies that support successful project delivery. This is an opportunity to influence outcomes, strengthen community connections and help shape the future of NSW.

• Represent PDNSW at community forums, stakeholder meetings and public engagement activities relating to significant development projects, communicating approved positions, responding sensitively to complex and contentious issues, and ensuring emerging safety, wellbeing and reputational risks are appropriately managed and escalated.
• Establish and maintain influential relationships across government, industry, community and other stakeholder groups to anticipate emerging concerns, identify opportunities for collaboration and build support for PDNSW projects and positions.
• Lead cross-agency coordination and processes to resolve complex issues, align objectives and ensure partnership arrangements comply with NSW Government policy, probity and legislative requirements.

This role leads a lot of delicate engagement with community and different diversity groups.

Read the role description for more detail:Senior Manager Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Projects

About you

• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills, with a proven ability to build trusted relationships and align diverse interests to achieve positive project outcomes.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, persuasive messages for a range of audiences.
• Strong problem-solving capability, using sound judgement and strategic thinking to manage complex, sensitive and evolving issues.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, guiding teams and stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes while fostering collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Tertiary qualifications in communications, public relations, policy or related discipline and/or relevant equivalent experience.
• Willingness and capacity to travel to regional locations, and to work outside of core business hours.

About us

At the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure(DPHI), you could shape your world while helping us shape the future of NSW. Together, we create vibrant communities, places and precincts, and manage land, assets and property.

Join our team and shape your world in a workplace that empowers you to do your best work and build a meaningful career. In this role, you’ll help shape lives and communities across NSW while growing your own career, supported by flexible work options, impactful projects and a collaborative, diverse team. As a high-performing and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, we value your lived experience and cultural knowledge, and we are committed to helping you thrive through flexible arrangements, workplace adjustments and a culture where everyone feels supported, connected and belongs.

Applications close: 11:55 PM, Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Pleasenote, there will be an additional targeted question related to this position at the end of your application form.

The interview for this role is due take place on the week of the 16th of November 2026.

For more information about the role, please contact Brooke Wilson at ***************@dphi.nsw.gov.au

A talent pool may be created for ongoing and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available over the next 18 months.

Check out ourAboriginal applicants guideto assist with applying for the role or contact ourAboriginal Career Pathwaysteam for a yarn.

We encourage and support applications from people with disability. Please reach out to us to discuss any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed during the recruitment process, ensuring that you have every opportunity to showcase your talent, skills, and potential. Contact the Talent Team via ***************@dpie.nsw.gov.au or (02) 63637*** - HR Support, option 2, DPHI People Advisory, option 1 and reference 'Request an Adjustment - Job Title and Reference Number'.

Please note to be eligible to apply for this position you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or hold a valid Australian working Visa for the duration of the appointment.This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including a criminal record check.