Senior Project Officer City Design

Council Jobs; Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 126,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

23 days annual leave (example)

Learning & development

Job summary

City of Parramatta is seeking a Senior Project Officer City Design to provide expert urban design advice and lead major planning and development projects in Parramatta. The role involves mentoring staff, coordinating across multi-disciplinary teams, and delivering high-quality, people-focused places.

The candidate will work in a hybrid environment, contribute to strategic planning initiatives, and ensure compliance with planning legislation while leveraging design excellence and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in urban design, architecture and/or landscape architecture.
• 5+ years’ experience in urban design, including large-scale or mixed-use urban renewal projects.
• Strong knowledge of relevant planning legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Strong project management, problem-solving and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with an iterative design process and collaboration across teams is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert urban design advice across major planning, development and city-shaping projects.
• Lead complex urban design projects from planning through to delivery, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams.
• Mentor and guide junior staff within the team and foster collaboration across Council and external partners.
• Communicate complex urban design and planning matters through written, verbal and visual means.
• Contribute to ongoing development of Council’s 3D model and design processes.

Skills

Urban design

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Urban design degree

Architecture degree

Landscape architecture degree

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Suite

Rhino

Job description

Work type: Indoor, 35 hrs per week, Hybrid options
Salary: $126,222 to $138,997 + 12% superannuation
Employment Type: Full Time
Closing date: 9pm, Wednesday 11th November 2026

The City of Parramatta is in the midst of significant growth and transformation. With a community that brings together many cultures, skills and stories, a changing skyline and new investments, this is an exciting time to be part of the journey. Parramatta 2050 gives us a clear picture of where we’re heading; a connected, creative and sustainable City with opportunities for everyone. Every role at City of Parramatta contributes to this next chapter, helping us build a strong, thriving Parramatta for the people who live, work and spend time here.

About the Role

As the Senior Project Officer City Design, you will provide specialist urban design advice to support urban design strategies, major projects, development proposals and place-based planning initiatives. You will work collaboratively across the organisation and with external stakeholders and community to deliver well-designed, high-quality outcomes and attractive, sustainable, and people-focused places across Parramatta.

In this role you will:

• Provide expert urban design advice across major planning, development and city-shaping projects.
• Mentor and guide junior staff within the team,
• Communicate complex urban design and planning matters through written, verbal and visual means.
• Lead complex urban design projects from planning through to delivery, working across multi-disciplinary teams to achieve quality outcomes within agreed timeframes and budgets.
• Work collaboratively across Council and with external stakeholders, consultants and government agencies to achieve strong urban design outcomes.
• Research and analyse emerging trends and opportunities across urban design, land use, transport, economic development and the environment.Manage multiple projects and competing priorities, including project planning, risk management, reporting and consultant engagements.
• Apply relevant planning legislation, policies and design principles to provide informed, well written, practical and strategic advice.
• Champion design excellence and continuous improvement, helping deliver high-quality places and built environments for Parramatta.
• Facilitate an iterative design process, that supports transparency, quality and accuracy across project deliverables.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of Council’s 3D model.
• Promote and model a positive and collaborative team culture that reflects Council’s values and the objectives of City Design.

What's on Offer

This is a Permanent Full-Time opportunity.

We offer a competitive remuneration package from $126,222 to $138,997 plus 12% superannuation.

Your employee experience with City of Parramatta includes:

• Flexibility: Hybrid working conditions, flexi‑time scheme, additional leave over the Christmas period
• Leave: 14 weeks paid parental leave, 15 days personal leave, Long service leave after 5 years
• Wellbeing: Employee led networks (ERGs), Fitness passport, Flu vaccinations, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Ongoing wellbeing initiatives, Health insurance discounts.
• Location & Convenience: Central Parramatta location, discounted parking, Novated leasing available
• Growth: Learning and development programs, leadership pathways, free LinkedIn Learning

About You

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong urban design experience, project leadership skills and the ability to deliver quality outcomes in complex stakeholder environments

You will also bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in urban design, architecture and/or landscape architecture
• 5+ years’ experience in urban design, including large-scale or mixed-use urban renewal projects.
• Strong knowledge of relevant planning legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Strong project management, problem-solving and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• A proven track record of working collaboratively to review, test and refine urban design solutions through an iterative design process. Experience with AutoCAD, Adobe Suite and Rhino is desirable.
• Registration with the UDA or a similar professional body as an urban designer is desirable.

Want to Know More?

Review our Values Flyer to learn more about the behaviours that guide how we work. Further details about this role can be found in the Position Description. For a confidential discussion, please contact Kelly van der Zanden via email***********@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

The City of Parramatta supports a drug and alcohol‑free working environment. Employees may be subject to random testing.

How We Work: Inclusion & Belonging

At the City of Parramatta, inclusion and belonging are central to how we work. We’re building a workforce that reflects our diverse community and value different perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living with disability, people of all ages, women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, ADF veterans, and others who bring unique perspectives.

We are committed to a fair, inclusive, and accessible recruitment process and support reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment – contact ***********@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au for a confidential discussion.

Eligibility:

Please note you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident in Australia to apply for this position. Applicants holding valid visas may be considered for Casual or Term contracts subject to their visa work conditions.