Senior Sustainable Design Leader - Strategy & Projects

Sustainable Design Leader; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave policy

Flexible work policy

Inter-studio transfers

Wellbeing benefits

Development programs

Study assistance

Job summary

Hassell is seeking a Sustainable Design Leader to advance sustainability across project delivery and global practice. Based in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, you will lead teams, engage clients and translate ambitious sustainability goals into deliverable design.

You will balance roughly 70% project leadership with 30% global strategy, shaping frameworks, capability building and external positioning. The role requires seniority, collaboration and a track record in regenerative design.

Qualifications

• Senior practitioner capable of project delivery and strategic conversations.
• Significant built environment experience in sustainability and regenerative impact.
• Proven leadership delivering best-practice sustainability outcomes on projects.
• Expertise in social value, materiality and/or constructability.
• Strong systems thinking; translate complex challenges into practical strategies.
• Strong networks with industry and clients; influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation, communication and storytelling skills.
• Qualification in Design, Engineering, Science, Environmental Management, Construction, Sustainability or related.
• Curiosity, generosity and willingness to share knowledge.
• Collaborative approach grounded in trust and respect.

Responsibilities

• Lead and embed sustainability and regenerative design thinking within project teams from early strategy through delivery.
• Partner with project leaders and design teams to shape project direction, not just performance outcomes.
• Translate technical sustainability knowledge into clear, compelling design and value-based propositions.
• Influence clients, consultants and stakeholders toward higher ambition and more holistic outcomes.
• Support major pursuits and proposals by articulating Hassell's sustainability and value-creation approach.
• Work with the global Sustainability Team to evolve Hassell's Sustainability Framework, regenerative design methodologies and value-creation approaches.
• Contribute to global capability building - including learning programs, tools, guidance, resources and communities of practice.
• Help shape Hassell's external positioning on sustainability and regenerative design.
• Share insights and lessons from projects to continuously improve frameworks and practice-wide approaches.
• Represent Hassell in industry forums, thought leadership, partnerships and advocacy where appropriate.
• Engage with Heads of Design, the Operations Executive and Board to support the long-term strategic ambition, capability and capacity of the practice.

Skills

Sustainability leadership

Project leadership

Social value

Materiality

Constructability

Systems thinking

Stakeholder influence

Facilitation

Communication

Education

Design/Engineering qual

Job description

Hassell is seeking a Sustainable Design Leader to advance sustainability across project delivery and global practice. Based in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, you will lead teams, engage clients and translate ambitious sustainability goals into deliverable design.

You will balance roughly 70% project leadership with 30% global strategy, shaping frameworks, capability building and external positioning. The role requires seniority, collaboration and a track record in regenerative design.