Senior Town Planner (Community & Engagement focus)

Premise; Orange City Council; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Amey Australia, formerly Premise, is seeking a Senior Town Planner focused on community engagement to lead planning projects in NSW.

Based in Orange, NSW, this senior role blends technical planning with active stakeholder engagement, client liaison and mentoring of junior staff.

Join a multidisciplinary office that values collaboration and delivering community-focused outcomes across transport, environment and development projects.

Qualifications

• Experience in town planning, ideally within a consultancy or similar environment.
• Strong background in stakeholder or community engagement within planning projects.
• Confidence working directly with clients, councils and community groups.
• Ability to communicate complex planning matters in a clear, practical way.
• Proven project management skills and ownership of deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects and act as a key contact for clients, councils and community stakeholders.
• Facilitate engagement with local communities and translate planning outcomes into meaningful conversations.
• Prepare high-quality planning reports that balance technical requirements and community perspectives.
• Manage project timelines, budgets and deliverables, keeping stakeholders informed and involved.
• Mentor junior team members, particularly in stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Contribute to proposals and help grow new opportunities through strong relationships.

Skills

Town planning experience

Stakeholder engagement

Client communication

Project management

Reporting & briefs

Job description

Senior Town Planner (Community & Engagement focus)

This is a great opportunity for a planner who thrives on the people side of planning. If you enjoy working closely with communities, building trust with stakeholders, and helping shape outcomes through genuine engagement, this role offers the chance to do exactly that.

Based in our Orange, NSW office, you’ll step into a senior position where your ability to connect, influence and guide conversations is just as important as your technical capability.

This role sits at the intersection of planning, stakeholder engagement and project delivery. You’ll be involved in a mix of technical planning work and community-focused engagement, including:

• Leading planning projects while acting as a key contact for clients, councils and community stakeholders
• Facilitating engagement with local communities, helping translate planning outcomes into meaningful conversations
• Preparing high-quality planning reports that consider both technical requirements and community perspectives
• Managing project timelines, budgets and deliverables, while keeping stakeholders informed and involved
• Supporting and mentoring junior team members, particularly in stakeholder engagement approaches
• Contributing to proposals and helping grow new opportunities through strong relationships

You’ll be trusted to represent the business externally and play a visible role in how projects are communicated and delivered.

What we’re looking for

About the Role This is a great opportunity for a planner who thrives on the people side of planning. If you enjoy working closely with communities, building trust with stakeholders, and helping shape outcomes through genuine engagement, this role offers the chance to do exactly that.

Based in our Orange, NSW office, you’ll step into a senior position where your ability to connect, influence and guide conversations is just as important as your technical capability.

This role sits at the intersection of planning, stakeholder engagement and project delivery.

Must have

• Experience in town planning, ideally within a consultancy or similar environment
• Strong background in stakeholder or community engagement within planning projects
• Confidence working directly with clients, councils and community groups
• Ability to communicate complex planning matters in a clear, practical way
• Proven project management skills and ownership of deliverables

Nice to have

• Existing networks across local government, developers or community stakeholders
• Experience contributing to business development or winning work
• Professional memberships in planning or a related discipline
• Attained or working towards REAP accreditation

This role will suit someone who enjoys being out in front of projects, not just behind a report.

The Environment and Team Our Orange office houses a planning team that values collaboration, practical thinking and open communication. There’s a balance of autonomy and support, with close access to senior leadership and the opportunity to influence how projects are approached. Working alongside our civil engineering, surveying and environmental teams, you'll be part of a multidisciplinary office that fosters collaboration and integrated project delivery.

Relationships matter here, both internally and externally. People who do well in this team are those who are approachable, proactive and invested in building trust with others.

Why join

• A genuine opportunity to focus on the engagement side of planning, not just technical delivery
• Varied projects that involve real community interaction and influence
• A senior role with visibility and the ability to shape outcomes
• Supportive team culture with room to grow your profile and network
• A mix of office-based work and on-the-ground involvement

About Amey

We are now Amey Australia, formerly known as Premise, a multi-disciplinary consultancy with over 200 employees across NSW, QLD, and WA. Our team brings together a range of specialised capabilities to deliver integrated solutions across the Built Environment, Water, Environmental & Renewables, and Transport sectors.

In July 2025, Premise was acquired by leading UK consultancy Amey, a provider of full lifecycle engineering, operations and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure and complex facilities.

Now operating as Amey Australia, we combine strong local expertise and long-standing client relationships with the backing of a global organisation, positioning us for continued growth and broader opportunities.

If you’re a planner who enjoys working with people as much as projects and wants to play a key role in community-focused outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.