Specialist Design Manager - Landscape Architect

Careers at Council; Sydney; On-site; AUD 156,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Professional development

Parental leave

Public transport access

Inclusive culture

Job summary

City of Sydney is seeking a Specialist Design Manager - Landscape Architecture to lead landscape and urban design projects from concept through delivery in the CBD. You will drive design quality and collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and delivery teams to achieve best-value outcomes.

The role sits in the Chief Operations Office, with a focus on public domain, parks, and built infrastructure across Sydney.

Qualifications

• Degree in Landscape Architecture or related field, with registration or eligibility.
• Experience delivering complex landscape or public domain projects.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and time management skills.
• Ability to reason conceptually and lead design excellence.

Responsibilities

• Design and manage landscape architecture and urban design projects across all phases.
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders and design/delivery teams on design and delivery solutions.
• Drive design quality and best-value outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Time management

Conceptual reasoning

Education

Bachelor's in Landscape Architecture

Job description

Design Studio/Professional Services/Chief Operations Office

Full Time/Permanent

Sydney

Design Studio/Professional Services/Chief Operations Office

Full Time/Permanent

$155,826 - $174,619 per annum plus superannuation

Caring for our city, creating a future for all

Our people are passionate about their communities and connected to their teams. They’re motivated by our genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion, and our clear, compelling plan for our global city:Sustainable Sydney 2030 – 2050 Continuing the Vision.

Be part of a purpose-led organisation with care at its core. You’ll make a difference by acting in the best interests of our communities and city. Be better together with collaborative and inclusive partnerships. Embrace possibilities and be open to new ideas and creating bold solutions.

About the role

The Chief Operations Office Division designs and delivers the City's parks, streetscapes, public domain, infrastructure and public buildings. We create a broad portfolio of projects from intimate local neighbourhood work, to city shaping designs, including public open space, major urban parks, plazas, streetscapes, cycle ways, sport facilities and playgrounds, and facility strategies. We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Specialist Design Manager - Landscape Architecture to join our team.

In this exciting role you will be located in the CBD and be responsible for:

• the design and management of landscape architectural and urban design projects across all project phases
• collaborating with clients, stakeholders and the design team and delivery team on design and delivery solutions
• driving innovation and design quality on projects, whilst challenging project teams to obtain ‘best value’ throughout the project lifecycle.

To be successful you must have:

• tertiary qualifications in either Landscape Architecture or a related discipline, including registration or eligibility for registration as a member of the respective professional association
• experience in the design and delivery of complex landscape architectural or public domain projects
• great communication, collaboration and time management skills
• the ability to reason conceptually, and readily acquire new information to make clear decisions to resolve problems, inspire design outcomes and establish design excellence.

Download position description.

This role has the option of a rostered day off each month, known as a 19-day month.

The recommended applicant must complete a pre-employment health declaration and a criminal history check.

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm, Tuesday 29th September 2026.

For more information, contact Chris McBride - Design Studio Manager on 02 9246 7***.

What we can offer you

You’ll work with passionate, welcoming and supportive people who care for our communities and create a future for all.

Flexible working

• 3 days of care and cultural leave each year for health and wellbeing activities, cultural and religious days or events of significance
• Collaborative approach to flexible working
• City centre head office, with many public transport options.

Professional development

• Leadership and management development program
• Further education program providing reimbursement of course fees, and study and exam leave
• Opportunity to attend external courses and conferences
• Long service and employee recognition awards
• Employee assistance program offering free, confidential counselling

Supporting families

• We provide 26 weeks of paid parental leave for all new parents, supporting diverse and inclusive families
• Paid and unpaid adoption and long-term fostering leave
• Paid superannuation for up to 52 weeks of parental leave
• Part-time and job-sharing options available
• Supportive return-to-work environment

Inclusive culture

• Recognised as an Inclusive Employer by the Diversity Council of Australia
• Active employee networks including City Women, City Pride, DiverseCity, Inclusive City, Young Professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network
• Recognised family inclusive workplace
• Veteran employment supporter

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds in a workplace as diverse as our communities. We’re passionate about gender balance, with an executive team two-thirds female and half of leadership roles held by women.

All applicants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, veterans and people of diverse sexualities and genders, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to join us.

We’re a disability confident recruiter. If you identify as a person with disability and require support for your application or the recruitment process, contact us *************@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.auor 02 9265 9***.