Strategy Business Partner

Council Jobs; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 131,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Monthly accrued day off

Job summary

City of Stonnington is seeking an Enterprise Strategist to translate complex challenges and community insights into clear strategic directions and practical action plans. You will partner across Council to scope, develop and monitor strategies aligned with the Council Plan and Strategy Framework.

You will lead diverse initiatives, coordinate milestones, and advise senior leaders on governance, resourcing and risk management within a hybrid working arrangement.

Qualifications

• Degree in public policy, planning, business or related discipline.
• Substantial experience in strategy development and corporate planning.
• Excellent written communication and concise reporting.
• Strong synthesis and strategic thinking to translate evidence into directions and recommendations.
• Proven project management with milestones and governance processes.
• Independent analysis and advisory experience in local government or similar environment.
• Collaborative relationships and influence across professional disciplines.
• Understanding of Victorian local government governance and planning context.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Strategy Leads to scope, develop, review and monitor strategies and action plans.
• Incorporate research, data and community insights to identify priorities and options.
• Draft and edit strategies, reports and briefings while Strategy Leads retain accountability.
• Establish milestones, momentum, deadlines and governance in the Strategy Framework.
• Provide practical coaching and facilitation on strategy scoping and monitoring.
• Lead or coordinate strategic initiatives and cross‑organisational projects.
• Coordinate contributors and manage risks, dependencies and resources.
• Ensure alignment with the Council Plan and Strategy Framework.

Skills

Strategy development

Written communication

Project management

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Local government understanding

Research methods

Education

Public policy degree

Job description

Stonnington City Centre, 311 Glenferrie Road, Malvern + Working from home

As our Strategy Business Partner, you will work at the centre of Stonnington’s strategy development, turning complex challenges, community insights and organisational priorities into clear strategic directions, practical action plans and meaningful outcomes for our community.

Reporting to the Manager Corporate Strategy, Performance and Risk, and working closely with Strategy Leads, the Enterprise Strategist and Corporate Planning and Performance team, you will partner across Council to scope, develop, review and monitor strategies aligned with the Council Plan and Strategy Framework.

This is an opportunity to work across diverse service areas on varied, high-profile priorities, with exposure to senior leaders and Council decision making. You will combine strategic thinking with hands‑on research, writing and project coordination, helping teams develop quality strategies in‑house and strengthening strategic planning capability along the way.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with Strategy Leads to scope, develop, review and monitor strategies and action plans, clarifying the issues, intended outcomes and decisions required.
• Bring together research, data, community insights and stakeholder perspectives to identify what matters, assess options and develop practical recommendations.
• Lean in with drafting and editing where required, helping Strategy Leads produce clear strategies, reports and briefings, whilst they retain accountability for the documents and recommendations.
• Help Strategy Leads establish milestones, maintain momentum, meet deadlines and follow the Strategy Framework’s review and approval processes.
• Provide practical advice, coaching, tools and facilitation focused on strategy scoping, development, review and monitoring, helping staff develop quality strategies and action plans in‑house.
• Work with the Enterprise Strategist to review and improve the Strategy Framework, templates and planning processes, informed by staff feedback and lessons from completed work.
• Lead or coordinate assigned strategic initiatives and cross‑organisational projects, including contributions to Community Vision and Council Plan development and review, as agreed with the Manager.
• Establish project scope, intended outcomes, deliverables, milestones, roles and stakeholder involvement; coordinate contributors and any commissioned consultants and manage risks, issues, dependencies and allocated resources.

• Join us in this full‑time permanent role, offering a competitive salary range of $131,295 - $146,126 plus 12% superannuation and a monthly accrued day off.

What you’ll need to succeed:

• Relevant qualifications: You have a degree in public policy, planning, business or a related discipline, or lesser formal qualifications supported by extensive and diverse experience or intensive specialist experience.
• Relevant experience: You bring substantial experience in strategy development, corporate planning and/or performance, gained in‑house or through consulting.
• Excellent written communication: You can turn complex information into clear, concise strategies, reports and briefings that support decisions.
• Strong synthesis and strategic thinking: You can draw together diverse evidence and perspectives, identify the central issues and translate findings into coherent directions and practical recommendations.
• Practical project management: You can establish milestones, coordinate contributors, manage dependencies and keep work progressing through agreed deadlines and governance processes.
• Independent analysis and advice: You have demonstrated experience independently analysing complex strategic issues, developing policy options and providing influential advice in local government or a comparable complex organisation.
• Collaborative relationships and influence: You can build strong relationships, facilitate productive discussions, constructively challenge thinking and gain cooperation across professional disciplines.
• Sound judgement and contextual awareness: You understand how organisational priorities and legal, socio‑economic and political factors shape strategic decisions, and can navigate competing considerations.
• Research methods and digital capability: You can select and apply appropriate research, analytical and strategic planning methods and use digital tools to organise information, collaborate and manage project delivery.
• Resource and budget management: You can manage allocated project budgets and resources and assess the resourcing implications of strategic options and recommendations.
• Local government understanding: You can develop and apply knowledge of Victorian local government, its governance and strategic planning context, and the economic, environmental, political and social factors affecting Council services. Experience working in local government or a political environment is desirable.

Enquiries

For enquiries relating to the role, please contact Mathew Burke, Manager Corporate Strategy, Performance and Risk, at ******@stonnington.vic.gov.au.

For enquiries relating to the system and the application process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.

For enquiries relating to the role, please contact Mathew Burke, Manager Corporate Strategy, Performance and Risk, at ******@stonnington.vic.gov.au.

For enquiries relating to the system and the application process, please contact a member of the Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.

The City of Stonnington is a child-safe, equal opportunity employer valuing diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Here at the City of Stonnington we aspire to be a leading local government authority and to do this we need the very best people who share our belief in community and who want to make a difference. We value everyone's contributions, lived experience and expertise. We provide an inclusive and respectful workplace culture where everyone is supported to thrive and be authentic. There is a variety of offerings available for our people, have a look at “Why Stonnington”.

If you have any support or access requirements, or would like to speak to someone about employment please contact Council’s Talent Acquisition team on 8290 1333.

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