Development Planning Team Leader

Auckland Transport; Kumeu; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Auckland Transport is seeking a Team Leader Development Planning to lead a region-based team delivering specialist analysis on development proposals and supporting regulatory planning and consenting processes. You will steer complex projects, mentor staff, and drive improvements in processes and performance.

You'll build strong relationships with Auckland Council, developers, consultants, and internal teams while managing budgets and ensuring delivery against service levels.

Qualifications

• Degree in Planning, Engineering, Transport Planning or a related discipline.
• 15+ years’ experience in land development, urban planning, transport planning or a similar field.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, statutory processes and development planning frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team of technical planning specialists.
• Oversee workflow allocation, resource planning and delivery against service levels.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, mentoring and quality assurance on complex development proposals.
• Support regulatory planning processes, including pre-application meetings and hearings.
• Build effective relationships with internal teams, Auckland Council, developers and other stakeholders.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and performance reporting.
• Ensure strong financial management and cost recovery practices.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Land development analysis

Urban/transport planning

Regulatory understanding

Education

Planning/Engineering degree

Job description

We’re looking for a Team Leader Development Planning to join our Development Planning team. This is a key leadership role where you’ll lead, support and empower an area-based team responsible for providing specialist technical advice and analysis on development proposals across . We have three team leader roles that cover the North, West and South regions, and the successful candidate will be selected to work in one of these areas.

In this role, you’ll play an important part in helping shape the future of land use development and transport outcomes across Tāmaki Makaurau. You’ll lead a team who undertake the of complex development proposals, support Auckland Council through regulatory planning and consenting processes, and represent the Council in master planning, statutory planning and developer engagement forums.

You’ll also be responsible for building strong working relationships across Auckland Council, developers, consultants and industry stakeholders, while driving operational effectiveness, process improvement, performance measures and cost recovery processes.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team of technical planning specialists.
• Oversee workflow allocation, resource planning and delivery against service level expectations.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, mentoring and quality assurance across complex development proposals.
• Support Auckland Council through regulatory planning processes, including pre-application meetings and hearings.
• Build effective relationships with internal teams, Auckland Council, developers, consultants and other key stakeholders.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, including process improvements, lessons learnt and performance reporting.
• Ensure strong financial management, procurement practices and cost recovery processes are in place.

Nā tāu rourou | What will you bring?

As a seasoned professional, you’ll bring significant experience working in complex land development, urban planning, transport planning or transport engineering environments. You’ll also bring:

• A degree in Planning, Engineering, Transport Planning or a related discipline.
• At least 15 years’ experience in land development, urban planning, transport planning, transport engineering or a similar relevant field.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, statutory processes, design standards and development planning frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working in complex political or regulatory environments.
• Strong technical judgement, including the ability to analyse development proposals, provide quality assurance and prepare high-quality technical responses.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to manage ambiguity, competing priorities, firm deadlines and budgets.

How the Transport Reform Programme impacts this role:

Auckland is entering a new chapter in how transport is planned, delivered, and experienced.

The Transport Reform Programme, formalised in May 2026, with some Auckland Transport functions moving to Auckland Council and AT becoming more focused on public transport.

As part of these changes, this role is proposed move to Auckland Councilfollowing transition:

Candidates progressing through the process will receive further information on the proposed changes. If successful, any offer will be conditional on acknowledgement of these proposed changes, should the proposal proceed. If your role transitions to Auckland Council, you will receive a formal offer outlining your terms and conditions of employment from Council at the relevant time.

Reference # 75671

Posted: 07 Aug 2026

Closes: 23 Aug 2026 23:55

Location(s) Central Auckland

Expertise Engineering Traffic, Management, Planning, Transport Planning