Principal Urban Planner

Company Overview

Join AECOM’s Urbanism & Planning team in Brisbane, working alongside diverse professionals such as urban planners, architects, and technical experts within the Buildings + Places business. This role offers career progression while contributing to prominent infrastructure and development projects, including city-shaping initiatives related to Brisbane’s expansion and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning evaluations for large-scale initiatives and infrastructure supporting Brisbane’s development and the 2032 Games.
• Provide mentorship to junior planners, fostering their development both professionally and technically.
• Manage multiple planning projects, supporting leadership in delivering detailed planning reports, approvals, and due diligence assessments for infrastructure projects, ensuring timely, budget-compliant, and high-quality outcomes.
• Conduct research, analyze policies, and interpret statutory planning regulations to guide project strategies and compliance efforts.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate planning components consistent with client and regulatory standards for major project approvals.
• Cultivate client relationships, assist in business development, and contribute to winning proposals and bids.

Daily Activities

• Oversee various urban planning projects including approval strategies, multi-criteria assessments, land use impact studies tied to Environmental Effects Statements (EES) and permit applications.
• Lead planning contributions to development, urban design, and landscape plans, as well as planning due diligence and strategic amendments.
• Ensure project delivery from initiation through completion, maintaining client satisfaction and project benchmarks for quality and budget.
• Provide strategic urban planning advisement on masterplans, feasibility studies, business cases, and major infrastructure efforts.
• Guide and nurture junior and intermediate staff maintaining technical excellence and project delivery standards.

Qualifications and Experience

• A degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning, or a related field with at least 10 years’ experience in urban or environmental planning, preferably within consultancy settings.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams including engineers, environmental scientists, and designers.
• Strong communication skills, with experience in report writing, client interaction, and stakeholder engagement.
• Adaptable, solution-oriented mindset with flexibility to respond to shifting project priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and GIS tools is advantageous.

Additional Details

• Flexible working arrangements including varied start/finish times, part-time, job-share, and hybrid options.
• Opportunity to purchase up to six additional weeks of leave annually.
• Option to swap public holidays to suit individual preferences.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development with support for study, paid study leave, and global career pathways.

Company Commitment

AECOM is dedicated to inclusive recruitment, offering adjustments throughout the hiring process as needed. The company acknowledges traditional land custodians and strives to engage meaningfully with First Nations communities. New hires must attend a mandatory in-person onboarding at an AECOM office as a condition of employment. AECOM fosters a diverse, equitable culture emphasizing environmental, social, and governance priorities.