Director Sustainable Growth and Planning

Sunshine Coast Council | Director Sustainable Growth and Planning
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Salary: Executive Contract + Generous Benefits

• Guide land use, planning and economic development outcomes

• Lead delivery of the Planning Scheme 2046 and REDS strategy

• Drive sustainable, climate-resilient regional growth

Guide growth. Shape policy. Lead transformation.

Sunshine Coast Council is entering a bold new phase of strategic transformation. With a visionary 2041 horizon and a newly adopted Corporate Plan, Council is realigning to deliver growth that is sustainable, inclusive and community-shaped. As part of this transition, we are seeking a Director Sustainable Growth and Planning to lead a pivotal portfolio at the heart of the region’s future.

This executive role oversees strategic land use planning, urban design, development assessment, economic development, climate resilience and strategic asset and transport planning. It requires a leader with the insight, integrity and authority to steward complex planning functions while collaborating across boundaries to drive enterprise-wide outcomes.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director will help guide Council through a period of significant change - integrating planning with infrastructure, economic strategy and organisational reform. You’ll lead the implementation of the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2046 and champion Council’s biosphere values in land use, policy and community engagement.

This role is suited to a planning or development executive with deep statutory knowledge, regional advocacy experience and the ability to lead through ambiguity. You’ll need to balance strategic vision with operational rigour, regulatory integrity with stakeholder responsiveness, and long-term planning with the pace of change.

You’ll lead high-performing teams, engage confidently with councillors, state agencies and investors, and bring courage and clarity to decisions that affect growth, liveability and resilience. With the Sunshine Coast emerging as one of Australia’s most desirable regions, this is a rare opportunity to shape a legacy of sustainable prosperity and inclusive regional development.

Please download the Executive Information Pack and view the Position Profile before submitting your application.
Applications close 5pm (AEST) Monday 2 June 2025.