Date: 27 Jul 2026
Location: Adelaide, SA, AU, 5000
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Company: City of Adelaide
Lead a team of six
Full time, permanent opportunity
Starting at $147,460 + 12% superannuation
About the Opportunity
This is an opportunity to lead a high-performing team that helps shape the future direction of the City of Adelaide. As Manager, Strategy, Planning & Engagement, you'll work across the organisation to bring our strategic vision to life, ensuring our plans, priorities and performance align with the outcomes that matter most to our community.
Working closely with the Associate Director, Governance & Strategy, you'll drive the delivery of Council's key planning frameworks, including the Strategic Management Plan, Annual Integrated Business Plan and Service Delivery Plans. You'll also lead the evolution of our organisational performance framework, using meaningful data, insights and reporting to support informed decision-making, measure success and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Beyond planning and performance, you'll champion quality community engagement and build a strong research and insights capability that helps ensure the community's voice is reflected in Council's strategies and policies. You'll also play an important role in strengthening organisational capability by leading service reviews, supporting change initiatives, advancing Council's AI Governance Framework and partnering with leaders across the organisation to embed strategic thinking and a culture of continuous improvement.
If you're a collaborative and forward-thinking leader who enjoys connecting strategy with action, building trusted relationships and empowering others to deliver meaningful outcomes, you'll find this is a role where your influence will be felt across the organisation and throughout the city.
About You
To be successful in this role you will have:
A tertiary qualification (degree level) in Change Management or general Business Management/Commercial Management (or related field) or equivalent experience in a medium to large sized organisation.
Experience in providing effective leadership which continually enhances and builds the team’s capability and performance.
Understanding of strategic planning and research, and transformation principles.
Proven experience in delivering innovation in an organisation.
Experience in business analysis, business process mapping and re-engineering.
Detailed understanding of enterprise-wide process review and methodologies.
About Us
Located in the geographic heart of Kaurna Country, the City of Adelaide celebrates its cultural heritage, unique natural surrounds and structures its footprint in a way that allows it to adapt to the changing needs of the community and a dynamic global landscape. Our focus is on our community’s wellbeing and quality of life - investing in city improvements and on future planning, so we continue to design a liveable city where future generations can continue to live authentic and meaningful lives. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and be a bigger part of our amazing city!
The Governance and Strategy program is responsible for enabling robust, transparent and effective governance and risk management processes, and working collaboratively to create, maintain and integrate well researched strategies, polices, and plans which guide decision making and support our city and our community to thrive.
At the City of Adelaide, we thrive in an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and safe, and celebrates difference. We value and embrace our diverse perspectives and recognise the value diversity has in fuelling innovation and enabling brilliant experiences for our diverse community.
For Further Enquiries & How to Apply
All enquiries regarding this position will remain private and confidential and can be directed to Rebecca Hayes on 08 8203 7167.
Please submit a Resume and a Cover Letter expressing the skills, experience and qualities you can bring to this position addressed to Rebecca Hayes, Associate Director, Governance & Strategy.
Please review the position description prior to submitting an application by following the prompts to apply.
Applications close at 11.59pm, 10 August 2026.
Please be advised this is a full-time, permanent opportunity with a starting salary at the Level 9 Classification of $147,460 + 12% superannuation.
As part of the recruitment process candidates will be required to undertake a National Police Check.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, and people living with disability to apply.
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process and supportive workplace. If you require assistance with our recruitment process, please call our People Services team on (08) 8203 7333 or
[email protected] 