Principal Strategic Planner - Land Provisioning
At the NSW Department of Education, we educate and inspire lifelong learners – from early childhood, through schooling to vocational education and training.
- Temporary Full-Time up to 30 June 2030
- Located in Eveleigh with flexible working arrangements available
- Competitive salary of $149,739 - $173,174 pa plus superannuation and leave loading
About the role
School Infrastructure is delivering new school buildings, major upgrades and maintenance strategies to ensure every school-aged child has access to high quality education facilities at their local public school. This encompasses the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
Strategic Infrastructure Services (SIS) is a newly established business unit within School Infrastructure, responsible for shaping the future of public education across New South Wales.
We ensure the right schools are delivered in the right locations at the right time by combining strategic planning, demographic insights and technical expertise to influence government planning, housing and infrastructure decisions. Join a high-performing team where you'll help shape communities and deliver lasting outcomes for future generations.
Primary purpose of the role
As the Principal Strategic Planner – Land Provisioning, you will lead the department's 10-year land provisioning strategy, ensuring future school sites are identified and secured to meet the needs of growing communities across NSW.
Working at the intersection of urban planning, infrastructure and government policy, you will influence major planning decisions, guide land acquisition strategies and partner with government, councils and industry to ensure education infrastructure is embedded in the communities of tomorrow.
- Lead the development and implementation of the department's strategic response to NSW Government housing initiatives, urban renewal, precinct planning and planning proposals.
- Develop, maintain and optimise the department's 10-year land provisioning strategy, ensuring future school sites align with projected student demand across NSW.
- Lead the identification and assessment of suitable school sites across greenfield and infill developments, leveraging land provisioning mechanisms and providing expert advice to inform evidence-based decision-making.
- Monitor emerging planning proposals, housing growth, demographic trends and industry forecasts to proactively identify opportunities, manage risks and strengthen long-term land provisioning outcomes.
- Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with government agencies, local councils, developers and other stakeholders to influence planning outcomes and embed education infrastructure into future communities.
- Provide strategic leadership on complex planning projects and deliver authoritative advice that supports executive decision-making and the department's long-term infrastructure objectives.
For further information please click here to view the role description
About you
- An experienced strategic planner with expertise in strategic planning, land provisioning, strategic asset planning or urban planning, and a track record of delivering complex planning outcomes.
- A strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to interpret, synthesise and reconcile complex data to inform evidence-based decision-making.
- An influential communicator who builds trusted relationships across government, industry and the community; experience working with local councils is highly regarded.
- A technically capable professional with experience using GIS and property systems, such as LandIQ, to support strategic planning and land provisioning.
- Knowledge of and commitment to implementing the Department’s Aboriginal Education Policy and upholding the Department’s Partnership Agreement with the NSW AECG and to ensure quality outcomes for Aboriginal people.
Essential requirements of the role
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Urban Planning, Property or a related field and/or demonstrated equivalent professional experience.
- Current and valid driver’s licence (the role may require travel throughout NSW to attend workshops).
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the value of public education.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements
- 35 hour working week
- Competitive, salary sacrificing, employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
- Flex Leave entitlements, generous holidays & leave conditions
- Opportunities for advancement and mobility across the Department to support your career growth
How to apply
Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare their application materials independently. The selection panel values authentic and personally written responses that reflect your own experience, insights and alignment with the Department’s values and priorities.
Please refer to the Applicant’s Guide to Applying to assist you with your application.
If you are an existing Education Support Staff (corporate staff) with the NSW Department of Education,
All other applicants please submit your application by clicking ‘Apply Now’.
Note: the selection process will include a range of assessment techniques to assist in determining your suitability for the role. Successful candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening for this role which includes a National Criminal History Check.
As a condition of employment, successful candidates not currently employed by the Department must provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance number. Renewal is not required after the WWCC expires, as long as you remain in a non–child-related role. Employer obligations only apply while the WWCC is valid.
Candidates must have Australian work rights (citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens or a valid work visa). Ongoing (permanent) roles are open to Australian citizens and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens, while temporary roles welcome applicants with a visa.
Closing date: 02 August 2026 at 11:59pm.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people of any age or gender, people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups and/or from the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, refugees, people with disability, people with sensory differences, and neurodiverse people. If we can make some adjustments to our recruitment/interview process to better help you shine, please reach out to the contact person for this recruitment, details listed above. For more information, visit the NSW Department of Education’s Diversity, equity and inclusion webpage.
A recruitment pool may be created through this recruitment process. A recruitment pool is a group of applicants who have been assessed and identified as suitable for this role, and who may be considered for a range of similar roles, including temporary, term or ongoing roles, over the next 18 months.
