Company Description
We are seeking a Principal Urban Planner to join our Urbanism & Planning team in Brisbane. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside urban planners, urban designers, landscape architects, architects and technical specialists across AECOM’s ANZ Urbanism & Planning team, part of our Buildings + Places business.
You’ll have the opportunity to accelerate your career and broaden your technical and professional skills across a diverse portfolio of development and infrastructure projects, including city-shaping projects supporting Brisbane’s growth and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Working in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, you’ll play an important role in delivering high-quality planning outcomes for our clients while contributing to projects that will help shape the future of Brisbane.
How you’ll make a difference:
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Contribute to planning assessments for large-scale projects and GIICA infrastructure, supporting Brisbane’s growth and the delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Mentor and support junior planners, contributing to their professional and technical development.
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Lead a range of planning projects, supporting directors and project managers to prepare high-quality planning reports, due diligence assessments and approval documentation for major infrastructure projects. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard.
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Undertake research, policy reviews and analysis to inform project planning strategies, approval pathways and compliance with statutory planning requirements.
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Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across AECOM to deliver planning inputs for major project approvals, ensuring consistency, accuracy and alignment with client and regulatory expectations.
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Build strong client relationships, deliver high-quality project outcomes and support directors in identifying opportunities and generating future business for the broader planning team. Contribute to the development of high-quality fee proposals and bids.
Job Description
We are looking for a Principal Urban Planner to join our Brisbane Team to assist in the delivery of a variety of major infrastructure and public realm projects throughout Queensland.
What will a day in this role look like:
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Lead and manage a diverse range of urban planning projects and deliverables, including project approval strategies, multi-criteria analysis, options assessment and land use impact assessments supporting EES and planning permit applications.
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Lead planning inputs on major projects, including Development Plans, Urban Design and Landscape Plans, Urban Design Strategies, planning due diligence, approval strategies and planning scheme amendments.
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Manage projects from inception through to delivery, ensuring high-quality outcomes, strong client relationships and successful delivery against agreed timeframes and budgets.
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Provide strategic urban planning advice across AECOM’s Urbanism + Planning portfolio, including masterplans, feasibility studies, business cases and major development and infrastructure projects.
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Lead, mentor and develop junior and mid-level staff, supporting their professional growth while maintaining high standards of technical quality and project delivery.
Qualifications
The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a great fit for this role. We encourage you to apply — all applications will be considered.
The qualities that help you thrive:
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Degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning or a closely related discipline, with approximately above 10 years of urban or environmental planning experience, ideally gained within a consultancy environment.
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Proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with engineers, environmental scientists, designers and other technical specialists to deliver high-quality planning outcomes.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing clear, concise reports and confidently liaising with clients, stakeholders and approval authorities.
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A collaborative, flexible and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt to changing project priorities and work effectively across diverse teams.
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and GIS/spatial tools considered advantageous.
Additional Information
Why you’ll love working with us:
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Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, full-time, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
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Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
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Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
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Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities
Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.
Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
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About AECOM
AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.
Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity
You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.
