Group Leader Design and Drafting - ( 260000AE )
Description
About the role
Our Community Development team is looking for a Group Leader- Design and Drafting to lead the Design and Drafting team in South-East Australia. The purpose of this role is to provide strong leadership to design and digital delivery teams, ensuring alignment with Stantec’s vision, strategy, initiatives, and culture. The role is responsible for driving consistency and standardisation in design and digital delivery, embedding the Global Delivery Centre (GDC) into day‑to‑day operations, and championing innovation across the Business Centre. The role acts as an advocate for the business, representing Stantec internally across teams and leaders, and externally with clients and professional organisations.
The position can be based in any Stantec office located in Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Nowra, Geelong or Melbourne. This is a leadership position where the successful candidate will work with Team Leaders, Group Leaders and Project Managers to ensure projects are adequately resourced to meet project requirements and that your teams are trained and appropriately skilled. The role also collaborates with other Business Centre teams and the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting to continuously improve and standardise design and digital delivery practices.
Essential Functions
People Leadership
- Drive the development and adoption of guidelines, standard drawings, design standards, training and marketing materials to improve the consistency and efficiency of our service delivery. This is to be done in alignment with the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting for Community Development
- Liaise with technical staff across CD and other business lines to help capture, disseminate and drive best practice across the business
- Engagement with industry to maintain awareness of current standards and industry trends and to advocate for Stantec’s position as a thought leader, through attendance and presentation of papers at conferences, attendance at industry events and through membership of professional associations where relevant
- Assist in the development of skills in Pune to help grow our capacity and capability in those centres
- Responsible for the team’s talent management lifecycle including but not limited to; recruitment suggestions, career development, employee engagement, succession planning, coaching and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
- Review and monitor staff to ensure that performance objectives are being met, staff are engaged and performance issues are managed promptly, an awareness of mental health, and the general well-being of the staff.
- Foster a success-oriented environment within the teams by displaying collaborative behaviours and exerting measured and balanced influence.
- Uphold a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices, encourages individual integrity, and focuses on the customer and service delivery.
- Promote a happy, supportive, and inclusive culture aligned with the core values to support the strategic intent of the business.
- Manage performance and compensation of the teams through yearly employee performance reviews.
Health and Safety
- Responsible for the health and safety performance within their teams, including the monitoring of leading and lagging indicators.
- Partner with Health Safety Security Environment (HSSE) to ensure all company safety procedures, legal requirements and specific Health & Safety Regulations are met.
- Achieve minimum LISI target set by the RD for the annual period.
Quality and Innovation
- Work with project delivery teams and Practice Leaders to drive quality and timely delivery of project deliverables to meet but preferably to exceed client expectations.
- Work with the Practice Leader – Design/Drafting to ensure that QSE requirements are met.
- Complete all work in line with Stantec Core Values and in accordance with the Stantec Quality Systems and Project Quality Procedures.
- Minimise and control risk by commitment to the Stantec Risk Management Policy, Quality, and Health & Safety programmes and ensuring proactive use of our project management systems.
Delivery
- Provide Strong CAD & BIM design leadership and advice to the Business Unti
- Participate in the delivery of projects and ensure work output is of a technically high standard.
- Develop project scope, budgets, and design approach for small size projects, and support marketing and business development professionals in positioning for potential projects, writing technical portions of proposals, participating in client interviews and supporting negotiations for project contracts.
- Complete, review and validate design drawings and documentation
- Assist in the coordination and incorporation of sub-consultant's design inputs
- Lead, guide and manage a team of drafters & designers and identify opportunities to develop staff
- Act as technical specialist for delegated clients and provide outstanding level of service.
- Develop practical and commercial solutions to problems and take necessary action to expedite the successful accomplishment of assigned projects.
- Deliver project outcomes within client specifications and expectations.
- Monitor progress of individual work and the drafting team to ensure compliance with program and budget.
- Act as an authority and provide technical guidance on the application of CAD & BIM practice, including developing of internal CAD standards.
- Develop and implement training curriculums to support CAD & BIM technologies. Provide learning support through coaching and sharing of knowledge.
- Maintain a strong industry presence through local, national and international organisations. Advocate Stantec capability through industry engagements
- Work closely with our Integrated Global Working Group to enhance collaboration and greater participation of Pune resources in Australian Projects
About You
- Strong leadership experience in a design and/or drafting environment within an engineering consultancy, with a demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and develop multi‑disciplinary teams across multiple locations.
- A proven track record of driving standardisation, continuous improvement and innovation, particularly in design systems, workflows, templates, and digital delivery practices across a large or distributed team.
- Well‑developed people leadership capability, including experience with workforce planning, mentoring, coaching, performance management, talent development, succession planning and employee engagement.
- Extensive experience in civil, structural or community development design and drafting, including hands‑on knowledge of contemporary digital design tools, workflows and standards (e.g. Civil 3D, 12D, Revit, BIM/digital engineering environments).
- Experience working with offshore or global delivery teams (or the capability to quickly develop this), including managing quality, communication, coordination and timelines across international teams.
- Strong commercial and project awareness, with the ability to balance quality, programme, budget and resourcing requirements across multiple concurrent projects.
- The ability to collaborate effectively across business lines, working closely with Project Managers, Practice Leaders, Digital Engineering teams, and global delivery centres to achieve consistent, high‑quality outcomes.
- Highly developed communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage credibly with clients, industry partners, professional bodies and internal senior leaders.
- Commercially astute problem‑solving skills, with the ability to develop practical, client‑focused solutions and support business development activities including proposals, bidding, and client presentations.
- A strong alignment with values‑based leadership, demonstrating integrity, inclusiveness, accountability and a genuine commitment to health, safety, wellbeing, diversity and ethical practice.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in engineering, design, drafting or a related discipline, with professional accreditation or industry involvement viewed favourably.
What we offer
Along with a competitive salary we offer many other benefits to ensure your professional development & wellbeing is ongoing.
- Genuine Flexible Working Arrangements - Including work from home opportunities, provision for school term contracts, job sharing and part time employment.
- Option to purchase up to 4 weeks additional leave.
- Learning and Talent Development Programs - Including Global programmes, online learning and on-the-job learning
- Mentoring for your own development and the opportunity to mentor others
- A friendly team environment, with dedicated and enthusiastic staff committed to producing high quality service and deliverables
- Professional Memberships
- Salary Continuance Insurance (SCI)
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs
- Service Recognition Awards
- Employee Assistance Program
About Stantec
The Stantec community unites over 30,000 employees working in over 450 locations across six continents. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy, resources, water, environmental, transport and infrastructure projects to life.
Our work from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships.
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.
We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.
Culture
Stantec is serious about healthy work-life balance, diversity, inclusion & equity, indigenous relations, innovation, community engagement, corporate sustainability, and social wellbeing. We have employee groups for women, LGBTQI , neurodiversity, and more! Our employees play sport, fundraise, volunteer, learn, and have fun together.
How to apply
Please click on Apply and submit your resume.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Relevant tertiary qualification or TAFE qualification.
- Minimum of 10 years’ related work experience preferably in a consulting environment. .
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Primary Location : Australia-Australian Capital Territory-Canberra
Other Locations : Australia-New South Wales-Newcastle, Australia-New South Wales-St. Leonards, Australia-New South Wales-Wollongong, Australia-New South Wales-Nowra, Australia-Victoria-Geelong, Australia-Victoria-Melbourne
Organization : BC-3040 CommDev-AU New South Wales
Employee Status : Regular
Job Level : Manager
Travel : No
Schedule : Full-time
Job Posting : Apr 21, 2026, 9:29:37 PM
Req ID: 260000AE
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. EEO including Disability/Protected Veterans
