GREATER GEELONG: BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ENTERPRISE, OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION IN A QUALITY ENVIRONMENT
POSITION TITLE:
Senior Urban Designer
POSITION NUMBER:
2947
DIVISION:
Planning and Development
DEPARTMENT:
Planning Strategy & Urban Growth
CLASSIFICATION:
Band 8
REPORTS TO:
Manager, Planning Strategy & Urban Growth
DIRECTLY MANAGES:
N/A
INTERNAL LIAISONS:
City Development Department, Capital Projects,
Engineering Services, Central Geelong Action
Plan team
EXTERNAL LIAISONS:
Central Geelong Partnership, Geelong
Authority, Places Vic
DATE:
October 2016
POSITION OBJECTIVES:
This position will provide high quality design, project management
professional/technical services and advice relating to urban design projects.
and
specialist
The position will be responsible for building urban design capability and capacity within the City of
Greater Geelong, and designing and delivering improved urban outcomes for the community. It
will lead the development and implementation of a range of projects ranging from strategic
‘visioning’ to detailed urban design concepts for projects.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key Responsibilities:
1. Lead the development of strategic projects (inc. UDF’s) and urban design policy, strategies
and guidelines.
2. Grow the urban design capacity and capability of the organisation.
3. Provide design solutions and strategies for a range of place based projects encompassing
residential, mixed use, commercial and industrial masterplanning commissions.
4. Develop and maintain a culture in which staff anticipate and deliver services in a responsive
manner and seek ways of continually improving their work practices.
5. Develop projects from feasibility through concept and sketch design to the appropriate level of
detail, including to outline planning.
6. Prepare high quality visualisations from sketch through to illustrative and presentation
standard.
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7. Assist in the preparation of feasibility, design, planning and other documentation, as required,
including contributing to the evaluation of submissions and fee proposals.
8. Provide advice and guidance relating to a range of Council and other agency led infrastructure
public realm projects and community infrastructure projects.
9. Work with contractors and Council project delivery units in the design and implementation
phases of key urban design projects.
10. Adhere to all Council’s policies and procedures relevant to this position.
11. Carry out other duties as deemed reasonable and appropriate to the role as directed from time
to time.
Values:
Our values represent who we are and who we aspire to be. They are the tools to create the
workplace culture we want. We are all accountable for this.
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Respect and encourage each other
Create a healthy and safe environment for all
Embrace new ideas and better ways to work
Make people the centre of our business
Risk Management and Occupational Health & Safety Responsibilities:
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Understand and comply with Council OHS policies, procedures and legislative requirements
relevant to the position.
Perform work in a safe and appropriate manner.
Ensure behaviour does not discriminate, bully or harass others.
Take responsibility for own safety and that of others.
Proactively report any incidents, injuries, hazards or unsafe work practices.
The following general physical and functional requirements may apply to this position. Specific
physical requirements will be attached if applicable.
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Manual handling tasks.
Prolonged periods of inactivity eg. sitting at the computer.
Regular keyboarding associated activities.
Long / short distance travel between sites.
Dealing with difficult clients and situations.
Demanding deadlines.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:
Essential:
1. Tertiary qualifications in an appropriate design discipline or approved equivalent professional
qualification (e.g. Landscape Architecture or Architecture) and several years’ experience as an
Urban Designer, Architect or Landscape Architect designing and delivering public realm
projects within or with Local Government.
2. Extensive experience in leading and managing the development and implementation of a
range of urban design projects including:
 Major urban renewal
 Structure planning
 Master planning
 Urban design frameworks
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 Feasibility studies
 Detailed urban design concepts for projects
Demonstrated skills and experience in team development, management and leadership.
Experience in developing guidance and policies relating to the built environment.
Experience in advising on the design of developments and regeneration projects.
Demonstrated high level of interpersonal, communication, consultation and negotiation skills,
as well as the ability to articulate issues and influence outcomes at a senior level.
Demonstrated ability to build partnerships with a range of stakeholders (both external and
internal including Councillors) to achieve optimal outcomes.
Knowledge of Standards Australia codes and practices, Victorian local government statutory
requirements, and processes necessary in the design and development of urban enhancement
projects.
Proficiency in MS Project, MS Office, AutoCAD, the Adobe Suite, SketchUp and ArcGIS.
Desirable:
10. Post graduate qualifications in Urban Design or other relevant discipline.
11. Membership with relevant professional organisation.
12. Current Victorian Driver's Licence.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXTENT OF AUTHORITY:
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Lead the development of urban design policy, strategies and practice across the organisation.
Lead the development of urban design capacity, skills and direction across the organisation.
Accountable for contributing to team direction, giving and receiving feedback and achieving
agreed performance standards in order to contribute to a culture of performance excellence.
Accountable for participating in multi-disciplinary project teams including consultants to
achieve performance targets on time and within budget.
Manage the development and monitoring of the Urban Design program and budget.
Represent Council and the Department at key stakeholder forums.
Deputise for the Manager as required.
Accountable for creating and capturing accurate and complete records of the business
activities related to this position, in accordance with approved policy and procedures. This is
applicable to both hardcopy and electronic information, including email.
Develop, monitor and review an Urban Design Annual Business Plan.
JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING:
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Highly developed problem solving and the capability to lead the resolution of challenges to
deliver successful outcomes.
Provide high level advice to other managers and General Managers, Council and the CEO.
High degree of judgment and decision making is required in leading urban design actions
across the organisation.
Exercise judgement in terms of liaison with other units of Council and the exchange of relevant
information.
Exercise judgement in terms of liaison and negotiation with internal and external individuals
and organisation.
Work in partnership with senior colleagues to agreed performance standards and mutual
expectations.
Ability to analyse issues and recommend alternatives.
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SPECIALIST SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
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Strong project management background with experience on a variety of projects.
Highly experienced in stakeholder engagement and community consultation.
Demonstrated graphic and presentation skills including writing and delivery quality reports and
publically presenting material to simply deliver complex ideas.
Knowledge of Standards Australia codes and practices, Victorian local government statutory
requirements, and processes necessary in the design and development of urban enhancement
projects.
Proficiency in MS Project, MS Office, AutoCAD, the Adobe Suite, SketchUp and ArcGIS.
MANAGEMENT SKILLS:
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Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
Provide leadership to staff by communicating corporate objectives and expectations,
developing the team and shaping the preferred organisational culture.
Highly developed organisational skills.
Ability to exercise initiative and work both independently and cooperatively.
Demonstrated skills and experience in team development, management and leadership.
A positive ‘can do’ attitude with a flexible approach to work.
Understanding of and ability to comply with Council’s personnel practices including Equal
Employment Opportunity and Occupational Health & Safety.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
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Ability to communicate effectively and influence at all levels, clearly conveying complex
concepts, information and ideas.
Strong relationship building and stakeholder management skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work both collaboratively as part of a cohesive team and autonomously, with limited
supervision.
Ability to build a cooperative and productive working environment.
Ability and desire to mentor and develop skill of others.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
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Tertiary qualification in Urban Design or other relevant discipline (Desirable: Postgraduate
qualification in Urban Design).
Extensive experience in Urban Design, ideally within a similar public sector environment.
Extensive experience in project management and leading the development and
implementation of urban design proposals, plans and policies.
Demonstrated experience working as an urban designer on a range of projects.
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HOW TO APPLY
Applications close:
5:00pm Friday 7 April 2017
Contact Person:
Sarah Storen, Acting Manager Planning Strategy & Urban Growth,
5272 4814
Submit your online application at https://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/employment
If you are unable to submit an online application please send your application to:
Recruitment Administration Officer
Organisation Development
City of Greater Geelong
PO Box 104
GEELONG VIC 3220
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