Job Description

Cities generally change incrementally – but in some places, growth is more deliberate, transformative.

This role sits in that second category.

About Brisbane City Council

Brisbane City Council is Australia's largest local government by population, managing assets exceeding $44 billion and an annual budget of over $4.1 billion. The city is entering a pivotal period shaped by accelerating growth, rising public service expectations, and the approaching 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These forces are sharpening the focus on how Brisbane plans, performs, and improves for decades to come. In response, Brisbane City Council is evolving how it operates to remain a high-performing organisation that delivers lasting value.

The role

Reporting to the General Manager, City Planning and Place, this is a newly created executive role responsible for shaping and leading Brisbane’s urban and suburban renewal agenda.

You will oversee programs that guide how precincts and neighbourhoods evolve, bringing together land use planning, urban design, economic development and regeneration under a coordinated, place‑based approach.

The remit is both strategic and operational. It includes setting direction, influencing investment and priorities, and ensuring that renewal programs translate into coherent, deliverable outcomes across the city.

You will also lead Council’s local economic development and small business support programs—connecting place outcomes to economic activity and community benefit.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading urban and suburban renewal programs across multiple precincts
• Shaping land use, urban design and economic development outcomes
• Influencing investment decisions and program priorities at a city-wide level
• Integrating activity across planning, transport, assets and open space functions
• Leading partnerships with government, industry, business and community stakeholders
• Overseeing budget, governance, risk and program delivery
• Building and leading a multidisciplinary team (up to ~60 staff)
• Representing Council in complex, often high‑profile forums

The Environment

This is a complex and visible role.

The work intersects with political, commercial, community and technical considerations, often with competing priorities and sensitivities. The ability to navigate these dynamics with judgement and credibility is central to success.

As a new role, it also carries an element of definition, shaping how urban renewal is led, integrated and delivered across the organisation.

About you

You are an experienced executive with deep expertise in urban planning, design or economics, renewal, infrastructure or a related field, and a demonstrated ability to operate at scale.

As a dynamic and driven executive, you will bring:

• Experience leading complex, place‑based or city‑shaping programs
• Strong technical grounding across planning, urban design or development
• A track record of influencing investment, policy and program outcomes
• Highly developed stakeholder capability, including engagement with senior government, industry and community
• Experience working across organisational boundaries to align priorities and deliver integrated outcomes
• The ability to lead through ambiguity, manage resistance, and bring people with you
• Sound judgement across competing interests, with a focus on long‑term value

Equally important is your leadership style – measured, credible, collaborative and able to operate effectively in a high‑visibility, high‑expectation environment.

Why this role

This is a role with both scale and consequence.

You will help shape how Brisbane grows, at precinct and neighbourhood level, through decisions that influence land use, investment and economic activity over time.

It is also a rare opportunity to step into a newly established leadership role and define how a city approaches renewal in a more integrated, outcome‑focused way.

Please visit the detailed candidate page for further information and to apply: https://www.luminarypartners.com.au/bcc

Confidential enquiries to:

Elena Ryan, Senior Associate, Luminary on 0422 584 231

Applications close: Midnight, Friday 14th August 2026

Luminary is committed to storing and utilising your information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988. For further information regarding this please visit: https://www.luminarypartners.com.au/privacy-policy