Infrastructure Contributions Lead

Your new career
This role plays a critical coordination function in the funding of physical and community infrastructure which supports sustainable growth across Surf Coast Shire. As the Infrastructure Contributions Lead, you will coordinate the implementation of Council's Infrastructure Contributions Framework, including Development Contributions Plans (DCPs), Informal Shared Funding Arrangements and Section 173 Agreements. Your work ensures development contributes fairly, consistently and transparently to the infrastructure our growing community needs.

Based within the Planning and Compliance Team, this role works across the organisation, bringing together specialists from Planning, Finance, Assets & Engineering, Legal and Community Services. You’ll guide complex processes across the full infrastructure contributions lifecycle, ensuring alignment, accountability and timely delivery.

What you will bring to the role
You have specific technical expertise across multiple fields, including project management, engineering, planning, and finance. You are an organised and collaborative professional who understands the necessity of working across disciplines and bringing structure to complex processes. You’re confident facilitating discussions, managing competing priorities and turning detailed technical inputs into clear, practical outcomes.

To thrive in this role you will have: 

• Experience coordinating complex frameworks, agreements or multi-stage processes, ideally within planning, infrastructure or local government
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills, with the ability to synthesise specialist advice into clear recommendations
• Proven ability to manage timelines, dependencies, risks and handovers across multiple teams
• High attention to detail, with experience maintaining registers, tracking systems and supporting reporting and governance requirements
• An existing understanding of infrastructure contributions schemes including development contributions plans and how they are designed and administered in a Victorian context

 
Key selection criteria
Mandatory qualifications, experience and requirements

• Tertiary qualification in planning, finance, project management, engineering, or related discipline (Qualification Check conducted), OR demonstrated experience in program coordination, project management, or cross-functional coordination roles within local government or similar complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple specialist teams or departments to deliver complex outcomes, managing processes with interdependencies, orchestrating specialist inputs to meet deadlines, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration without line management authority.
• Experience in one or more relevant domains such as strategic planning, development engineering, infrastructure planning, financial management, or local government administration.
• Understanding of local government context including governance structures, committee processes, statutory obligations, cross-departmental collaboration challenges, and the need to balance multiple stakeholder interests in public sector decision-making.
• Understanding of the infrastructure lifecycle (including development and community infrastructure), and Council’s role in the design and implementation of contributions plans. 
• Experience preparing papers and recommendations for senior leadership or committees, synthesizing complex information from multiple sources into clear briefings, facilitating decision-making, and implementing decisions across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrated capability in relationship management and stakeholder coordination across internal and external stakeholders with diverse interests, including peers, managers, executives, developers, and consultants. 
• Current Victorian driver’s licence.
• A current Working With Children Check
• You have the permanent right to live and work in Australia
• Police Check results that are suitable for this position (will be arranged by Surf Coast Shire Council). 
  A complete international criminal history check is required if the person has worked or lived overseas for any period of time OR a complete national criminal history check is required if the person has only ever worked in Australia.

What you’ll love working with us
Council embraces diversity and social inclusion and encourages applications from skilled people from all walks of life.

We recognise that our employees play a vital role in creating an innovative, safe, respectful and supportive workplace, living our values and delivering exceptional services to our thriving community. Council is committed to providing a workplace culture of equity, inclusion and diversity that eliminates all forms of discrimination, harassment and bullying.

There are numerous social activities throughout the year available as well as the benefits of:
•    Flexible working arrangements including working from home and flexi time options
•    Employee Assistance Program and award-winning staff wellbeing program
•    Career development and learning opportunities, we help our people grow
•    Purchase of additional annual leave
•    Free onsite parking

For more information
You’ll find further details about the role, including accountabilities and key selection criteria, in the Position Description on our website – [Position Description PDF]

If you believe you have the knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil this role and would like further information, please contact Rob Wandell, Manager Planning and Compliance on 5261 0600.

How to apply
Applications are to be in Word or PDF format and should include a:

• cover letter including your statement addressing the selection criteria 
• copy of your resume. 

Please note that only applications with a statement addressing the selection criteria will be considered for this position.

Simply complete the application process by clicking the "Apply Now" button and we'll be in touch with you shortly regarding your application. 

Applications close at 11.59pm Sunday 22 February 2026.

Surf Coast Shire Council is an equal opportunity and child safe employer.