Principal Urban Planner

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Our Adelaide Planning team is building real momentum, with a strong and growing pipeline of transport, infrastructure and urban development work across South Australia. We’re looking for a Senior Urban Planner to join a well-established, collaborative team where you’ll play a key role in shaping major projects while staying closely connected to our broader ANZ network.

You’ll be hands-on across large-scale, multidisciplinary projects, from managing complex development applications through to contributing to master planning, strategic planning and code amendments. With exposure to major infrastructure and renewable energy projects, you’ll lead stakeholder engagement, provide trusted advice to clients and help drive outcomes that balance community, commercial and project priorities.

How you’ll make a difference  

• Being part of a specialist Adelaide-based Planning Team, working on large-scale multi-disciplinary transport, infrastructure and urban development projects. Such work includes:
  • Preparing and managing development applications for large-scale developments
  • Assisting with the preparation of Master Plans, Strategic Plans and Code Amendments
  • Supporting major transport, infrastructure and renewable energy projects
  • Leading consultation and engagement processes with key stakeholders
• Providing client focused, timely, accurate and professional planning advice on a range of projects
• Ensuring that project scope, budgets, timeframes and quality outputs are considered within a commercial business environment

Qualifications

The qualities that help you thrive 

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply, all applications will be considered.

• Degree-qualified in Urban, Environmental or a related Planning discipline, with 7+ years’ experience in statutory and strategic planning, including experience working within the South Australian planning system.
• Strong understanding of planning legislation, planning schemes and policy frameworks, including experience contributing to planning scheme and design code amendments,.
• Proven capability managing projects or key workstreams, coordinating inputs and delivering to agreed timeframes and budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated experience engaging clients, approval authorities, stakeholders and communities on complex planning matters.

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year         
• Volunteer and representation leave
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better

Additional Information

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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AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses.  Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

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.