Job no: 495562
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Penrith
Categories: Design & Architecture
Salary: $196,312.00 - $227,237.00 + 12% superannuation + vehicle package available

Head of Design

At Penrith City Council, it’s not about having to choose.

Life with us is the best of both worlds. https://youtu.be/tlJFbUk4yG4

What we offer you

Permanent full-time Opportunity
Salary: Commencing at $196,312.00 + Super + vehicle package available
Flexible Working Arrangements: Hybrid work options and flexible hours
The best of both worlds – click here to learn more

Here’s what you’ll be up to…

We’re looking for an inspiring and strategic design leader to guide the delivery of high‑quality, best‑practice design outcomes across Penrith’s major and minor infrastructure projects.

In this permanent leadership role, you will:

Provide day‑to‑day management, direction and coordination of the Design Department to support delivery of Capital Works and major community infrastructure.
Lead a team of multidisciplinary professionals across civil and structural engineering, architecture, landscape architecture and survey.
Oversee design development for complex, multi‑million‑dollar projects, ensuring outcomes meet time, cost, scope and quality requirements.
Drive innovation, design excellence and cross‑Council collaboration, working closely together to deliver the Community Strategic Plan.
Contribute to strategic planning, organisational reporting, and development of key programs, KPIs and service plans.

Who we are (And why you’ll love us)

As the Head of Design, you’ll be stepping into a leadership role that shapes not only the projects we deliver, but the culture we create together. In the Design Department, leadership isn’t just about managing workloads—it’s about inspiring direction, setting clear expectations, nurturing talent and championing collaboration across Council.

Our Design Team is a diverse group of civil and structural engineers, architects, landscape architects and survey professionals who take pride in delivering high‑quality outcomes for our community. We value connection, open communication and learning from each other. We celebrate our wins, invest in professional development and create space for innovation, curiosity and growth.

You’ll be leading a team that thrives on purpose and understands the meaningful impact great design has on our city. If you’re a people‑centred leader who enjoys building strong teams, shaping culture and developing others, you’ll love what we’re creating here—together.

Check out our Position Description to learn more about this role.

What are we looking for?

Our ideal applicant will bring:

Strategic leadership capability and experience managing multidisciplinary design teams.
Strong technical understanding of design, procurement, project development and delivery for major infrastructure.
The ability to manage and deliver design services to a pipeline of complex capital projects.
A collaborative, solutions‑focused mindset with the ability to negotiate, communicate and influence across all levels.
A passion for design excellence, innovation and delivering high‑quality community outcomes.
Someone motivated by challenge, growth and meaningful impact.

The must-know bits

You will be required to undertake employment checks, which may include a Criminal History Check, Qualification Check, Working with Children Check, Medical Declaration and/or a Functional Test, as relevant to the position for which you have applied.

Where a Criminal History Check is required and has returned a result that indicates disclosable court outcomes, you will be required to provide a copy of the report to Penrith City Council, for review, to progress through the recruitment process.

Ready to make work feel less like… work?

If you’re nodding along and already picturing your first day, submit your application by hitting ‘Apply Now’.

In addition to a cover letter and resume, applicants are required to submit comprehensive responses to the selection criteria (outlined in the position description) as a part of their application. Applicants who do not meet the essential criteria will not be considered.

We’ve got an opportunity, you’ve got talent… Let’s talk.

For more information, contact Adam Wilkinson - Director - Asset Services on 4732 7777.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position.

Council is a Child Safe Organisation. For more information about this, please see our website.

At Penrith City Council, we believe the best of both worlds means embracing the unique perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that make our City and our organisation vibrant. We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported and welcome applicants from people of all backgrounds, abilities and identities.

Advertised: 12 Mar 2026 AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 05 Apr 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time