Senior 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

We are seeking a Senior Urban Planner to join our Urbanism & Planning team in Sydney. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside urban planners, urban designers, landscape architects, architects and technical specialists across AECOM’s ANZ Urbanism & Planning team, part of our Buildings + Places business.

Working in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, you’ll play an important role in delivering high-quality planning outcomes for our clients while contributing to projects that will help shape the future of Sydney.

Contribute to planning assessments and strategic planning projects across NSW, Canberra, Newcastle, and the Hunter region.

• ​​​​​​​Review plans and technical reports in support of applications and proposals.
• Mentor and support junior planners, contributing to their professional and technical development.
• Lead a range of planning projects, supporting directors and project managers in preparing high-quality planning reports, due diligence assessments and approval documentation for major infrastructure projects. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard.
• Undertake research, policy reviews and analysis to inform project planning strategies, approval pathways and compliance with statutory planning requirements.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across AECOM to deliver planning inputs for major project approvals, masterplanning and urban design projects, ensuring consistency, accuracy and alignment with client and regulatory expectations.
• Build strong client relationships, deliver high-quality project outcomes and support directors in identifying opportunities and generating future business for the broader planning team. Contribute to the development of high-quality fee proposals and bids.
• Experience in data centres, rail projects, renewable energy and transit-oriented development precincts, as well as State Significant Development applications, rezoning and masterplanning, would be preferable
• Working in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment, you’ll play an important role in delivering high-quality planning outcomes for our clients while contributing to projects that will help shape the future of Sydney. This role also offers the opportunity to work on projects across Australia, including major projects supporting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Qualifications

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

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning or a closely related discipline, with approximately 6+ years of urban or environmental planning experience, ideally gained within a consultancy environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and GIS/spatial tools considered advantageous.

• Proven ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with engineers, environmental scientists, designers and other technical specialists to deliver high-quality planning outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing clear, concise reports and confidently liaising with clients, stakeholders and approval authorities.
• A collaborative, flexible and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt to changing project priorities and work effectively across diverse teams.

Additional Information

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year         
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

 

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.