Technical Director - Urban Planning

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

AECOM is seeking a Technical Director level Urban Planner to join the Urbanism + Planning team in Sydney or Canberra, onsite and full time. This role blends leadership, client engagement and project delivery for complex city shaping across precincts, transport, sport, data centre and defence markets. With 20+ years as a Registered Planner and current registration, you will guide multidisciplinary teams from concept to delivery, shape pipelines, win major pursuits and strengthen AECOM’s market position while prioritising safety and quality. To apply, tailor your CV and cover letter to show strategic impact, mentoring capability and concrete outcomes; apply early, and highlight your commitment to inclusion and flexible work styles.

Company Description

“At AECOM, our strength is our people. Our Urbanism + Planning team instinctively collaborates across disciplines to solve complex challenges and design precincts that connect communities and purpose. By integrating creativity, insights and innovation, we create vibrant, inclusive places that enhance wellbeing, foster sustainability, and deliver lasting value for the people who live, work, learn and play in them.” — Anna Robinson, Urbanism + Planning Sector Director, ANZ

Come and grow with us

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

As part of our strategic growth, we’re seeking a Technical Director-level Urban Planner to join our high performing Urbanism + Planning team. Based in our Sydney (or Canberra) office, this is an opportunity to combine leadership, client engagement and project delivery while contributing to some of Australia’s most impactful projects. Candidates with experience across complex city shaping initiatives across the Precincts, Transport, Sport, Data Centre and Defence markets will be highly regarded.

How you’ll make a difference:

• Shape AECOM’s pipeline — partner with market leads to win major pursuits, deepen client relationships, and position the firm as the partner of choice for projects aligned to our strategy and growth.
• Provide project leadership and technical oversight — guide multidisciplinary teams through complex projects, from inception through to delivery, to delight our clients and exceed their expectations.
• Strengthen business performance — oversee proposals and projects with a lens of optimisation and impact by collaborating closely with our colleagues across the country to drive innovation and excellence.
• Exemplify our cultural standards — lead by example to bring our best every day, make it happen, support our teams, embrace new and different, and place safety and quality at the forefront of everything we do.

Qualifications

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.

The qualities that help you thrive:

• Registered Planner with ideally 20+ years of experience alongside current professional registration.
• Proven leadership skills with a track record of motivating, developing and growing high-performing teams, with a passion for mentoring and teaching.
• Strong organisational and communication skills with the ability to manage complex, multi-disciplinary projects and deliver successful outcomes.
• Strategic mindset with the capability to shape and strengthen AECOM’s urban planning offering and market position.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us 

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities
• Modern CBD office, diverse and inclusive team, barista coffee machine, morning tea celebrations, social events, and much more!

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.

Learn more about life at AECOM: LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram, X, YouTube - explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

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 2024. 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.