Burwood Council

Manager, Place and Strategic Partnerships

About
Us:

Recently
named Australia’s Coolest Neighbourhood by Time Out, Burwood is a place on
the move.

A
diverse, creative and globally connected community, Burwood is known for its
vibrant streets, distinctive public spaces, bold public art, and one of
Sydney’s most exciting food scenes. From cultural festivals and laneway
activations to major streetscape transformations, the city is constantly
evolving.

Behind
it all is a Council that believes its people are the driving force of that
momentum. Our team is central to delivering the ambitious vision set out in
the Burwood Community Strategic Plan 2036, shaping how the city grows, how
it is experienced, and how it is seen by the world.

Background:

Some
roles maintain a city.
This one helps shape where it’s going.

At
Burwood Council, we’re looking for a strategic leader who can connect place,
partnerships, economy and activation into something bigger than the sum of its
parts.

Someone
who can turn ideas into momentum.
Momentum into projects.
And projects into places people remember.

This
is a senior leadership role driving integrated place outcomes across one of
Australia’s fastest evolving urban centres.

You’ll
lead initiatives that shape how people experience Burwood, from precinct
activation and city partnerships to economic development, destination
positioning and public space strategy.

You’ll
work closely with the Mayor, General Manager and Executive Team to help guide
the future of a city attracting national attention for culture, vibrancy and
transformation.

And
your job?

Make
it matter.

The
Role

The
Manager Place & Strategic Partnerships drives integrated place, economy and
partnership outcomes, boosting precinct performance, activating spaces,
strengthening local business and forging high-impact collaborations to position
Burwood as a vibrant, globally attractive destination.

• Turn Council’s vision into bold, high-impact place
  initiatives and investment opportunities that deliver real community
  outcomes.
• Provide trusted, strategic advice to senior leaders to
  shape decisions and drive Burwood’s future.
• Lead innovative place strategies and programs that
  enhance liveability, economic growth and community wellbeing.
• Build and leverage strong partnerships across
  government, industry and community to deliver shared results.
• Drive vibrant activations and a safe, thriving
  night-time economy that energises public spaces.
• Inspire high-performing teams and build trusted
  relationships with stakeholders, elected members and the community.
• Deliver with integrity,
  maximising resources, managing risk and ensuring strong governance at all
  times.

To
be successful in this role we’ll need you to confidently check these boxes:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in urban planning,
  public policy, place management, economic development or a related field,
  with postgraduate studies highly regarded.
• Proven experience designing and delivering place-based
  strategies and programs that enhance liveability, strengthen local
  economies and support thriving, connected communities.
• Strong background leading place initiatives, precinct
  programs or partnership projects, ideally within a complex organisation or
  government setting.
• Confidence in providing clear, strategic advice to
  senior leaders on place-making, partnerships and city-shaping
  opportunities.
• A people-focused leader who builds and motivates
  high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, innovation and
  accountability.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication
  skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and represent Council
  effectively across community, industry and government settings.
• Demonstrated success in building and leveraging
  meaningful partnerships to deliver shared outcomes for communities.
• A genuine commitment to customer-focused service,
  ethical practice, risk management, safety and continuous improvement.

If
that excites you, keep reading. If that sounds exhausting, this probably isn’t
for you.

The
Environment

Burwood
isn’t static.

We’re
delivering city-shaping projects.
We’re strengthening our night-time economy.
We’re positioning ourselves as a destination.
We’re growing, fast.

Which
means communications can’t be an afterthought.

You’ll
sit at the table with senior leadership.
You’ll advise the Mayor, General Manager and Executive.
You’ll build a team that operates with pace and precision.

The
Characteristics

Strategic: You see patterns
others miss. You connect campaigns to long-term positioning.
Decisive: You don’t wait for
perfect conditions. You make informed calls and move.
Composed: Pressure sharpens
you. It doesn’t rattle you.
Commercially
Aware:
You know partnerships and connections drives growth.
High
standards: You
don’t settle for average and you push work to be its best. “Good enough” isn’t.
Reliable: You build trust by
delivering what you promise, consistently.

Culture
& Benefits:

• Great work/life balance with flexible working hours and
  access to flexi time
• Fantastic team culture and supportive environment
• Lots of variety as Burwood continues to grow and
  develop with lots of exciting changes in the pipeline
• Participate in a range of Health and Well-Being
  initiatives, including access to flu vaccinations, Fitness Passport and
  Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Enquiries:

For
further information about this role, please contact Miriam Wassef, Director
People & Performance on (02) 9911 9911. If you need assistance with
your application, any adjustments to be made to the recruitment process or if
you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements, please contact Lauren
Allcott, People & Culture Advisor on 02 9911 9938.

How
to apply:

Please
click on “Apply for this position” and follow the steps.

Applications
are to include a CV and a cover letter outlining the skills they can bring to
the role and how they would plan to take on the responsibilities of the
position.

Closing
date:

Applications close on Friday, 12
June at 11.59pm.