Located in the beautiful Darling Downs South-West region of Southern Queensland, the Southern Downs local government area is about 160 kilometres south-west of the Brisbane CBD. With bustling rural centres and quaint townships, the region is built on exceptional agriculture and farming foundations and boasts World Heritage listed national parks and recreation areas. The area is also rapidly becoming a gourmet food and wine destination and has an annual calendar full of exciting cultural and sporting events. Southern Downs Regional Council is offering a rare ground-floor opportunity for an experienced and driven professional to build and lead a new Project Management Office. This newly created role is designed for someone who thrives on delivering meaningful outcomes, growing high-performance teams, and shaping the strategic direction of an enterprise-wide project function. Reporting directly to the General Manager Infrastructure, Assets and Projects, this role will play a critical part in the successful delivery of complex, high-value projects and programs, while also driving cultural change and capability uplift across the organisation. This is more than just a leadership position - it's an opportunity to define and establish the Council's project management operating model from the ground up. The successful candidate will be responsible for creating and developing the PMO team and take on delivery oversight of major and specialty projects across areas such as waste, building, and infrastructure. At the same time you'll lead the Council's PMO function, refining and embedding the existing Project Management Framework (PMF), building on the foundational work led by senior leaders, and elevating it to meet future strategic demands. You'll work collaboratively with key leaders across the organisation, including colleagues in Asset Management, Finance, and Engineering, to ensure a cohesive, whole-of-organisation approach to project delivery. As a trusted advisor and coach, you will train, mentor and guide project managers and officers, as well as deliver hands-on project outcomes yourself. The successful applicant will need to be calm under pressure, collaborative by nature, and able to communicate clearly and confidently with internal and external stakeholders, including funding authorities and delivery partners. With a strong cultural shift towards collaboration and a 'can-do' attitude, this role is a chance to be part of a leadership team committed to innovation and excellence. You'll help drive Council's Capital Project Control Group (PCG), implement effective reporting processes, and be a visible and present leader - this is not a hybrid role, but a high-impact position at the heart of Council's strategic and operational delivery. We are seeking candidates with extensive experience in project and program management, ideally with a background in the built environment, construction, or civil consultancy sectors. Local government experience is welcomed but not essential. Strong knowledge of contract management, project governance, and delivering major capital works is crucial. Tertiary qualifications in project management or related fields are essential, while certifications such as PRINCE2 or PMBOK are advantageous but not mandatory. This is a career-defining role for a capable, resilient, and visionary leader who wants to help shape a growing region and lead projects that have lasting impact for the community. With no two days the same, and a strong leadership platform already taking shape, now is the time to step into this unique opportunity and help lead Southern Downs into its next chapter. To download a comprehensive information pack and to apply, visit mcarthur.com.au and search under ref. J7416. For a confidential discussion, call Rebecca McPhail on (07) 3211 9700. Applications close 7 July 2025.
