Located in the Darling Downs South-West region of Southern Queensland, the Southern Downs local government area is approximately 160 kilometres south-west of Brisbane. The region features vibrant rural centres and charming townships built on strong agricultural foundations, surrounded by stunning landscapes and World Heritage listed national parks. Known for its thriving food and wine scene, the Southern Downs also hosts a lively calendar of cultural, sporting and community events, offering an exceptional regional lifestyle. 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 a unique opportunity to define and embed Council's project management operating model from the ground up. You will build and lead the PMO team, oversee the delivery of major and specialist projects across waste, building and infrastructure, and further refine and embed the Project Management Framework to meet future strategic needs. You will work closely with leaders across Asset Management, Finance and Engineering to drive a coordinated, organisation‑wide approach to project delivery. Acting as a trusted advisor and coach, you will mentor project teams, deliver hands‑on outcomes, and build strong internal and external relationships. This is not a hybrid role and suits a visible, collaborative leader who is calm, resilient and solutions‑focused in complex environments. With a strong cultural shift towards collaboration and a 'can-do' attitude, this role is a chance to be part of the Senior Leadership Team who play a pivotal role in working alongside the Executive Leadership Team to embed Council's desired outcomes across the organisation. The role will have direct responsibility for leading a small, high‑performing team, while also providing influential, organisation‑wide leadership to drive understanding and effective adoption of Council's Project Management Framework, ensuring consistency, capability uplift and successful delivery of projects across Council. We are seeking candidates with extensive experience in project and program management, ideally within local government the built environment, construction or civil consultancy sectors. Strong capability in contract management, project governance and major capital works delivery is essential. Tertiary qualifications in project management or a related field are required, with PRINCE2 or PMBOK certification viewed favourably. This is a career-defining role and unique opportunity to take a seat at the leadership table, lead the Capital Project Control Group for Council, and shape the maturity of project governance while delivering meaningful infrastructure outcomes for the Southern Downs community. The successful candidate will also contribute to the recruitment and selection of a Project Management Specialist, with the recruitment process currently underway. 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 Monday 13 April 2026.
