Planning Development Manager

The Opportunity

At APA, our purpose is to secure Australia’s energy future. We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it with our customers and communities as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We now have an exciting opportunity available for a Planning Development Manager to join our Energy Solutions team in Perth, Western Australia on a full-time basis. This team leads and manages all the project development activities across power infrastructure development projects from concept through to final investment decision and driving effective collaboration with the internal divisions to deliver successful project outcomes.

Reporting to the Head of Development, you will play a key role in leading project development activities across APA’s power infrastructure portfolio. You will be responsible for managing project schedules, budgets, risks and stakeholder engagement strategies, while working closely with internal and external stakeholders to progress projects through the development lifecycle through to a final investment decision.

You will also oversee the access and approvals workstream of all projects in the portfolio, to secure the necessary environmental & planning approvals, project tenure and land access through effective negotiations with Traditional Owners, landowners and underlying tenure holders, including compensation and survey coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing, matrixed project team while fostering collaboration across multiple business functions.
• Lead the planning and development of major power infrastructure projects through the project development lifecycle.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, risks and governance processes to achieve key development milestones.
• Provide the customer lens on the project objectives and coordinate internal resources across Access & Approvals, Government Relations, Engineering, Legal and Community & Social Performance teams to deliver successful project outcomes.
• Oversee complex access and approvals pathways, including environmental, planning, land access, heritage and tenure requirements to ensure project objectives are met.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Traditional Owners, landowners, regulators, customers and community stakeholders.

Your background

• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale infrastructure, energy, utilities or power development projects.
• Proven success navigating complex regulatory, environmental and planning approval processes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement capability with experience working alongside Traditional Owners, government agencies, regulators, landholders and community groups.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, balancing competing priorities, budgets, schedules and risks.
• Commercially astute with strong project governance, negotiation and decision-making skills.
• An influential and outcomes-focused leader who thrives in a matrix environment and drives successful project delivery.

About The Team

The Energy Solutions Power Development Team is accountable for identifying, originating, and delivering power generation growth opportunities. The team manages all development activities from early‑stage concept through to final investment decision, encompassing transmission infrastructure, renewable energy, and gas‑powered generation projects across multiple areas of responsibility.

We are accountable for leading high-performance matrix teams in a collaborative manner to coordinate the cross-functional teams to deliver successful and impactful project outcomes for our customers. This is an exciting time to be part of the team implementing APA’s portfolio growth and asset transformation, and we need people who are courageous, nimble, and ready to make an impact.

Working at APA

At APA, we’re committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace where you can achieve your best.

We offer targeted career development programs designed to accelerate your career, competitive remuneration, employee benefits, flexible working arrangements, and wellbeing initiatives are all part of what we’ll offer you. Our inclusive parental leave policy offers 18 weeks of leave, including superannuation, to support parents at work and in life.

We employ around 2,000 people across Australia and are committed to building a high-performing, customer-focused organisation where everyone feels safe, valued, and trusted to perform at their best.

We are APA

At APA, we’re taking on one of Australia’s greatest challenges: the energy transition. We’re not doing it alone. We’re doing it as Australia’s energy infrastructure partner, a role our unique experience and expertise positions us to play.

We proudly own, operate and manage a diverse $20 billion portfolio of assets which deliver essential services to communities and customers across Australia. And we own more than 15,000 kilometres of gas pipelines which deliver energy to households and businesses across every corner of Australia.

As the partner of choice in delivering infrastructure solutions for the energy transition, we’re focused on bundled remote grid energy solutions, electricity and gas transmission, and future energy, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.

Our customer focused approach means we understand our customers and offer them reliable, innovative, and cost-effective energy solutions that support their decarbonisation ambitions.

We are committed to securing Australia’s energy future by delivering infrastructure solutions for Australia’s energy transition and supporting the decarbonisation ambitions of our customers and communities.

Join our team and be part of securing Australia’s energy future. We’d love to hear from you.

APA is an equal opportunity employer. The safety, health and wellbeing our people, community and environment a priority. We embrace diversity in our people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities that we operate in.

Applicants must be eligible to work in Australia to be considered.

This vacancy works with critical APA data, systems or infrastructure and candidates are subject to background vetting (including Police checks) before & during employment.

Role closes on Monday, 20 July 2026. Role Reference Number: JR4630

APA Group will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.

We will contact successful candidates after the closing date.