Director, Planning & Permitting

Want to be a part of Asia Pacific & Middle East's (APME) largest, most innovative, and rapidly growing data centre company?

AirTrunk is a technology company with a powerful purpose - to scale and sustain the relentless growth of the region’s digital future. We do this by continuously redefining and delivering hyperscale data centres that meet the needs of our customers - the world’s most transformational companies. And we’re doing so sustainably, for today and tomorrow.

Having opened Australia’s first and largest hyperscale data centres in 2017, we set our eyes on rapid expansion and now operate a platform of hyperscale data centres across the APME region. With backing from our investors, including Blackstone, this is just the beginning…

Come join the A-Team at AirTrunk, where the cloud meets the ground.

A Snapshot  

As the Director, Planning & Permitting, you will report to the Senior Director, Planning, Permitting & Due Diligence and work closely with Site Advisory, Site Concept Design, Site Acquisition, Energy & Utility, Product, Design, Development and Construction teams. You will make your mark in several ways: 

• Manage planning and permitting workstreams for new sites and expansions across AirTrunk's APJ and growth markets, including Australia, Malaysia/Singapore, Japan, India and the Middle East. 
• Develop and provide practical advice on statutory planning, approvals pathways, permitting requirements and planning execution for assigned projects and markets. 
• Coordinate planning applications and permitting activities, working with internal stakeholders, consultants and authorities to support timely and positive planning outcomes. 
• Provide governance, reporting and escalation support on planning and permitting matters, ensuring risks, dependencies and approval timelines are clearly understood. 

Your Day to Day  

• Manage planning and permitting workstreams for new sites and expansions, ensuring clear ownership, timing, quality and governance of planning deliverables. 
• Support the development of market-specific planning and permitting strategies to help AirTrunk achieve reliable, timely and commercially practical approvals outcomes. 
• Onboard, manage and coordinate third party planning consultants, permitting specialists and technical advisers to support planning, permitting and approval outcomes. 
• Review planning legislation, policy instruments, approval pathways and authority requirements across relevant jurisdictions and translate them into clear project advice. 
• Manage the preparation, review and lodgement of planning applications and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable legislation, policies and guidelines. 
• Build and maintain constructive working relationships with government agencies, regulatory authorities, local councils, consultants and internal stakeholders. 
• Track planning and permitting progress, identify risks and opportunities, and work with project stakeholders to mitigate delays or unresolved authority issues. 
• Collaborate with Site Advisory and Site Acquisition teams on planning due diligence and pre-acquisition advice to support informed site decisions. 
• Engage with authorities and regulatory bodies as a planning lead for assigned projects, escalating material risks or strategic issues where required. 
• Prepare regular reporting, updates and presentation materials for senior management and internal stakeholders, including planning strategy, progress reporting, risk assessments, investment committee inputs and business case support. 
• Provide guidance and mentoring to Planning Managers and project stakeholders, helping build consistent planning practices across markets. 

Minimum Requirements  

• 8+ years' experience in planning, statutory approvals, permitting or a related discipline, supported by a recognised tertiary qualification in planning or a relevant field. 
• 3+ years' experience managing people, consultants or multidisciplinary planning and approvals workstreams. 
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policies, instruments and guidelines in relevant markets, with ability to operate across multiple jurisdictions. 
• Demonstrated experience supporting or obtaining complex planning approvals and permits for large-scale infrastructure, data centre, industrial, energy or campus-style developments. 
• Strong understanding and interpretation of planning instruments, statutory requirements, authority processes and approval documentation. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage, collaborate, consult, advise, influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders, local councils and statutory authorities. 
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects requiring clear communication, problem solving, risk management and time management. 
• Strong analytical, commercial and problem-solving skills to apply planning legislation and planning strategy to live project decisions. 
• Professional attitude with persuasive skills in making things happen and influencing positive planning outcomes. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCAD and ArcGIS, or equivalent tools. 
• Willingness to travel across Australia, Malaysia/Singapore, Japan, India and the Middle East as required. 

Preferred Requirements  

• 10+ years' experience in statutory planning, approvals or permitting, including exposure to regional or multi-market environments. 
• Experience managing or mentoring planners and coordinating external planning consultants across multiple markets. 
• Previous experience working across Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, India and/or the Middle East. 
• Experience in hyperscale data centres, large-scale infrastructure, energy, industrial, logistics or technology-led property environments. 

The AirTrunk Culture 

Working at AirTrunk is a once in a lifetime opportunity to fast-track your career and amplify your impact. Whilst you’re helping scale our region’s digital future, we’ll help you Grow@Hyperscale and unleash your full potential.

The pace in which we operate means you’ll feel an electric atmosphere at AirTrunk. We are a team of challengers and collaborative problem solvers who break new ground every day. We do this by living our values, going above and beyond, and being dynamic, transparent, and responsive.

Every AirTrunker brings their own unique background and diverse perspective to find solutions to problems that matter. We make sure you have everything you need to make your mark and thrive in a flexible and safe working environment, where everyone feels welcome. Our benefits empower AirTrunkers to stay positively charged.

Now’s your chance to Grow@Hyperscale.

**To all recruitment agencies: AirTrunk does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, AirTrunk employees or any other organisation location. AirTrunk is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.**