Help shape the future of one of Australia's fastest-growing regions and see the difference in your community.                            

We're seeking to identify a talent pool of problem solvers, critical thinkers and change makers with a passion for improving how things are done, and the experience to make it happen. We have a range of upcoming opportunities for experienced practitioners within our Strategy and Performance team. Our people show up because they believe in working together for a thriving community, and because they're trusted to challenge the status quo and find a better way. If you want real problems, real latitude and work you can see land in the community you serve, we want to hear from you.

ABOUT THE STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE TEAM 

Geelong is one of Australia's fastest-growing regions, and the decisions we make now will shape how our community lives, works and connects for decades to come. The Strategy & Performance team sits at the centre of those decisions.

We help the City work out where it's heading, how it will get there, and whether it's making a real difference along the way. That means shaping the organisation's long-term direction and priorities, and turning them into clear, practical plans each year. It means measuring what our services achieve for the community, so decision makers have the insight they need to invest with confidence.

We work directly with the services themselves. Using data, financial and commercial analysis, and design approaches that start with the people who use our services, we challenge how things are done, test new ideas, and make sure every service stays relevant, delivers real value and runs well. And when change is needed, we lean right in, helping people adopt new ways of working and steering complex projects and programs through to delivery.

This is work with real reach. You'll partner with senior leaders and elected representatives on the issues that matter most to our community, and you'll see your ideas implemented and felt across the region.

We're a multidisciplinary team of strategists, analysts, designers, and change and program practitioners, and our best work happens when those disciplines come together. We back each other through the hard problems, share what we learn and make time to enjoy the wins along the way.

• Comfortable with ambiguity - starts from a messy problem and builds toward clarity using evidence and conversation.
• Independent, not isolated - works autonomously, but actively seeks out others to pressure-test their thinking and is just as generous in helping colleagues test theirs.
• Adaptive, not scattered - updates their view fast when the evidence moves, without losing sight of the actual goal.
• Decisive under imperfect information - picks a workable path forward over a theoretically perfect one.
• Takes latitude as trust - sees being handed a problem and real freedom as a vote of confidence, and seeks clarity, challenge and support where needed.
• Focused on outcomes, generous with credit - invites challenge and lets the best idea win, whoever it came from, and makes sure the people behind it are recognised.
• Builds the team, not just the work - shares knowledge across disciplines, champions colleagues' successes and helps make this a team people want to be part of.
• Values difference, not sameness – brings their own background and perspective and actively seeks out those who see things differently.
• Genuinely curious about local government - works within the political, statutory and community realities of the sector, and sees its constraints as an interesting design challenge, not a hurdle to route around.

• You'll start with a question, not a brief - problems land half-formed, and working out what's really being asked is part of the job.
• Scope will shift - what's in, who's involved and what “done” looks like will change as you go. That’s normal here, and part of what makes the work interesting.  
• You'll run your own week, but not alone - you'll be trusted to drive your own work and expected to bring it back to the team for challenge and improvement.
• That latitude is deliberate - leadership backs this team to find real solutions, which is what gives you room to do the work properly. Leaders are present in the work, share the context behind decisions and champion what the team delivers.
• Changing your mind is a strength - new evidence changing your approach is expected here, not a setback.
• “Good enough and shipped” beats “perfect and stuck” - you'll make calls without a clean answer, and that's the job.
• Politically savvy, not just technically sound - you'll inform and influence key decisions through evidence-based recommendations, shaped by Council decisions, statutory processes and community expectations.
• You'll be part of a team, not just a function - we make time to connect across our disciplines, learn from each other and have some fun along the way.

We're excited to hear from experienced professionals for a range of upcoming opportunities, including:

• Corporate strategy - helping the organisation decide where to focus and why. You'll work with senior leaders to set clear priorities, test options against evidence, and turn long-term ambitions into practical plans that guide decisions and investment.
• Public value and performance - making sure the organisation can show what difference its work makes for the community. You'll define meaningful measures of success, track how services and initiatives are performing, and give leaders clear, honest insight to support better decisions.
• Service design and innovation - rethinking how services work from the customer's point of view. You'll use research, data and direct engagement with residents and staff to find better, simpler and more cost-effective ways to deliver services, then help bring those ideas to life.
• Change management - helping people and teams move successfully from the way things are done now to the way they need to be done. You'll plan and lead the people side of change, including engagement, communication and capability building, so new ways of working take hold and last.
• Service planning and evaluation - understanding what services the community needs now and into the future, and whether current services are delivering. You'll analyse demand, cost and outcomes, assess what's working and what isn't, and make practical recommendations about how services should evolve.
• Commercial analysis - bringing financial and commercial rigour to decisions. You'll build business cases, assess costs, benefits and risks, compare delivery options, and help the organisation get the best value from its resources and partnerships.
• Program and portfolio management - keeping a large body of work on track and aligned with the organisation's priorities. You'll help plan, coordinate and oversee major initiatives, manage risks and dependencies, and give leaders a clear view of progress so they can make timely calls about where to invest effort.

WHY THE CITY OF GREATER GEELONG 

We're Victoria's largest regional municipality - a growing community of more than 270,000 people, an hour from Melbourne and on the doorstep of the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road. Working with us means:

• Genuine influence - your work reaches the CEO, ELT and Council strategy sessions directly, shaping real decisions.
• Breadth and variety - as one of Victoria's largest councils, we deliver a huge range of services, so you'll work on a wide range of challenges, and no two problems will be the same.
• Flexible, supportive conditions - including hybrid and flexible work options, and a genuine focus on staff wellbeing.
• Room to drive your own growth - learn from experienced leaders and colleagues across disciplines, with opportunities and support to take your career where you want it to go.

HOW TO APPLY 

Click apply now to submit your expression of interest with:

• Your resume
• A cover letter outlining your areas of expertise, what you'd bring to these opportunities, your salary expectations, and the type of opportunity you're seeking.

If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

Closes: 1st November 2026 We'll be in contact with all applicants within 14 days of the EOI closing to let you know the outcome and next steps.

Questions? Contact Nikki Short | Senior Talent Acquisition Partner 

Nikki.Short@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Visit our website to read about the City of Greater Geelong, our values, and our vision and strategy.

Child Safety Responsibilities   
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion  
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.