Here's the thing about community engagement on major infrastructure.
Most organisations treat it as a compliance exercise. A box to tick before the real work begins. Community consultation sessions scheduled, feedback logged, report filed. Done. That's not what this role is. This is a strategic leadership position where you'll design and own the community, partnership and local government strategy for one of Australia's most significant proposed infrastructure programs. You'll shape social licence. You'll lead a team. And you'll do it across a program that's genuinely going to change Victoria's economic landscape.

Here's what's happening.
Australia's largest container and automotive port is progressing a multi-billion dollar capacity enhancement program - including a new container terminal and permanent facilities for Tasmanian trade operators. The program spans neighbouring communities and trade catchment areas, including Tasmania, and requires a sophisticated, sustained approach to community engagement, partnerships and local government relationships.
They need a senior leader who can build the strategy, not just execute someone else's. Someone who understands that community and partner engagement isn't separate from the project - it's one of the reasons the project succeeds or fails.

What you'll be doing.
You'll report to the EGM Corporate Relations with a dotted line to the PCEP Project Communications Director. You'd have two direct reports - the Community and Statutory Approvals Adviser and the Port Education Adviser - and you'll lead a broad portfolio that spans community engagement, partnerships, education, First Nations engagement and local government relations.

Day to day, you'll be:

- Designing, implementing and continuously refining the strategy for community, local government and representative group engagement - aligned to corporate, commercial and operational goals.




- Leading large-scale, coordinated community engagement for major projects and regulated assets - including overseeing statutory planning and approvals as they relate to community and local government stakeholders.
- Managing the community investment program - program uplift, reporting, partner management and integration with broader corporate relations and project activities.
- Overseeing and refining the Port Education Program to align with strategic goals and improve reach.
- Representing the organisation at strategic community and partner events.
- Managing the community research program - regular polling, activation of insights and reporting to senior leadership.
- Identifying and managing community opportunities and risks across recreational boat users, neighbouring communities and local government - feeding intelligence into planning and communications.
- Overseeing the public and industry boat tour program - improving reach, efficiency and outcomes.
- Leading First Nations engagement as it relates to broader community and development requirements.
- Contributing to whole-of-division and whole-of-business strategies in a matrix setting.
- Reporting on community stakeholder engagement for regulatory, ELT, Board and planning purposes.

Now - is this you?
You're a senior community engagement leader with genuine strategic depth. You've done this in politically sensitive, policy-rich environments - probably across major infrastructure,



utilities or government - and you know the difference between engagement that builds social licence and engagement that just creates a paper trail.
You lead teams. You manage up effectively. And you're the kind of person who can win internal support for community initiatives because you frame them in commercial and strategic terms, not just social ones.

Specifically, you'll bring:

- 10+ years in strategic community engagement and management.
- A tertiary qualification in communications, marketing or public relations, or equivalent experience.
- IAP2 training.
- Proven ability to integrate community engagement into broader workstreams and complex projects - not as a standalone function, but as a core part of how the project operates.
- A high level of expertise in producing well-written reports, proposals and communication materials.
- Experience working in politically sensitive and policy-rich environments.
- Demonstrated ability to manage high complexity, competing priorities and tight deadlines.

Bonus points: experience in ports, freight, logistics, transport infrastructure or Victorian planning and environmental approvals.

Why this role. Why now.
This is one of those rare roles where you get to build something from the ground up. You're not inheriting a community engagement program and maintaining it - you're designing the strategy, establishing the team rhythm and shaping how an entire organisation engages with the communities affected by a program of national significance.
You'll have Board, executive and government visibility. Two direct reports. A portfolio that spans community, partnerships, education, First Nations and local government. And a salary package that reflects the seniority and complexity of the role.

Additional information

- Port Capacity Enhancement Program
- Community Engagement Specialist
- Permanent Position

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📌 Community & Partnerships Lead (Melbourne)
🏢 Ampersand
📍 Melbourne