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, poli…