The organisation:
The Uniting Church in Australia (the Church) is a large uniquely Australian Christian denomination in Australia with heritage from historical reformed evangelical denominations. In Queensland, the Uniting Church has around 250 congregations and has early childhood, schools, colleges and large community services (such as UnitingCare Queensland and Wesley Mission Queensland).
The Uniting Church is multicultural, committed to reconciliation with First Peoples, calls for reconciliation across its communities and aims to use its people and property resources wisely and in the furtherance of God’s mission in the world.
Its extensive property portfolio represents both a legacy of faith and a strategic resource — encompassing church sites, educational facilities, community service locations, and commercial assets. These properties are not only places of ministry and gathering but also provide significant opportunities for sustainable, mission-aligned development that supports financial stability and long-term growth. Through careful stewardship of its land and buildings, the Church aims to ensure that its physical resources continue to serve the needs of communities today and for generations to come.
Position purpose:
The Church currently has several priority development projects at various stages of planning and delivery across Queensland. The program embraces a diverse asset base, from low-rise suburban subdivisions to high-density residential and mixed-use opportunities, reflecting both the Church’s strategic intent and its willingness to innovate and invest boldly for the future.
The Project Delivery Manager will play a key role in shaping a consistent, high-quality property project delivery function for the Synod, ensuring projects not only meet cost, quality, and time targets but also enhance trust with stakeholders and support the Church’s broader mission. The Project Delivery Manager will bring senior-level expertise in project management and project delivery, construction management, and stakeholder and project risk management to ensure property projects are successfully delivered. The Project Delivery Manager will play a central role in building robust systems and frameworks, lifting delivery standards, and ensuring that property projects support both missional priorities and financial sustainability.
Key Accountabilities:
Project Delivery and Execution
- Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of major property projects from design through to commissioning.
- Embed standardised delivery frameworks, ensuring projects are consistently delivered to time, cost, and quality standards.
- Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, and resources effectively.
- Ensure compliance with building codes, planning approvals, environmental standards, and Synod governance requirements.
Governance and Reporting
- Deliver projects against approved Business Cases.
- Maintain accurate project records and reporting throughout each project lifecycle.
- Provide regular updates to the General Manager – Property, and Finance, Investment and Property Board (FIPB) on progress, risks, and financial performance.
- Contribute to refining project delivery processes and share lessons learned across the property function.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with congregational leaders, Presbyteries, and Synod stakeholders.
- Coordinate and manage external consultants, contractors, and regulators to achieve successful outcomes.
- Represent the Synod in negotiations and external forums relating to project delivery.
Leadership and Capability Uplift
- Support the uplift of delivery capability within the Synod’s property team.
- Provide leadership and mentoring to project-specific contractors, consultants, and staff.
- Contribute to building a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Key performance indicators
- Percentage of projects delivered on time and within budget
- Stakeholder satisfaction scores and engagement outcomes
- Compliance audit results and risk mitigation effectiveness
- Quality and completeness of project documentation
- Contribution to strategic property goals and financial sustainability
Reporting relationship
- Reports to Senior Property Development Manager
Selection criteria:
Qualifications:
- Degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Property, Engineering or a related property project delivery field.
- Membership of a relevant professional body such as Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM), Australian Institute of Building (AIB), Engineers Australia (EA) is desirable but not mandatory.
Experience and skills:
- Extensive senior-level experience in property project management and delivery, within urban and regional, complex or multi-stakeholder environments.
- Proven ability to manage the planning, construction and commissioning of major property developments across civil and building construction.
- Strong understanding of project management methodologies, budgeting, and risk management.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, planning approvals, and compliance requirements.
- Experience in faith-based or not-for-profit sectors is desirable but not mandatory.
- Experience working with volunteer-led organisations or community groups is desirable but not mandatory.
Additional requirements:
- Current Driver’s license.
- National Criminal History Check to be provided and assessed every three years. Presentation of a current National Criminal History Check must be made before appointment to the position can be confirmed.
- Intra/interstate travel required.
- The successful applicant must be eligible to legally work in Australia and proof of eligibility may be requested.
- Behave in accordance with the values of the Office of the Synod.
Working with Children Check (Bluecard) or the ability to obtain.