Jonathan Saavedra
Sydney,NSW
Summary
A highly skilled urban planner with over 16 years’ experience in property, policy, infrastructure, statutory and strategic planning in New South Wales and Queensland.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
POLICY MANAGER
Department of Customer Service
03.2023 - Current
- Management of regulatory policy relating to Work Health and Safety across NSW.
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR, STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
Department of
07.2022 - 03.2023
- Planning and Environment
- Delivering initiatives from the Planning Reform Action Plan, specifically reducing the number of applications that need concurrences and referrals and introducing benchmark time frames for key assessment and planning functions
- Project management of Executive Forums between DPE and State agencies.
SENIOR MANAGER
STRATEGIC POLICY
04.2020 - 07.2022
- And Environment
- Leading the Strategic Policy team, including mentoring of staff, managing budgets, undertaking procurements of consultants, representing my team at project working groups on behalf of my Director and Executive Director
- Developing content and guidelines, including performance-based outcomes for public space for inclusion in the draft Design and Place State Environmental Planning Policy
- Preparing Ministerial Directions to embed public space in Local Environmental Plans
- Identifying the economic values of green infrastructure and public spaces for inclusion in a Sector Specific Framework in partnership with NSW Treasury for use in Capital Planning by State agencies
- Preparing submissions on State and Council strategic documents to embed public spaces
- Representing DPE as a judge at competitions including PolicyHack and GovHack competitions.
MANAGER, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
Department of Planning and Environment
05.2017 - 04.2020
- Identified and resolved major blockages to the supply and delivery of housing across Greater Sydney and NSW
- Case managed identified blockages in partnership with Councils, State agencies and other Department teams
- This included undertaking stakeholder engagement activities and preparing a Project Plan, endorsed by the Deputy Secretary, detailing the schedule, key tasks, milestones, funding and risks of projects
- Secured $10m in funding through the Housing Acceleration Fund program to resolve major intersection and flooding issues in Concord West
- Co-developed and wrote a ‘Project Prioritisation Framework’ (Framework) to inform project selection and prioritisation of projects across developer contributions and capital grant programs managed by the Infrastructure and Delivery Branch
- This included developing five guidelines and supporting documents explaining the processes of the Framework
- Provided strategic advice to the Infrastructure and Delivery Branch teams to inform infrastructure project prioritisation and investment decisions that support housing delivery
- Member of the Leadership Team and Transitional Working Group tasked with developing a new operating model resulting from government changes
- Represented the Department at various industry events both in NSW and interstate.
SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER
Greater Sydney Commission
01.2016 - 04.2017
- Provided high-level analysis and specialist advice on complex procedural, governance and planning related issues affecting Greater Sydney directly to the CEO of the Commission
- Contributed to the research, development, and drafting of the six draft District Plans prepared by the Commission
- Researched and co-authored internal policy position papers for State agencies relating to housing affordability in Sydney and transforming Parramatta into a creative city
- Project managed infrastructure-based technical working groups involving Transport for NSW, Infrastructure NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department
- Investigated and reported on water-based recreational options relating to Prospect Reservoir and its surrounds
- Project managed the development of the Commission’s inaugural Greater Sydney Planning Awards
- This involved undertaking every aspect related to the organisation including project planning and reporting, securing funding and managing external consultants.
SPECIALIST PLANNER
City of Sydney
04.2015 - 12.2015
- Reviewed and drafted responses to submissions received on proposed changes to the Sydney LEP 2012, Sydney DCP 2012 (draft DCP amendment) and draft Sydney DCP (Signs & Advertisements) 2015
- Liaised directly with submitters and organised the procurement of additional information evidence required to support positions made in submissions
- Prepared reporting briefs for Council approval on proposed changes to a variety of LEP and DCP amendments
- Undertook site investigations on the classification of laneways earmarked for additional development floor space
- Reviewed and drafted new planning controls and an accompanying guideline for childcare centres under Section 4 of the Sydney LEP 2012
- Consulted and negotiated with various Council branches and external stakeholders on control requirements for childcare centres within the City of Sydney.
SENIOR STRATEGIC PLANNER
City of Gold
09.2013 - 04.2015
- Undertook the management, consultation and implementation of Council’s next planning scheme, the City Plan 2015.
URBAN PLANNER
Brisbane City Council
01.2013 - 09.2013
- Undertook the management, consultation and implementation of Council’s next planning scheme, the City Plan 2014.
SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER
Department of Community Safety
09.2009 - 12.2012
- Project managed the planning and property aspects of land acquisition and development approval to ensure the effective delivery of the department’s annual BP3 Capital Works Program.
PLANNER
TOWN, Humphries Reynolds Perkins Planning Consultants
11.2006 - 07.2009
- Prepared and managed development applications for a variety of residential, commercial and industrial uses throughout Queensland.
STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER
Department of Public Works
02.2006 - 04.2006
- Prepared an Environmental Impact Statement report regarding the manufacturing of PVC.
Education
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Griffith University
Brisbane06.2006
Skills
- Loan Disbursement
- Health and Safety Regulations
- Specification Formulation
- Technical Support
Accomplishments
- NIDA Corporate NETWORKING SKILLS: WORKING THE ROOM Professional development Odyssey Training DEALING WITH DIFFICULT BEHAVIOR Professional development Odyssey Training CONFLICT RESOLUTION Professional development Odyssey Training ADVANCED MICROSOFT OFFICE 2010 Professional development Odyssey Training ADVANCED MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2010 Professional development
Timeline
POLICY MANAGER
Department of Customer Service
03.2023 - Current
PRINCIPAL ADVISOR, STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
Department of
07.2022 - 03.2023
SENIOR MANAGER
STRATEGIC POLICY
04.2020 - 07.2022
MANAGER, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
Department of Planning and Environment
05.2017 - 04.2020
SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER
Greater Sydney Commission
01.2016 - 04.2017
SPECIALIST PLANNER
City of Sydney
04.2015 - 12.2015
SENIOR STRATEGIC PLANNER
City of Gold
09.2013 - 04.2015
URBAN PLANNER
Brisbane City Council
01.2013 - 09.2013
SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER
Department of Community Safety
09.2009 - 12.2012
PLANNER
TOWN, Humphries Reynolds Perkins Planning Consultants
11.2006 - 07.2009
STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER
Department of Public Works
02.2006 - 04.2006
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING
Griffith University
Similar Profiles
NELSON D'ALMEIDANELSON D'ALMEIDA
Engineering Manager at Department of Customer ServiceEngineering Manager at Department of Customer Service
Vishal MishraVishal Mishra
Product Engineer at Department of Customer ServiceProduct Engineer at Department of Customer Service
Dianne TrottDianne Trott
Business Operations Coordinator at Department of Customer ServiceBusiness Operations Coordinator at Department of Customer Service
MANAN DAFTARIMANAN DAFTARI
A/Program Manager |Principal Project Manager at Department of Customer ServiceA/Program Manager |Principal Project Manager at Department of Customer Service
NANDINI GANJINANDINI GANJI
Application Analyst at WorkForce SoftwareApplication Analyst at WorkForce Software