Design Studio Team Leader

At a Glance

Work type: 35 hrs per week
Salary: From $134,967.65 + 12% superannuation
Employment Type: Full Time Permanent 
Closing date: 9pm, Sunday 9 August 2026

The City of Parramatta is in the midst of significant growth and transformation. With a community that brings together many cultures, skills and stories, a changing skyline and new investments, this is an exciting time to be part of the journey. Parramatta 2050 gives us a clear picture of where we’re heading; a connected, creative and sustainable City with opportunities for everyone. Every role at City of Parramatta contributes to this next chapter, helping us build a strong, thriving Parramatta for the people who live, work and spend time here.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior design professional who is ready to lead a creative team, champion design excellence, and help shape how one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities presents itself to residents, visitors, businesses and stakeholders.
 

About the role
City of Parramatta is seeking an experienced and inspiring Design Studio Team Leader to lead Council’s in-house design team and deliver high-quality, innovative and strategically aligned creative solutions that support Council objectives, strengthen the City of Parramatta brand, promote the city, and enhance the impact of marketing and communications activity.

In this role you will: 

• Lead, inspire and develop the Design Studio to deliver high-quality, strategically aligned design solutions across Council’s marketing, communications, events, publications and city promotion activities. 
• Champion design excellence and innovation by setting high visual standards, fostering creative thinking and promoting contemporary design practices across the team.
• Provide creative direction and design leadership across major Council projects, campaigns and initiatives, ensuring visual outputs are audience-focused, brand-aligned and support Council’s strategic objectives. 
• Provide expert design advice and support across Council, including design production, artwork development and recommendations on external design services where required. 
• Mentor, coach and develop team members to build capability, engagement and high performance.
   

What’s on offer

We are offering a permanent full-time opportunity, with a competitive remuneration package from $134,967.65 plus 12% superannuation.

Your employee experience with City of Parramatta includes: 

• Flexibility: Hybrid working conditions, flexi‑time scheme, additional leave over the Christmas period 
• Leave: 14 weeks paid parental leave, 15 days personal leave, Long service leave after 5 years 
• Wellbeing: Employee led networks (ERGs), Fitness passport, Flu vaccinations, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Ongoing wellbeing initiatives, Health insurance discounts.
• Location & Convenience: Central Parramatta location, discounted parking, Novated leasing available
• Growth: Learning and development programs, leadership pathways, free LinkedIn Learning 

About you

You are a highly capable creative leader with strong design credentials, excellent judgement and the ability to guide a busy in-house studio to deliver quality outcomes across multiple channels. 

You bring a strong understanding of brand systems, creative direction, accessibility, stakeholder engagement and production delivery, and you know how to balance creative ambition with practical delivery.

You will also have:

• A minimum of seven years’ experience in graphic design.
• Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring and developing designers in a studio, agency, marketing, communications or in-house creative environment. 
• Experience applying, maintaining and evolving brand systems across print, digital and environmental channels. 
• Experience managing end-to-end design projects, including stakeholder engagement, workflow management, supplier coordination and production delivery. 
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office applications.

To be considered for this role, you must meet the essential requirements in the Position Description, including:
Qualifications/Licences: 

• Tertiary qualifications, minimum Certificate IV, in Design or another relevant discipline, combined with relevant design and desktop publishing experience.

Want to know more?

Review our Values Flyer to learn more about the behaviours that guide how we work. 

Further details about this role can be found in the Position Description. 

For a confidential discussion, please contact Isobel Spurr via [email protected].

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online by 9pm, Sunday 9 August 2026. Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

Please upload:

•  Current resume and cover letter addressing the Position Description

Please note: Candidates who do not meet the essential qualification and licence requirements may not progress through the recruitment process.

The City of Parramatta supports a drug and alcohol‑free working environment. Employees may be subject to random testing.

How we work: Inclusion & Belonging
At the City of Parramatta, inclusion and belonging are central to how we work. We’re building a workforce that reflects our diverse community and value different perspectives and lived experiences. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living with disability, people of all ages, women, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, ADF veterans, and others who bring unique perspectives.

We are committed to a fair, inclusive, and accessible recruitment process and support reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment – contact [email protected] for a confidential discussion.
 

Eligibility: 
Please note you must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident in Australia to apply for this position. Applicants holding valid visas may be considered for Casual or Term contracts subject to their visa work conditions.