Senior Specialist, Planning and Commercial

Overview: RMIT Vietnam is looking for a Senior Specialist, Planning and Commercial to lead campus and precinct master planning across its Vietnam portfolio, including major developments and redevelopments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Working with internal teams and external partners, the role will shape the planning, procurement and commercial processes that support long-term investment and delivery decisions. Expected start date: at the earliest available opportunity WHY JOIN RMIT VIETNAM? At RMIT Vietnam, international exposure meets real-world impact through strong industry and government collaboration. Working at RMIT means building a meaningful career while creating impact in a high-performing environment. Further insight into our mission, impact and global connections is available in the RMIT Vietnam Profile WHAT WE OFFER Competitive remuneration VND package for Vietnamese candidates. 13th month Tet bonus Private Health insurance for you and your family, plus Personal Accident Insurance Generous annual leave, sick leave, volunteer leave and public holidays (Christmas and Tet Holidays) Professional development and career advancement Access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources A vibrant and diverse campus life and more! POSITION SUMMARY The Senior Specialist, Planning and Commercial is a senior individual contributor responsible for leading campus and precinct master planning for RMIT’s Vietnam portfolio, including major new developments and redevelopments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The role translates pre-delivery infrastructure development requirements into regulatory, planning, scoping, supplier selection and oversight, and commercial processes and controls. Partnering with RMIT Procurement, Finance and Risk, and with third parties, the role shapes the planning and commercial foundations that underpin long‑term investment and delivery decisions. Operating in a complex planning, design and construction environment that is heavily reliant on consultants, developers and other contractors, the role plays a critical part in supporting the scoping of required works, sourcing oversight, shaping technical briefs, and supporting commercial and tender processes. A key component of the role is direct engagement with government and relevant authorities to support planning applications, approvals and regulatory compliance, ensuring that campus plans are deliverable within the local planning framework and aligned with RMIT’s global estate strategy and standards. Reporting Line Reports to: Head of Commercial Strategy and Planning Reporting lines may be adjusted in line with organisational changes. Key Accountabilities Summary Lead the development, review and refinement of campus and precinct master plans for RMIT Vietnam, providing expert technical advice to senior leaders and project teams Translate strategic objectives (academic plans, enrolment growth, research priorities, student experience, workplace strategy) into spatial concepts, functional briefs and phased development scenarios. Develop and maintain planning scenarios and capacity models (e.g. space demand, utilisation, growth forecasts) to inform business cases, investment planning and staging strategies. Work closely with the Head of Commercial Strategy and Planning to scope required works, define project envelopes and technical parameters, and contribute to robust procurement and delivery strategies. Prepare clear, technically sound input to commercial and tender documentation, including scopes of services, design briefs and evaluation criteria for consultants, developers and contractors. Ensure compliance with RMIT Procurement policies. Lead or coordinate master planning pre-delivery inputs into complex design and construction procurement, including participation in tender evaluation, design reviews and value‑engineering processes. Engage directly with government agencies and relevant authorities on planning applications, approvals, zoning, land‑use, infrastructure, transport and related regulatory matters Coordinate the preparation of planning submissions, support negotiation of planning outcomes, and ensure alignment between planning approvals and campus objectives Manage and coordinate external planning, urban design, architectural and specialist consultants, ensuring deliverables are integrated, technically robust and aligned with RMIT’s requirements and standards. Provide expert campus planning input to major projects through all phases (feasibility, concept, schematic, detailed design, delivery), including interface with project managers, developers and operations teams. Ensure campus planning and development frameworks support RMIT’s sustainability, accessibility, safety and user‑experience goals, and comply with relevant local regulations and international best practice. Produce high‑quality diagrams, plans, reports and presentations to communicate planning options, trade‑offs and recommendations to technical and non‑technical audiences. Collaborate with PMO to integrate master planning space utilisation data and capacity models into the overarching infrastructure performance dashboards. Manage the administration of consultant, contractor and vendor contracts from inception to completion, ensuring compliance with RMIT policies, legal standards and project requirements. Coordinate the drafting, review, approval, execution and archiving of contracts, engagements and variations using RMIT commercial templates and maintaining accurate contract registers. Oversee the commercial and financial administration of infrastructure projects, including business cases, procurement requests, budgets, cost analysis, reporting and payment milestones. Monitor contractual performance, obligations and security instruments; verify payment documentation, manage variations and identify and resolve commercial, financial and compliance risks with relevant stakeholders. Other relevant and supporting PMO projects and tasks, as assigned by the Head of Commercial Strategy and Planning, and the Executive Director, Vietnam Infrastructures Other duties commensurate with the scope of the role. Key Selection Criteria Tertiary qualification in Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Engineering, Project management or a related discipline; postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field highly desirable. Project management certification (e.g. PMP) is a plus. Significant experience (typically 8+ years) in campus, precinct or large‑scale urban master planning, ideally within higher education, research, health or similarly complex institutional environments. Demonstrated expertise in translating strategy into spatial plans, functional briefs and staged development frameworks, including capacity and scenario modelling. Proven experience working with and managing external planning, design and technical consultants in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment. Demonstrated experience contributing to scoping and procurement for major design and construction projects, including preparation of technical briefs and input to tender evaluations. Demonstrated commercial acumen, with direct and relevant experience participating in tendering, bid evaluation, and commercial contract negotiation, and contract management for major capital works or property projects, complementing strong planning and technical capability. Deep, proven understanding of planning and regulatory frameworks in Vietnam (or similar jurisdictions), with demonstrated experience interacting with government and authorities on planning applications and approvals process. Experience with both Hanoi and HCMC authorities in real estate projects is a major plus. High‑level analytical, problem‑solving and visual communication skills, with the ability to present complex planning issues clearly to senior, non‑technical stakeholders. Strong interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures and with senior