Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Our First Nations Advisory Team plays a pivotal role in helping projects embed First Nations perspectives, cultural integrity, and community-centred design approaches. This role strengthens Arup’s ambition to create inclusive, sustainable and culturally grounded outcomes across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This role will shape and deliver First Nations Advisory services across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, working in close partnership with our ANZ First Nations Lead. You will bring cultural capability, strategic thinking and project leadership to turn ideas into clear frameworks, methodologies and proposals that deliver meaningful, community‑centred outcomes.

As a senior leader within Arup’s First Nations portfolio, you will operate across cultural leadership, strategic advisory, project delivery and practice development. Acting as a trusted advisor and delegate, you will play a key role in supporting the continued growth and strength of this work. You will translate strategy into practical approaches and outcomes grounded in community, while strengthening the resilience, impact and influence of the First Nations portfolio.

A key part of this role is building strong engagement with Mob and establishing credible, trusted relationships with Elders, Traditional Owners, First Nations businesses and community organisations. You will lead complex projects and partnerships, working closely with government and multidisciplinary teams to guide major infrastructure and built environment projects, while strengthening capability, systems and future leaders across the practice.

Strong report writing skills and previous consultancy experience are essential, along with the ability to navigate complexity and deliver work that reflects culturally informed practice.

The Opportunity

• Partner with the ANZ First Nations Lead to shape, implement and evolve Arup's First Nations strategy, services and priorities.
• Provide senior leadership across the First Nations portfolio, contributing to strategic planning, operational decision-making and practice development.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients, Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, government agencies and industry stakeholders.
• Lead client discussions, scope development and strategic advisory engagements.
• Lead complex First Nations advisory projects and workstreams from inception through to delivery.
• Provide project direction, quality assurance and oversight across multiple concurrent projects.
• Lead respectful, culturally informed engagement with Elders, Traditional Owners, community organisations and First Nations businesses.
• Ensure First Nations perspectives, priorities and aspirations are appropriately reflected in project outcomes.
• Support culturally safe approaches to engagement and partnership development across the business.
• Contribute to the development of First Nations methodologies, frameworks, tools and service offerings.
• Support portfolio planning, resource allocation and workload management across the First Nations team.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person with strong cultural credibility and demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships across communities, organisations and stakeholders.
• Significant experience leading complex First Nations advisory, engagement, strategy, policy, planning, design or community development projects.
• Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while also translating ideas into practical implementation plans and delivery outcomes.
• Strong consulting, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with senior leaders, government agencies, Traditional Owner groups and community organisations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary projects, programs or workstreams involving competing priorities and complex stakeholder environments.
• Commercial awareness and experience contributing to business development, proposals, scopes, budgets or client growth activities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, mentor and support others without relying on formal authority.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair, and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling eligible members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

Our Application Process

Please apply directly through our applicant tracking system. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Talent Acquisition to discuss next steps. Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Arup does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies.

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