Environmental Sustainable Development Officer

Overview

Join to apply for the Environmental Sustainable Development Officer role at Merri-bek City Council.

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 175,000 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne's CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne's CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About The Role

Merri-bek City Council is offering a fantastic opportunity for a sustainability or planning professional to join our dynamic Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) Team and support Council's promotion of environmental sustainability across Merri-bek through implementation of local ESD planning policy and other environmental initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice on sustainability issues, including sustainable design and development of the built environment and climate change and water initiatives.
• Provide ESD technical referral advice on internal / external planning development applications, based on working knowledge of relevant built environment legislation, guidelines and built environment rating tools.
• Work closely with Council Statutory Planning staff to ensure a high level of ESD compliance across all applications.
• Represent Council at special interest or organisational forums including CASBE, as required.
• Assist in the project management of projects, plans, policies and strategies, which further ESD objectives for Merri-bek, in consultation with the Team Leader and Unit Manager.
• Promote a culture of sustainability and continuous improvement across projects and teams.

You'll be based in the Sustainable Built Environment Unit and work in collaboration with our ESD team, urban designers, capital works team, and planners to ensure great outcomes on residential, commercial and mixed-use development.

This is a unique opportunity to drive meaningful environmental outcomes and help position Merri-bek as a leader in sustainability in the built environment.

Skills And Experience Required To Perform The Role

• A tertiary qualification in Environmental Engineering, Sustainable Design or an allied discipline would be highly regarded. Lesser qualifications with substantial relevant industry experience will also be considered.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of integrated planning for environmental, social and economic development.
• Working knowledge of principles of sustainable design, building physics and current sustainable design and development technology, initiatives and demonstration projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the application of built environment rating tools and understanding of legislation (building and planning system) is highly desirable to improve the environmental performance of building projects (e.g. planning permit applications and Council capital works projects).
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills with the ability to present to and gain cooperation with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and within multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated project management skills.

What The Role Can Offer

• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Louis Manley on 9240 2312.

Applications close: 11:30pm, Sunday 14 September 2025.

How To Apply

Please fill out an application using our online recruitment system. You will be required to upload your CV, a cover letter outlining your relevant skills and experience. You do not need to respond to the individual Key Selection Criteria. Please also upload any other relevant documents.

Please note that some documents relating to this position may reference Moreland City Council. We are in the process of updating the councils new name of Merri-bek City Council.

Please note that applications must only be submitted online, applications will not be accepted via email.

Equal Opportunity and Child Safety

Merri-bek City Council is proudly diverse and an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, people with disability, and people from every culture, sexuality and gender identity, age and ethnic background. Merri-bek City Council is a Child Safe organisation.

Merri-bek is focused on diverse representation of the community we serve. With this we value lived experience that could contribute to the shaping of this role and in turn will continue to provide representation and growth of safe and inclusive work culture.

We encourage everyone to apply and discuss opportunities to develop your knowledge and experience. For further information regarding access or modifications you may require for a recruitment process please contact Danni Jovanovic, Recruitment Business Partner on recruitment@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.

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