Town Planner

About Us

Kempsey Shire Council (KSC) is located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, known for its genuine hospitality, pristine beaches, sub‑tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, rock river gorges, sprawling farmland and peaceful villages. We are a progressive, proactive and dynamic organisation, and we pride ourselves on the respectful and supportive workplace we have cultivated. With 360+ dedicated staff managing $1.8 billion worth of assets across many sites throughout the Shire, KSC works closely with our community to build an inspired, connected Macleay Valley.

The Opportunity

Are you passionate about shaping the future of our community? Do you have a keen eye for detail and a vision for sustainable development? Join us in shaping a vibrant, thriving future for Kempsey Shire The Town Planner reports to the Development Services Manager and works collaboratively to plan and implement initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Key accountabilities include:

- Assess and process development applications, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and community objectives.

- Undertake inspections, audits, prepare correspondence and reports relating to matters of compliance of Development Consents.

- Provide technical expertise and advice in the assessment of development proposals and related development matters, both to internal and external stakeholders.

- Prepare detailed reports and presentations for council meetings and public consultations.

- Promote high levels of Customer Service through providing easily accessible, timely and user‑friendly development related information to the community and other stakeholders via the Duty Planning service and other relevant pathways.

For a full list of the Key Accountabilities of the role, please refer to the Position Description.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will possess the following:

- Tertiary qualification in Town Planning (or related discipline).

- Recent, demonstrated experience with assessment of Development Applications and undertaking matters of development compliance, preferably within a local government context.

- Strong understanding of planning legislation, regulations, and guidelines.

- Proven ability to understand and assess complex technical issues, and compose clear, concise reports that provide recommendations based on the assessment.

- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

- Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.

- Enthusiastic approach to your work – you plan with purpose and are driven to make a positive difference.

We understand that no candidate will meet every single desired qualification or skill. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you Penultimate year and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Benefits of working for Kempsey Shire Council

- A permanent full‑time position, 35‑hour work week.

- Monthly RDOs.

- Weekly salary of $1,776.69 to $1,999.68 (plus superannuation).

- Generous leave entitlements, including access to Long Service Leave after five years.

- A working environment focussed on wellbeing, including flexible work arrangements, rostered days off, EAP access, social club, and health and wellbeing programs.

- Fitness Passports for discounted access to a range of gym and pool facilities.

- Career development and learning opportunities.

- A supportive, collaborative working environment designed to help you grow

- A fantastic lifestyle and work‑life balance, on the beautiful Mid‑North Coast.

Interested?

Please apply via Council’s website: http://careers.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/. You will be required to prepare and submit:

- A short statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities will enable you to achieve the key accountabilities of the role (as listed in the Position Description).

- Your current resume.

Applications Close: COB, Wednesday 12 November 2025. Council reserves the right to close this job advertisement before the stated closing date if a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, we encourage all interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Have questions? Please contact Marnie Jeffrey – Development Services Manager for a confidential discussion on: 02 6566 3200.

Please note: Our recruitment notification process is primarily via system generated emails. Please ensure your email is correct before submitting your application to avoid missing crucial updates. If you experience any difficulties applying online, please contact the Recruitment team on 02 6566 3200 or email jobs@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

Equal Opportunity

Kempsey Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer and we celebrate our diverse, inclusive and values‑led workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse culture and linguistic backgrounds and people with a disability. In addition, Kempsey Shire Council will provide reasonable adjustments for suitably qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require additional assistance to participate in the recruitment process, please discuss with the advertised contact person. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made at any time during the recruitment process.

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