Principal Planner

**About Our Council**

Georges River Council is a leading, people-focused organisation with approximately 600 staff members. Our people are working to make the Georges River area an accessible, green, diverse and innovative community and economy. We are dedicated to providing vibrant public places, sustaining and developing a thriving creative culture, helping protect our natural environment, and making our suburbs more liveable.

**About the Team**

As part of our dedicated and high performing Environment & Planning Directorate, the Development and Building team are responsible for the delivery of Building Code of Australia requirements and Building certification, Development Assessment and Pre-lodgment and specialist advice. The department facilitates quality, compliant, sustainable development across the LGA ranging from established urban areas, through to urban renewal activity centres, future growth areas and environmental sensitive significant areas.

The team is committed to working together and with Council to achieve its goals and objectives. We take our values very seriously, and recognise our contributions benefit our people, and more broadly, the community. Our goal is to be the best at what we do and ensure Council is a great place to work.

**About the Opportunity and what we can offer you**

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Principal Planner to join our dynamic and integral Development and Building team. The purpose of this position is to assist the Development and Building section staff in their roles towards appropriate development outcomes in terms of the natural, built, social and economic environment in terms of the overarching public interest in the Georges River Council area.

In this role in conjunction with the team Coordinator, you will support and guide team members within the area of speciality to assist with the team's ability to ensure work and performance is clear, concise, accurate and efficient.
- Permanent, Full time - 70 hours per fortnight
- Salary from $106,431.35 - $123,314.16 per annum plus 10.5% superannuation
- Leaseback vehicle allowance
- Flexible working arrangements including hybrid work arrangements, and flexible start and finish times
- Additional Health and Wellbeing paid leave
- Fitness Passport Program offering discounted membership for you and your family to selected facilities
- Employee Assistance Program
- Salary Packaging Options
- Sponsored Study Program
- Parental Leave and Support
- Employee Rewards Program
- Ongoing Education and Resources

**Key Responsibilities**
- Supporting the team Coordinator to identify, develop and propose business process and procedural improvements to achieve statutory compliance with all relevant laws and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Directorate.
- Guide team members within the area of specialty to assist with the team’s ability to ensure work and performance is clear, concise, accurate and efficient.
- Take ownership of the assessment systems and processes.
- Develop, motivate and lead a collaborative, high performance work culture.
- Undertake activities associated with Court Appeals and the assessment of Major Development Applications, Modifications to Consent and Reviews within the Development and Building Section of Council.

**Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications**
- Tertiary qualifications in Town Planning or equivalent as the minimum requirement.
- Current Class C NSW Driver’s licence.
- Safework NSW Construction Induction Card (White Card) or equivalent.
- Extensive experience in development assessment in NSW.
- Extensive understanding of NSW Land and Environment Court Practices and Procedures.
- Extensive experience in being an expert witness and preparing court related documentation.
- Excellent understanding of NSW Local Government and the social, political, legal and regulatory frameworks in which it operates.
- Strong interpersonal communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills including negotiation, mediation, facilitation skills.
- Strong Customer Service focus.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Experience in preparing reports for senior management regarding development issues.
- Problem solving approach when dealing with complex development issues.
- Ability to work in a fast paced, outcomes driven environment.
- Ability to proactively contribute to a team environment.
- Must be fully vaccinated (minimum 2 doses) with an approved COVID-19 vaccine and provide Council with evidence of vaccination, or an accepted certified medical contraindication. Council reserves the right to confirm the validity of contraindications in accordance with NSW Health guidelines, and to direct a Worker to undertake an independent medical examination in relation to the issuance of a medical contraindication certificate.

If you would like further information on this role, please contact Nicole Askew, Coordinator Development Assessment on 02 9330 6