Planning Services Lead

Planning and Development | Main Administration Building, 25 Cedric Street
- Closing date: 10/02/2025

**Planning Service Lead**
- **Exciting leadership opportunity in the Development Services team**:

- **Permanent full-time opportunity based in Stirling, Western Australia**:

- **Free onsite fitness facilities | Free parking | On-site staff cafe**

**About Us**

The Planning and Development Directorate is responsible for the sustainable and responsible development of the City’s neighbourhoods. The Planning Services team is responsible for advising, facilitating and ensuring the built environment is design and constructed in line with our planning framework and aligns with the City’s key result areas.

This high performing team deals with a wide range of interesting planning matters to help shape the future of the City for its visitors and over 243,000 residents.

**About the Position**

We have an exciting opportunity for a **Planning Services Lead** to join our team. Reporting to the Manager Development Services, you will be responsible for leading the Planning Services teams, including Planning Administration Officers, Planning Officers, Senior Planning Officers, Planning Compliance Officers and Planning Coordinators.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Ensure that all decisions and advice to Council, the community and to outside agencies within the designated area of responsibility is lawful, accurate and accountable.
- To coordinate the preparation of agenda items and statutory decisions within the designated area of responsibility.
- To ensure that relevant statutory obligations are met, and statutory processes and responsibilities within the unit are fulfilled.
- To maintain contemporary professional knowledge and provide professional leadership and mentoring to relevant employees within the Business Unit.
- The appropriate allocation of work to officers and maintenance of programs.
- To ensure the appropriate maintenance of records associated with research, inspections, reports, and correspondence associated with the planning functions of the Business Unit.
- Supervision and operational management of designated employees.
- To perform Statutory Planning assessments and functions in a timely manner in accordance with the City’s customer service charter.
- To attend, present, provide support, and represent the team and organisation at meetings, including but not limited to, Committee and Council, Development Assessment Panel, Statutory Planning Committee, and any other meetings as required.
- Assisting the Manager with the overall business operations of the unit including, budget preparation and business planning in line with the City’s strategic objectives, recruitment of suitable employees and identification and implementation of business process improvements.
- Maintenance, monitoring and reporting to the Manager on workflow statistics and operational matters within the relevant area of responsibility.
- Act in position of Manager Development Services as required.

**About You**

While the right person must be confident, they must also be highly competent, thrive in fast-paced settings, demonstrating resilience and the ability to maintain composure while delivering exceptional results for our City. Their collaborative nature and ability to work seamlessly within a team make them an invaluable asset to the organisation.
- Tertiary level qualifications in Urban and Regional Planning, or a related relevant discipline, and significant demonstrated experience in a similar role.
- Demonstrated ability to develop innovative ideas and strategies and maintain professional skills in accordance with contemporary best practice.
- Excellent communications skills both written and oral. The ability to negotiate complex matters involving cross functional issues.
- Ability to exercise decision making and judgement in a logical, lawful and accountable manner.
- A highly skilled team leader with proven ability to guide, coach and develop team members and emerging leaders.
- Excellent knowledge of the relevant Western Australian Planning system, and Local Government legislation and statutory processes.
- Demonstrated operational management ability including:

- Financial (Budget preparation, monitoring and review)
- Human Resource management (training, recruitment, employee supervision, performance management and mentoring),
- Quality and cost control,
- Business Unit performance measurement and evaluation,
- Customer Service.
- Experience in organisational management.
- Relevant Local Government experience.

For further information, please refer to the position description.

**What We Offer**
- Flexible and supportive working environment
- Free parking and easy public transport access
- Free onsite fitness facilities and end of journey facilities
- Superannuation matching of up to 6%
- Professional development opportunities, including training, memberships, and study assistance
- 50% discount on gym memberships at our Stirli