Senior Planning Officer

Join one of WA's most innovative and forward-thinking agencies and be part of something rewarding and exciting.

If you're an experienced Urban and Regional planner, with strong land use planning, project or policy background and a passion for infrastructure planning, you could be our next Senior Planning Officer

The Senior Planning Officer position assists with the delivery of Department and State government priorities to create a contemporary and strategic planning system for Western Australia. This includes reviewing how we work, embracing change and leading reform activities, creating opportunities that enable sustainable growth and helping regional communities to thrive.

As the Senior Planning Officer, you will assist with the investigation and reporting on a wide range of complex planning matters, undertake planning projects, contribute to policy change and review existing policies to ensure they remain contemporary and fit for purpose. You will consult with and advise client bodies and the public on planning projects and policy related matters and may undertake procedures and processes related to infrastructure coordination.

This is pool recruitment process for permanent full-time, and fixed term full-time opportunities. This pool may be used to fill future similar permanent or fixed-term positions that may arise within the Department and across the WA public sector in the next 12 months from the initial date of appointment.

Our Perth office is located in the Perth CBD in a convenient location, above the Perth Underground rail; close to the Wellington Street Bus Station and City CAT services.

To be successful for this position, you need to demonstrate:

• A degree in Urban and Regional Studies, Urban and Regional Planning or an approved equivalent degree relevant to planning is essential.
• Substantial experience working in the WA planning system with excellent knowledge of planning practices, legislation, policy and systems and/or infrastructure coordination.
• Demonstrated experience in managing significant, complex projects or leading policy development and review.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesis complex and/or competing information to make balanced recommendations.
• Highly developed communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, including proven capacity to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Demonstrate the behaviours within the leadership context as outlined below.

Core leadership behaviours outlined in Leadership Expectations are applicable to this role and should be demonstrated in the context of Personal Leadership. The Personal Leadership context is about the work of individuals not yet in traditional leadership positions who make a direct and immediate difference to the agency.

The expected behaviours may be assessed during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:
All applications are submitted online. Select 'Apply for Job', located at either top or bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions; you will need to provide a:

• Comprehensive CV that clearly shows your skills, experience, and key achievements (maximum 4 pages), including the details of two referees.
• Maximum two (2) page covering letter demonstrating the criteria required to perform the role as described above and in the attached JDF.
• Applicants must submit copies of their relevant degree in order to be considered for this role.

Please beware if you hold an overseas qualification you will need to provide supporting documentation of proof of assessment for equivalency. Please feel free to have your degree assessed by
DTWD's Overseas Qualification Unit
(OQU) or alternatively contact our HR Services team on or email

About us

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is an attractive proposition, please visit the Department page on the DPLH website.

We have a comprehensive
Applicant Information Pack
to provide information about us, the values of the department and practical guidance on the process for you.

Benefits of Working at DPLH

DPLH offers a broad range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Access to flexible working arrangements including working from home or alternate work locations for enhanced work life balance.
• 12% superannuation, full employer contribution and salary packaging options
• Comprehensive learning and professional development opportunities.
• 4 weeks annual leave with 17.5% loading paid as additional pay every December
• 3 days additional public sector holidays each year
• Cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• Leave for study, bereavement, foster caring and parenting
• Free access to a confidential employee assistance program (EAP) for you and your family, which includes psychology and counselling services.

Further Information:

If you would like to know more, please give
Lisa Powell
a call on or email to discuss the role in further detail. Please do not send your application to
Lisa
or to seek their assistance with lodging your application.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants – For a confidential discussion about the recruitment process, please reach out to Barb Culbong from our Aboriginal Employment and Engagement team. You can contact Barb at , or email us at

The Department is an equal opportunity employer and as a measure to achieve equality under sections 51, 66R and 66ZP of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people (24 years of age and under) and people with disability who meet the requirements of the position, may be prioritised for appointment.

Accessibility:
If you have any communication or access needs that require adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process, please contact our HR Services team on or email

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the below numbers:

TTY/voice calls –

Speak and Listen –

SMS relay –

Special Requirements for this position:

The Department will conduct a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check for applicants successful to this recruitment process.

To be eligible for a permanent appointment to the Western Australian public sector it is essential that you are an Australian citizen or have permanent residency status in Australia. To be eligible for a fixed term appointment you must have documentary evidence of your entitlement to live and work in Australia for the period of the contract.

Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as
late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted.

If you experience technical issues when submitting your application, contact , or please call for any other queries.

Closing Date – 15 September 2025 @ 4:00pm