Manager Strategic Planning

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Closing date: 9/11/2025 11:59 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time

Location: Civic Centre - 243 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga NSW Wiradjuri Country

Department: Regional Activation - Strategic Planning & Contributions

Employment type: Permanent Full-time

Work Arrangement: On-site

We are seeking a skilled Manager Strategic Planning to lead a dedicated team of planning professionals during a period of unprecedented growth and investment in our region.

With a significant pipeline of projects spanning housing, greenfield development, activation precincts and masterplan development, this opportunity presents as an exciting way to diversify and accelerate your career in strategic planning whilst playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of Australia's fastest growing regional centres.

As the Manager Strategic Planning, you will lead the Strategic Planning team to work collaboratively across Council and with external partners to deliver strategic insight, planning expertise, project management and stakeholder engagement to achieve long lasting outcomes for the community.

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This role offers outstanding career development, remuneration package (including leaseback vehicle, financial assistance for professional development, and retention and relocation allowances) and advancement opportunities whilst enjoying the benefits of a regional lifestyle.

Key Responsibilities

• Driving the effective and efficient management of Council's Strategic Planning functions
• Co-ordinating and managing the preparation and implementation of key planning instruments including Local Environmental Plans, Development Contributions Plans (Sections 7.11 and 7.12), Development Control Plans, Planning Proposals, Voluntary Planning Agreements, Master Plans and the Local Strategic Planning Statement
• Preparing and assessing complex planning proposals, and responding to State Significant Development/Infrastructure applications
• Keeping stakeholders informed on project progress, while working collaboratively to gather input, build consensus, identify business opportunities, and facilitate strategic networks
• Providing strategic planning advice and recommendations to Council and the Executive Management Team
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and Council policies, while effectively managing associated risks

About You:

You will be a qualified and skilled planner (Town Planning, Urban Design or similar) with a minimum of 5 years' experience in a similar role driving and delivering outcomes in strategic planning, development assessment, and development contributions. Your background may be within local government, state government, consulting or similar.

In addition to your technical expertise, you will bring proven leadership skills in managing a small professional team, exceptional written and verbal communication, and a strong ability to engage and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders.

With significant investment underway across the region, this role offers an outstanding opportunity to accelerate your career while enjoying the lifestyle advantages that regional NSW has to offer.

What is next?

Applications close Sunday, 9 November 2025 at 11.59pm AEDT. Interviews may be held with suitable candidates prior to the closing date.

If you are interested in this role and would like more information, please contact Fiona Hamilton, Executive Director Housing & Strategic Planning on or

As part of the recruitment process, pre-employment checks will be conducted in line with requirements of the position.

All preferred candidates for this position will be asked to consent to a police check. Please note that people with a criminal record are not discouraged from applying for the position. Each application will be considered on its merit.

For more information and to apply, please visit:

Council is an inclusive employer. We strive to reflect the community in which we work, as a result we welcome and encourage applications from skilled people from all walks of life. This includes women, men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people with a disability, veterans, sexually and gender diverse people, people with lived experience and people of all ages.