Principal Planner

Full time
Ongoing
Band 7, $93,172 pa + Super 

Closing date: 9am on Monday 8 April 2024

Mount Alexander Shire is known for its local food and wine, for a vibrant arts community and breathtaking natural surrounds. 

Perfectly located in Central Victoria, around 30 minutes from Bendigo by car or rail, and with Melbourne only 90 minutes away, you’ll enjoy a balanced lifestyle with great services, schools and homes in townships like Castlemaine and Maldon.

The role

As a Statutory Planner at Mount Alexander you will enjoy working on a variety of planning applications of varying complexity. You will work in a team that values team work, consistency in decision making and values high quality decision making. 

The Principal Planner with assist the Coordinator of Statutory Planning to lead a small team to ensure Council complies with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Subdivision Act 1988, and the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provision of specialist service, guidance and advice to staff across Council who contribute to the development approval process.
• Provide expert oversight, influence, supervision and mentoring of planning staff.
• Project manage and act as the Council delegate for major planning applications.
• Prepare planning assessment documentation and reports.
• Prepare appeal submissions and represent Council at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
• Recommend creative solutions and resolve complex issues by negotiation and mediation, where practical.
• Contribute to ongoing process improvement within the Statutory Planning Team and across Council.
• Maintain a pro-active interest in professional development activities and encourage the team to participate in development opportunities.

Our ideal candidate

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Recognised qualification in land use planning.
• Extensive experience within statutory planning within Local Government and thorough knowledge of and ability to interpret related legislation.
• Experience managing major planning applications.
• Leadership skills and commitment to mentor and develop staff to achieve team objectives.
• Strong communication and persuasion skills and the ability to gain cooperation from members of the public and other employees in statutory planning matters and demonstrated high level oral and written presentation skills with the ability to write own and review and edit other officer reports.
• Ability to manage a variety of complex tasks with minimal supervision, within set timeframes, with evidence of a strong commitment to quality and customer service.

Benefits

• Annual salary increases.
• Hybrid working options – work from home and the office.
• Flexible working arrangements, including options for part time work and rostered days off
• Wellbeing initiatives and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Generous leave provisions, including purchased leave options and paid parental leave
• Cross-skilling and professional development opportunities.

Visit the Why work with us page on our website for more benefits.

Contact

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role, please contact Anita Smith, Coordinator Statutory Planning, on (03) 5471 1***.

How to apply

Visit our website and review the Information for applicants, then apply via our Current Vacancies page.

Mount Alexander Shire Council is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to child safety with zero tolerance for child abuse.  We value a diverse workforce and encourage applicants from all cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and backgrounds. 

Applicants can expect that the recruitment process will include interviewing, reference checks and criminal history checks. Some positions will also be required to provide a Working with Children Check, and medical assessments including drug and alcohol testing may be undertaken.

For more information on the recruitment process, please download the Candidate information document from our website.