Senior Officer Planning Compliance

• A varied and challenging role, which will promote the amenity and livability of the Gympie Region.
• Competitive annual salary commencing at $93,611, plus up to 13% superannuation
• Great range of additional benefits, including health & wellness programs, salary sacrifice options, salary packaging arrangements and a fortnightly RDO

About the Region

Gympie is at the heart of a rapidly expanding region which stretches from rural valleys in our western reaches to the Cooloola Coast.  Bordering Noosa and Fraser Coast Local Government areas, we are uniquely positioned to grow whilst still retaining our country charm.  Our borders with North and South Burnett, and the Somerset Local Government areas link with our rural lifestyle, where you can enjoy our picturesque smaller townships, or our abundant local history.  Our local festivals such as the Gympie Music Muster are renowned both nationally and internationally. 

For someone seeking a high quality of life, with pristine natural areas and spectacular beaches, all within reach of Noosa, the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, we are offering this unique opportunity.

Senior Officer Planning Compliance 

Remuneration: Annual salary commencing at $93,611, plus up to 13% superannuation

Closing Date: Sunday 14th July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST

No late applications will be accepted.  Only applications received via Council's online application system will be considered. Unsolicited applications from agencies will not be considered. 

Role Overview

The Compliance Department ensures an integrated approach to internal organisational services across the organisation. The Department is responsible for ensuring the community is aware of both the rules that apply throughout the region and for which Council has regulatory or enforcement function and the reasons for them. The Department also has purpose to apply regulatory effort in line with Council Policy to reasonably ensure, according to context, that the community operates within those rules.

The position of Senior Officer Planning Compliance promotes the amenity and livability of the Gympie Region through investigative processes that maximise compliance with planning related legislation.  As a member of the Compliance team, this position ensures an efficient and effective service is provided and that the outcomes, particularly in the area of development compliance are of a high standard, consistent with Council and community standards.

Essential Knowledge & Skills: 

• Knowledge of the Queensland planning, building and environment legislative framework.
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills in a specialist technical environment.
• Strong organisational and time management skills to maintain legislative timeframes.
• Highly developed oral and written communication and interpersonal skill to facilitate stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem solving with customers, and to facilitate clear and concise report writing abilities.
• Queensland ‘C’ Class driver’s licence that is current and maintained.

Essential Requirements: 

• Identify non-compliance of development decisions with reference to the Planning Act 2016, the Local Government Act 2009, the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Building Act 1975 and Gympie Regional Council Planning Schemes.
• Apply technical knowledge of planning legislation, planning instruments and relevant development codes and policies to make sound decisions about inspection techniques, relevant offences, and suitable penalties.
• Undertake investigations, gather evidence, facilitate resolution of issues, and initiate prompt enforcement outcomes, if required, in accordance with legislation.
• Provide clear and consistent advice and direction, demonstrating transparency, integrity and sound judgement.
• Make recommendations and decisions based on sound risk assessment and apply a proportionate compliance strategy in line with processes and escalations contained in Council Policy, Procedures, and Frameworks that also considers public interest factors.
• Display engaging interpersonal skills to communicate complex concepts in plain language to customers and build collaborative and respectful relationships with industry stakeholders.
• Display empathy and tact when communicating with residents who are concerned about the impacts of development.
• Build and maintain respectful professional relationships with development industry professionals.
• Maintain clear and factual records that can contribute to legally enforceable compliance outcomes.
• Maintain timely and effective communication with senior staff about investigation outcomes.
• Investigate and respond to complaints from members of the community about non-compliant, planning and land use activities.
• Create positive and meaningful engagement with key internal and external stakeholders, such as partner branches, other government departments and industry players.
• Identify and share potential process improvements with other Council Programs and Branches to contribute to organisational excellence.
• Contribute to the facilitation of positive community outcomes by fostering and maintaining deep, respectful, collaborative relationships with team members and stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Perform all duties in a professional and ethical manner, participate in teamwork, maintain and develop ongoing personal standards and competence, effectively manage own personal work priorities.
• Apply a self-motivated and collaborative approach to resolving or finding solutions to matters or issues which present, and which are not specifically listed as accountabilities; and
• Undertake any other duties, projects or service or development activities as reasonably directed within the scope of the employee’s skills, competence, and training.
• Provide a proactive post-approval function for customers to ensure compliance with development standards.

Position Description

For a full position description containing essential and desirable criteria, please

Who to Contact

For information regarding the requirements of this role, please contact Council's Manager Compliance, Dan Rogers on 07-5481 0*** or email **********@gympie.qld.gov.au

For assistance lodging your application using Council's online system, please contact Council's Officer Recruitment, Sue Rossi on 07-5481 0*** or email *********@gympie.qld.gov.au

 What we offer?

• Nine-day fortnight
• Access to employee health and well-being programs
• Fitness Passport: work out at over 25 local gyms for you and your family at a subsidised rate
• Long service leave after seven years
• Generous superannuation scheme of up to 13 per cent
• Access to salary sacrificing and salary packaging arrangements
• Employee assistance program offering free confidential counselling services for employees and their families.

 Our Values

• Accountability
• Communication
• Customer Service Focused
• Integrity
• Teamwork and Collaboration

For a full explanation of our values please click here.  You will be assessed on your understanding of these values and how you have applied values such as these in your previous employment.

Our Process

Successful applicants will be required to undertake various checks such as skills, qualifications, reference, medical and national police.

Keen to apply

Keen to apply? Simply follow the instructions below:

1) Download and review the position description above
2) Complete the information below, as requested (please use an individualised email address as using another person's may effect your application, if you do not have one please follow this link to create a Gmail account)
3) Click 'APPLY'
4) Attach your resume, covering letter and a single document containing copies of your qualifications, licences or tickets as applicable.
5) Click 'NEXT' and 'CONFIRM'

Please note before continuing: It is advisable that you prepare your responses in a separate word or text document, saving your work as you go and that you then copy and paste this prepared information in the form before completing the application process. Please keep your responses to a maximum 300 words for each question.

Applications close on Sunday 14th July 2024 at 11.00pm AEST. No late applications will be accepted. Only applications received via Council's online application system will be considered.

Gympie Regional Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and our people represent the community which we service. We invite all suitably qualified applicants to apply, including First Nations People, and people from diverse social, cultural and gender backgrounds.