[Hiring] Principal Planner @Shire of Wyndham

Role Description

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Principal Planner to join our Planning and Regulatory Services Team in Kununurra. Reporting to the Manager Planning and Regulatory Services, the Principal Planner will provide senior professional and technical leadership across the Shire’s planning functions, overseeing statutory planning, strategic planning and the day-to-day delivery of a high-quality, responsive planning service.

This is a key senior planning role responsible for managing complex planning matters, providing authoritative professional advice and supporting the delivery of planning outcomes across Kununurra, Wyndham and the broader East Kimberley. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the administration of the Shire’s Local Planning Scheme and land use planning functions in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and delegations;
• Overseeing the assessment of development applications, including complex and significant proposals, as well as subdivision and strata title applications;
• Providing authoritative professional advice on statutory planning, development assessment and land use matters to the Manager, Executive Leadership Team, Council, Shire staff, government agencies, developers and the community;
• Preparing reports, recommendations and correspondence for Council and external stakeholders on development, subdivision, rezoning and other planning matters;
• Providing advice on complex regional planning matters involving Crown land, State Government agencies, major infrastructure, tourism, rural land uses and other significant development proposals;
• Coordinating and prioritising the day-to-day planning workload, monitoring statutory timeframes and ensuring planning matters are progressed efficiently and to a high professional standard;
• Reviewing planning assessments, reports, recommendations and correspondence prepared by planning officers to ensure quality, consistency and compliance;
• Ensuring consistent interpretation and application of the Local Planning Scheme, planning legislation, the State Planning Framework and Council policies across the planning team;
• Supporting the development and implementation of the Shire’s strategic land use planning program, including local planning strategies, local planning schemes, scheme amendments, structure plans, local development plans and local planning policies;
• Contributing to strategic planning for growth, tourism, infrastructure, townsite development, land supply and other regional priorities affecting Kununurra, Wyndham and the broader East Kimberley;
• Leading the development, review and implementation of planning policies, procedures and guidelines;
• Undertaking and overseeing research and analysis to inform strategic land use planning decisions and outcomes;
• Providing professional and operational leadership to planning staff, including mentoring, coaching, professional development and knowledge sharing;
• Fostering a collaborative, accountable, solutions-focused and high-performing team culture;
• Managing planning consultants and representing the Shire in technical planning discussions with State Government agencies, proponents, consultants and other stakeholders;
• Monitoring workloads, service performance, emerging issues, risks and resourcing requirements and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives;
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve Shire objectives and resolve complex planning matters.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in town planning, urban studies or a similar discipline;
• Substantial professional experience in statutory and strategic town planning (typically five or more years);
• Demonstrated senior-level experience in local government or an equivalent complex regulatory environment;
• Current unrestricted WA Driver Licence;
• Acceptable National Police Clearance.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership to a planning team;
• Managing complex planning matters and competing statutory workloads;
• Interpreting and applying planning legislation and policy;
• Preparing detailed planning reports and correspondence;
• Excellent communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, decision-making, organisational and customer service skills.
• Previous experience managing multidisciplinary regulatory services teams;
• Membership or eligibility for membership of the Planning Institute of Australia will be highly regarded.

Benefits

• Subsidised housing available;
• 6 weeks annual leave;
• 12% employer superannuation, with the Shire offering to match up to an additional 5% in co-contributions when the employee contributes an equivalent amount;
• Salary packaging opportunities for motor vehicles, rent or mortgage interest expenses;
• 11 public holidays with 2 additional 'Local Government Days' per year;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Shire provided corporate uniforms;
• Opportunities for professional development;
• A variety of health and wellbeing programs including free membership to the Kununurra Leisure Centre and Wyndham Pool, free health assessments, mental health programs and Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) services.