Principal Development Planner
Mackay, Queensland, Australia · Full Time
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- Experience
- Any
- Salary
- AUD 124,445 – AUD 124,445 / year
- Openings
- 1
- Posted
- 1 day ago
- Work mode
- In office
- Education
- Degree or Associate Degree in Urban & Regional Planning
- Eligibility
- Candidates must hold appropriate Australian work rights, subject to verification during recruitment processes.
- Resume
- Required to apply
Where you'll work
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Job description
Overview
Mackay Regional Council invites experienced development planning professionals to join as a Principal Development Planner in its Development Planning and Engineering Program. Based in Mackay CBD, this senior role offers a chance to shape one of Queensland's most liveable coastal regions through technical expertise and leadership in complex statutory planning cases.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership by coaching and technically guiding a team of planning professionals.
- Drive service improvements for efficient, transparent, and quality development assessments.
- Ensure timely completion of projects aligned with legislation, service standards, and Council objectives.
- Champion a workplace that is safe, healthy, and inclusive.
- Lead on challenging and significant development applications requiring sound judgment and balanced decisions.
- Offer clear, professional advice to applicants, consultants, internal teams, elected officials, and community stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
- Conduct reviews to maintain consistency and quality across assessments.
- Contribute to strategic planning, policy creation, and initiatives benefiting Mackay's growth.
- Build strong industry relationships and negotiate practical and reasonable planning outcomes.
- Perform additional duties as assigned within the role's scope.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an experienced senior or Principal Planner seeking a role with greater influence, work-life balance, and long-term stability. They will demonstrate extensive statutory planning knowledge, sound judgment in complex cases, and a passion for mentoring and fostering a solutions-focused team environment.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- Tertiary qualification in Urban & Regional Planning (Degree preferred, Associate Degree accepted).
- Current Queensland C-Class Driver Licence.
- Proven experience in statutory and strategic planning.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities.
- Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Strong communication, report writing, and negotiation expertise.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office and corporate software systems.
Preferred Attributes
- Experience in local government planning.
- Eligibility for Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) membership.
- Qualifications in leadership or business management.
Benefits and Compensation
- Competitive Level 7 Stream A base salary of $124,445.70 per annum.
- Superannuation up to 18% (subject to conditions).
- Option of 4 or 5 weeks annual leave with 17.5% leave loading.
- Relocation assistance up to $10,000.
- Flexible working arrangements, including a 9-day fortnight schedule.
- Professional development and education support.
- Employee wellbeing initiatives, assistance programs, and active social clubs.
Additional Information
- Applicants must have the legal right to work in Australia; verification occurs during recruitment.
- Pre-employment checks include medical assessments (with drug and alcohol testing) and criminal history screening.
- Mackay Regional Council fosters equal employment opportunities and a diverse, inclusive working environment.
Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree