Coordinator Statutory Planning

Colac Otway Shire; Colac; On-site; AUD 118,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Colac Otway Shire Council is seeking an experienced planning professional to lead our Statutory Planning team and shape the future of planning services across the municipality. This leadership role requires technical expertise, strong professional judgement and a commitment to service excellence.

You will drive outcomes through a high-performing team, collaboration with other directorates and active engagement with the community.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Victorian planning legislation and statutory planning practice.
• Leadership experience or readiness for a significant people leadership role.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
• Sound professional judgement and transparent, consistent decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead Council's statutory planning function and provide direction to a professional team of planners.
• Oversee a diverse range of planning applications and statutory planning matters.
• Provide expert advice to Councillors, senior leadership, staff and the community.
• Represent Council at VCAT, Planning Panels Victoria and other statutory forums.
• Drive service performance, customer experience and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support development of a collaborative, accountable and high-performing team culture.
• Work closely with strategic planning, building, engineering and other Council teams to achieve positive outcomes.

Job description

Colac Otway Shire Council is seeking an experienced planning professional to lead our Statutory Planning team and help shape the future of planning services across one of Victoria's most diverse municipalities.

This is a significant leadership role for a planning professional who combines strong technical expertise with a commitment to continuous improvement, service excellence and people leadership. Reporting to the Manager Planning and Building, you will lead a capable team responsible for delivering high-quality statutory planning outcomes across a municipality encompassing coastal communities, the Otway Ranges, productive agricultural landscapes, established townships and areas of growth.

You will play a key role in ensuring planning services are delivered with sound professional judgement, transparency, consistency and a strong focus on community outcomes.

Why join Colac Otway?

At Colac Otway, we are committed to delivering a contemporary statutory planning service that combines technical excellence, sound decision-making and a strong customer focus.

We recognise that effective planning relies on strong professional judgement, legislative expertise, collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement. We are focused on delivering services that are responsive, accessible, efficient and aligned with the needs of our community.

We are looking for a leader who will:

• champion high-quality planning practice and sound professional judgement;
• drive continuous improvement in systems, processes and service delivery;
• embrace technology and modern ways of working;
• build a high-performing, engaged and accountable team;
• foster strong relationships across Council, industry and the community; and
• help shape the future direction of statutory planning at Colac Otway.

About the role

Reporting to the Manager Planning and Building, you will:

• lead Council's statutory planning function and provide direction to a professional team of planners;
• oversee a diverse range of planning applications and statutory planning matters;
• provide expert advice to Councillors, senior leadership, staff and the community;
• represent Council at VCAT, Planning Panels Victoria and other statutory forums;
• drive service performance, customer experience and continuous improvement initiatives;
• support the development of a collaborative, accountable and high-performing team culture; and
• work closely with strategic planning, building, engineering and other Council teams to achieve positive and practical outcomes.

About you

You are an experienced planning professional who enjoys leading people, solving problems and improving services.

You will bring:

• strong knowledge of Victorian planning legislation and statutory planning practice;
• leadership experience, or demonstrated readiness to step into a significant people leadership role;
• excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills;
• sound professional judgement and a commitment to transparent, consistent and well-reasoned decision-making;
• a customer-focused mindset and a genuine desire to improve how services are delivered;
• the ability to identify opportunities for innovation and translate ideas into practical outcomes; and
• a collaborative leadership style that supports, develops and empowers others.

A place where you can make an impact

Few municipalities offer the breadth and diversity of planning work available across Colac Otway.

From coastal settlements and tourism destinations to agricultural land, environmental assets, heritage places and growing communities, this role provides the opportunity to work on a wide range of planning matters while leading a team that plays an important role in shaping the future of the region.

If you are passionate about planning, committed to professional excellence and motivated by the opportunity to improve services, develop people and contribute to positive community outcomes, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help build a planning service that is innovative, customer focused, community minded and ready for the future.

For further information regarding the duties and requirements of the role, please refer to the Position Description which includes the key selection criteria for the role.

Salary: $118,444.04 to $132,205.84 per annum plus superannuation

Written responses to the key selection criteria are not required as part of the application process. The selection criteria outlined in the Position Description will be assessed during the interview process.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed as they are received and this position will remain open until a suitable candidate is appointed.

Colac Otway Shire Council is a child safe organisation and is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.