Graduate Urban Designer

Northern Beaches Council; Manly; Hybrid; AUD 77,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work from home opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Employee wellness program

Technology-driven environment

Values based culture

Job summary

Northern Beaches Council is seeking a Graduate Urban Designer to join the Strategic & Place Planning team in Manly, NSW on a permanent, full-time basis (35 hours per week). The role supports urban design, place planning and strategic planning initiatives with a structured mentoring program.

You will gain exposure to strategic planning, development assessment and public domain projects, building professional capability under experienced practitioners within a values‑driven, flexible workplace.

Qualifications

• Emerging urban design professional seeking professional development.
• Interest in strategic planning and public realm projects.
• Willingness to work within a mentoring program.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of Council's urban design, place planning and strategic planning program.
• Develop professional knowledge through mentoring and practical experience.
• Contribute to high‑quality design outcomes across projects.

Skills

Urban design

Education

Urban design degree (or enrolled)

Job description

Business Unit: Strategic & Place Planning

Title: Graduate Urban Designer,Permanent - Full-time Role, 35hours per week

Salary Range: $77,285.31 to $89,818.38 per annum + super (subject to skills and experience)

Who we are

Stretching from Palm Beach to Manly, the Northern Beaches boasts more than half of all the beaches in Sydney and a population of more than 270,000. Northern Beaches Council strives to deliver the highest quality services to our community. We are proud to be the winner of the Bluett Award 2022 and the 2022 Change Champion Award in the Enterprise Category.

Join us and you’ll be part of an organisation committed to promoting sustainable growth, leading the community, protecting our environment, and creating a great future for the Northern Beaches.

Strategic and Place Planning

Strategic and Place Planning prepares sustainable land use and design strategies, policies and plans for Council’s diverse range of localities, including established urban areas, urban renewal activity centres, future growth areas, employment areas, rural lands, and environmentally significant areas.

The Strategic and Place Planning Business Unit delivers the following services:

• Strategic Land-Use Planning and Planning Proposal assessment
• Land Use Policy Development
• Urban Land Release
• Heritage and Structure Planning
• Urban Design and Place Planning
• Infrastructure Contributions Planning and administration

Key projects our team is currently working on include Place Plan preparation, a Structure Plan for Brookvale, preparation of new comprehensive Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan, referral assessments for the Frenchs Forest Precinct, a Thematic Heritage Study, and a review of Council’s Affordable Housing Policy.

Northern Beaches Council is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Council acknowledges that protecting the safety of children and young people is a whole of community responsibility and is everyone’s business.

Working with us

Northern Beaches Council provides a comprehensive range of benefits focused on our employees’ lifestyle, health and wellbeing, recognition and career development. In this role you’ll enjoy -

• Work from home opportunities
• Genuine work-life balance and flexible working arrangements
• Employee wellness program and a range of lifestyle benefits
• High level of technological innovation and systems
• Values based culture and a teams-orientated working environment

Our opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Strategic & Place Planning and under the guidance of the Principal Urban Designer, the Graduate Urban Designer supports the delivery of Council's urban design, place planning and strategic planning program while developing professional knowledge and practical experience across a broad range of urban design disciplines.

The role provides an opportunity for an emerging urban design professional to build technical capability through involvement in strategic planning, development assessment, place planning and public domain projects. Working alongside experienced practitioners, the Graduate Urban Designer contributes to high-quality design outcomes while participating in a structured program of mentoring and professional development.

The position supports the delivery of Council's Urban Design work program and contributes to creating sustainable, liveable and well-designed places across the Northern Beaches.

Additional Information

• Position Description
• Expected Interview Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
• Questions? Please call the Hiring Manager: Phil Jemison (02) 8495 6***

Northern Beaches Council is a diverse and inclusive employer and encourages applications from differently abled candidates. Reasonable adjustments to the workplace may be made where these are required.

If you would like to contact us to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact the hiring manager for this role. If you do not feel comfortable to do so, please contact HR Services on (02) 8495 5***.