Manager Community Safety

Public Sector People; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Strathbogie Shire Council is seeking a seasoned Manager Community Safety to lead a broad portfolio including local laws, environmental health and emergency management. You will drive service delivery, implement new local law processes and ensure consistent application across the Shire, balancing compliance with customer service.

You will oversee a multidisciplinary team, manage budgets and resources, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement while engaging with

Qualifications

• Experienced regulatory services or community safety leader with sound judgement.
• Ability to lead cross‑disciplinary teams and manage complex regulatory matters.
• Strong focus on customer service, accountability and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead local laws, community compliance, animal management, environmental health, building, planning compliance and emergency management.
• Oversee day‑to‑day operations, budget and resources with a focus on service delivery and outcomes.
• Drive improvements to regulatory services, streamline permitting processes and improve accessibility for residents and businesses.
• Provide sound advice on complex regulatory matters and maintain regulatory compliance across the portfolio.

Job description

About Strathbogie Shire Council

Strathbogie Shire Council is a progressive regional municipality encompassing communities including Euroa, Nagambie, Avenel and Violet Town, ideally positioned between Melbourne and Shepparton.

Council is committed to delivering responsive, consistent and customer focused services that support community safety, regulatory compliance and the amenity of the Shire. With a diverse rural landscape and a broad range of services, Council plays an important role in supporting residents, businesses and communities across the municipality.

This is an opportunity to build on significant service improvements, strengthen team capability and shape how community safety and regulatory services operate within a regional council, with practical opportunities to improve the experience of the community.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director Community & Planning, the Manager Community Safety will lead a diverse portfolio spanning local laws, community compliance, animal management, environmental health, building, planning compliance and emergency management.

This is a broad leadership position with responsibility for service delivery, legislative compliance, people leadership and continuous improvement across several interconnected functions. You will oversee day-to-day operations, support and develop a multidisciplinary team, manage resources and budgets, and ensure services are delivered consistently and effectively.

A key priority will be to oversee the implementation of Council’s new local law, embedding clear processes and supporting consistent application across the municipality. You will also drive practical improvements to regulatory services, including streamlining permitting processes, strengthening customer communication and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and accessibility for residents and businesses.

You will build on work already undertaken to review services, systems and team structures, establishing clear accountabilities, effective reporting and a positive, accountable team culture. The role will also provide leadership across emergency management and recovery, supporting Council’s preparedness, response and recovery responsibilities.

Working closely with the Director, Councillors, staff, community members, businesses and external service providers, you will provide sound advice on complex regulatory matters, manage sensitive complaints and ensure legislative obligations are met. This is an opportunity to balance operational leadership with longer-term service development and make a tangible difference to how Council supports its community.

About You

You are an experienced regulatory services or community safety leader who brings sound judgement, strong people leadership and a practical approach to improving services. You understand the importance of balancing legislative requirements with responsive, accessible customer service, and can navigate complex matters involving competing stakeholder interests and community expectations.

You bring experience interpreting and applying legislation, developing policies and procedures, and leading change across a multidisciplinary team. You are comfortable managing operational priorities, budgets and resources while identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen accountability and deliver better outcomes.

Just as importantly, you are a calm, measured and approachable leader who builds trust, sets clear expectations and supports people to perform at their best. You can have difficult conversations when required, address performance constructively and foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration and continuous improvement.

You are confident engaging with a broad range of stakeholders, from residents and local businesses through to Councillors, senior leaders and external agencies. You bring the ability to make considered decisions on sensitive issues, communicate clearly and maintain a focus on fair, consistent and defensible outcomes.

Experience across every service area is not essential, what matters is your ability to lead across a varied portfolio, apply sound judgement and build your knowledge where needed. An understanding of emergency management, business continuity and disaster recovery will be important, alongside a genuine interest in the opportunities and practical challenges of working within a rural municipality.

Most importantly, you are motivated by the opportunity to lead a broad and meaningful portfolio, build on existing improvements and help shape a capable, connected and customer focused community safety function.

Application Process

Public Sector People is partnering with Strathbogie Shire Council to recruit this important leadership opportunity.

For a confidential discussion or to request a copy of the Position Description, please contact;

Marcel Lafontaine – @publicsectorpeople.com.au - 04 753

Sarah Kettlewell – @publicsectorpeople.com.au – 04 199

Applications close Wednesday 11 November 2026