Municipal Building Surveyor

Public Sector People; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Melton City Council is seeking a Municipal Building Surveyor to lead statutory building functions and guide the building services team. The role involves providing leadership, technical direction and strategic input to shape the department's structure and operating model for a growing municipality.

You will work with senior management to assess needs, clarify responsibilities and establish leadership arrangements and capabilities to support delivery of statutory duties while ensuring compliance

Qualifications

• Unlimited registration in Victoria is required.
• Strong knowledge of building legislation and regulatory enforcement.
• Experience leading building services teams and managing complex matters.

Responsibilities

• Administer Council’s statutory building functions and provide leadership to the building services team.
• Shape the department’s structure, operating model and priorities with senior management.
• Review service model and advise on future scope of municipal permits where applicable.
• Ensure work is prioritized, delivered consistently and staff are supported to make sound decisions.

Skills

Unlimited registration in Victoria

Strong knowledge of building legislati

Leadership

Experience in local government

Job description

Melton City Council is one of Australia’s fastest-growing municipalities, with expanding communities, new development and emerging employment precincts shaping its future.

This growth creates a significant opportunity for Council’s building services function. As the municipality evolves, the service needs the leadership, capability and systems to respond to increasing demand while protecting community safety and delivering its statutory responsibilities.

Council is seeking a Municipal Building Surveyor who wants to help shape that future. This appointment offers genuine scope to influence how the department is structured, how its people are supported and how building services are delivered across the municipality.

With senior management seeking a clearer direction for the function, and work already underway to address outstanding compliance matters, the incoming MBS will have a strong platform from which to build the next phase of the service.

About the Role

The Municipal Building Surveyor is responsible for administering Council’s statutory building functions and providing leadership, technical oversight and direction to the building services team.

Alongside these statutory responsibilities, the role offers an opportunity to shape the department’s ongoing structure and operating model. Working with senior management, you will assess the service’s needs, clarify responsibilities and identify the leadership arrangements and technical capability required to support a growing municipality.

The service’s current focus is on compliance, enforcement, inspections and Council’s broader municipal building responsibilities. Council does not currently issue building permits, with the incoming MBS expected to review the service model and provide considered advice on its future scope, including whether a municipal permit offering would be appropriate.

A key priority will be establishing a clear understanding of the team’s workload, capability and outstanding matters, then ensuring work is prioritised and delivered consistently. You will support staff to make sound decisions, provide clear technical guidance and strengthen accountability across the service.

Swimming pool and spa compliance work is also underway, with an established team progressing Council’s obligations in this area. There is scope to move the department towards a more planned and proactive approach, with clearer priorities, stronger reporting and a shared understanding of what effective service delivery looks like.

You will help translate that direction into practical changes to team structure, processes and day-to-day operations. You will also provide clear advice on complex or sensitive building matters, ensuring statutory decisions are well considered and that senior leaders understand the service’s risks, priorities and resource requirements.

About You

You are an experienced building surveyor with Unlimited registration in Victoria and the technical capability required to perform the statutory responsibilities of a Municipal Building Surveyor.

You bring strong knowledge of building legislation, compliance, enforcement and regulatory decision-making, supported by experience managing complex building matters.

You are motivated by the opportunity to build and shape a department. You can assess how a service is operating, identify the capability and structure it needs, and work with senior management and staff to turn that thinking into practical improvements.

You are a visible and engaged leader who provides clear direction, supports staff and follows through on priorities. You establish expectations while giving your team the guidance and confidence to take ownership of their work.

You are comfortable leading through change and reviewing established practices with an open mind. You will take the time to understand the team’s strengths and challenges, then set a clear direction that supports both immediate delivery and the department’s longer-term development.

Experience in local government would be valuable, alongside the ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders and provide sound advice in a municipal regulatory environment.

Most importantly, you will bring energy, sound judgement and a constructive leadership style, with the ambition to shape a capable building service that keeps pace with the Melton community.