Principal Planner - Biodiversity

City of Moreton Bay; Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 116,772 - 142,721; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

Flexible working environment

Discounted health insurance

24/7 confidential counselling service

Job summary

City of Moreton Bay is looking for a Principal Planner – Biodiversity to lead biodiversity planning initiatives aimed at enhancing community wellbeing and environmental sustainability. In this role, you will contribute to setting strategic directions, deliver complex biodiversity policies, and engage with diverse stakeholders.

Successful candidates will have extensive experience in environmental planning, superb communication skills, and a degree in a relevant field. This is an exciting opportunity with a hybrid, flexible working model and a commitment to staff wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in shaping and delivering biodiversity outcomes.
• Ability to navigate government and political contexts.
• Strong knowledge of conservation and land-use planning principles.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction in biodiversity planning.
• Deliver complex biodiversity policy and planning outcomes.
• Provide expert legislative and policy advice.

Skills

Biodiversity policy

Environmental planning

Stakeholder engagement

Complex outcome delivery

Education

Degree in environmental planning, biodiversity or related discipline

Job description

• From $129,747pa + 12% super (level 8) - with a 4.5% increase coming 1 July
• 72.5 hour fortnight including RDO
• Hybrid, flexible working environment, including some work from home days.
• Location: Caboolture with local parking and close to train station

Join City of Moreton Bay as a Principal Planner – Biodiversity and help shape and enhance our communities for today and tomorrow.

Our challenge is to protect and enhance our lifestyle while sensitively planning for anticipated growth. Through the Corporate Plan 2022–2027, our Council has set an aspirational vision for how we want our region to look and feel 20 years from now - Our Moreton Bay. Amazing Places. Natural Spaces.

This vision is underpinned by goals to support biodiversity because of its importance to our communities and for ensuring a healthy environment and sustainable lifestyle. Further, Council has adopted its Environment and Sustainability Strategy 2042, which provides a roadmap to guide the actions of Council and our communities to deliver our vision and the Our Healthy Environments goal and outcomes.

The Environment and Sustainability Policy and Planning Department sits within the Planning Directorate and takes a lead role in developing strategic environmental and sustainability policies, projects and plans to deliver healthy environments and sustainable, resilient outcomes. The Department focuses on meeting legislative requirements, community aspirations and Council priorities across three branches: Sustainability Planning, Natural Hazards Planning and Biodiversity Planning.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to setting strategic direction in biodiversity and environmental planning for City of Moreton Bay.
• Take a lead role in developing and delivering complex and strategic biodiversity policy, planning and program outcomes including the management of specialist project teams and external consultants where required.
• Provide expert advice on legislative, policy and Corporate requirements to support informed decision‑making across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively as part of the Biodiversity Planning team to deliver aligned biodiversity planning program outcomes, including guiding and supporting other team members where required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives and foster collaborative approaches.
• Act as a departmental delegate and advocate for biodiversity outcomes across a range of projects and activities, influencing decisions and ensuring alignment with branch positions, Council’s strategic direction and compliance with legal obligations.

Qualifications

• A motivated, collaborative and adaptable professional with a strategic mindset, who thrives in fast‑paced environments and is committed to delivering on our goal for healthy natural and built environments.
• Substantial experience in shaping and delivering biodiversity outcomes with a strong emphasis on long‑term strategic policy, planning, and program design.
• Degree in environmental planning, biodiversity or related discipline
• Proven ability to deliver complex outcomes in time‑critical environments with competing stakeholder interests, including the ability to navigate government and political contexts.
• Strong knowledge of environmental conservation and land‑use planning principles and frameworks.
• Experience working within a government and political context.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to simplify complex concepts, negotiate sustainable outcomes, and lead high‑level consultation processes.

Benefits

• Find a better work‑life balance with a nine‑day (72.5‑hour) fortnight, plus a hybrid, flexible working environment with some work‑from‑home days.
• Negotiated salary increases locked in through our EBA - 4.5% in July 2026 and a further 4% in July 2027 (or CPI capped at 4.5%, whichever is greater).
• Advance your skills and career through our Study, Training And Research Scheme (STARS).
• Make your pay go further with salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation payments, smartphones and devices.
• Prioritise your health and wellbeing with discounted health insurance, free annual flu vaccinations and our Fitness Passport Program.
• Get support when you and your family need it most with our 24/7 confidential counselling service, leader support hotline and Mates in Construction program.
• Our Caboolture office has local parking on site and is close to public transport networks, making for an easy commute.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants will be required to undergo a National Criminal History Check.

City of Moreton Bay extends across the traditional lands of the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, and Turrbal peoples, and we acknowledge and pay respects to Traditional Custodians. We believe diversity of thought, background and experience creates better outcomes for our people and communities, and we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of all ages, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.