Principal Planner / Senior Town Planner

HDB Town Planning and Design; Maitland; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HDB Town Planning and Design in Maitland, NSW, is seeking a Principal Planner / Senior Town Planner to lead planning projects from inception to approval, including development applications, rezoning proposals, and feasibility assessments.

This full-time, hybrid role collaborates with clients, statutory authorities and sub-consultants, provides strategic planning advice, mentors junior staff, and contributes to business development and internal process improvements.

Qualifications

• Strong town and urban planning skills including experience with development applications, rezoning, and feasibility assessments.
• Proficiency in interpreting planning legislation, regulations, and local government policies.
• Capability in urban design and site planning with practical, context-sensitive solutions.
• Experience coordinating with statutory authorities and managing input from sub-consultants.
• Excellent written communication for reports, submissions, and client correspondence.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning projects from inception to approval.
• Prepare and review development applications, rezoning proposals, and feasibility assessments.
• Coordinate with clients, statutory authorities, and specialist consultants.
• Contribute to urban and site master planning, and prepare high-quality reports.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to business development.

Skills

Planning skills

Leadership

Report writing

Stakeholder management

GIS experience

Education

Tertiary qualification in town planning

Job description

Company Description

HDB Town Planning and Design is a specialist firm providing comprehensive town planning and design services, including rezoning, feasibility assessment, urban and building design, development applications, bushfire assessment, and civil and stormwater design. The team works closely with statutory authorities and a network of sub-consultants to deliver practical, cost-effective outcomes on complex and challenging sites. With over three decades of experience, HDB supports clients through the full planning and development process, navigating legislation and regulation with informed, professional guidance. Clients range from small to large private developers, giving the firm a broad project portfolio. As a small independent practice, HDB focuses on building lasting relationships and supporting projects from concept to completion.

Role Description

The Principal Planner / Senior Town Planner will lead and manage planning projects from inception to approval, including preparing and reviewing development applications, rezoning proposals, and feasibility assessments. This full-time role involves coordinating with clients, statutory authorities, and specialist consultants, providing strategic planning advice, and ensuring that projects meet regulatory requirements and design standards. The position includes contributing to urban and site master planning, preparing high-quality reports and submissions, and supporting bushfire, civil, and stormwater planning considerations where relevant. The planner will mentor junior team members, help refine internal processes, and participate in business development activities such as proposal preparation and client presentations. This is a hybrid role based in Maitland, NSW, with a mix of office-based work and some work-from-home flexibility.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to lead significant projects, mentor others, work directly with clients and become part of HDB’s senior management team, with a clear pathway towards a broader leadership role within the business. If you’re an experienced NSW planner who enjoys solving problems, achieving outcomes and wants greater influence over the projects and business you work in, this could be the career opportunity worth exploring.

Qualifications

• Strong town and urban planning skills, including experience with development applications, rezoning, and feasibility assessments.


• Proficiency in interpreting and applying planning legislation, regulations, and local government policies.


• Capability in urban design and site planning, with an eye for practical, context-sensitive design solutions.


• Experience coordinating with statutory authorities and managing input from specialist sub-consultants.


• Excellent written communication skills for preparing clear, persuasive reports, submissions, and client correspondence.


• Solid project management abilities, including time management, stakeholder coordination, and delivering projects to scope, budget, and schedule.


• Leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to guide and support junior planners and contribute to a collaborative team culture.


• Relevant tertiary qualification in town planning, urban planning, or a closely related discipline; eligibility for or membership in a professional planning institute is advantageous.


• Proficiency with common planning and design software, GIS tools, and Microsoft Office; familiarity with Australian planning systems and NSW-specific frameworks is preferred.