Principal Strategic Planner

Council Jobs; Morwell; Hybrid; AUD 101,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Learning & development

Work‑life balance

Job summary

Latrobe City Council is seeking a Principal Strategic Planner to lead planning for residential expansion and strategic growth across the municipality. You will guide precinct planning, contribute to development contribution plans and advance planning scheme amendments with landowners, developers and agencies.

You’ll influence major growth decisions, balance housing demand with infrastructure needs, and ensure policies underpin sustainable, well‑serviced communities while contributing to a

Qualifications

• Experience leading strategic planning projects and planning scheme amendments.
• Broad experience with urban growth, housing strategies and development controls.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and interagency collaboration.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver high‑quality outcomes.
• Knowledge of statutory planning frameworks and planning scheme processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning projects to facilitate residential growth and urban expansion.
• Deliver Planning Scheme Amendments and coordinate proponent-led amendments with landowners and agencies.
• Provide high‑level advice on land use, growth management and infrastructure planning.
• Engage communities and stakeholders to support sustainable growth.
• Mentor and support team members in delivering strategic planning objectives.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Public sector experience

Land use planning

Communication

Education

Degree or Diploma in Town Planning

Tools

GIS

Job description

Morwell – LatrobeCity Council Headquarters | Full Time – 38 Hours per week

Temporary – 2 Yearposition | Band 7A: $111,798.28 per year

Hybrid workingarrangements, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office as part of ourapproach to collaboration and team connection.

We’re seeking a Principal Strategic Planner to help lead andcoordinate Latrobe City’s growth and development agenda. The role will focus onplanning for residential expansion, preparing Precinct Structure Plans,developing Development Contribution Plans, processing proponent led PlanningScheme Amendments and advancing strategic planning projects that enablewell-serviced and connected communities.

As a senior member of the Strategic Planning team, you’llinfluence major growth decisions across the municipality and help deliver thelong-term vision for Latrobe City. You’ll work on complex projects that balancehousing demand, infrastructure provision, economic development andenvironmental outcomes, while ensuring growth is planned, sustainable andsupported by robust strategic planning frameworks.

Why Join Us at Council?

When you join Latrobe City Council, you’ll make a realimpact in your community while working in an inclusive, supportive and childsafe environment that values your growth and wellbeing. We offer:

• Opportunities to support your learning,development and career progression
• A collaborative team environment where you’llfeel supported and connected
• Meaningful work where you can make a differencein the community
• A positive and inclusive workplace culture
• Flexible working arrangements to support yourwork-life balance

Join a team that supports you to thrive and empowers you togrow your career, right here in the heart of Gippsland.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and deliver strategic planning projectsthat facilitate residential growth, housing supply, economic development andthe sustainable expansion of Latrobe City.
• Lead the delivery of Planning SchemeAmendments, including proponent-led amendment requests, working closely withlandowners, developers, government agencies and key stakeholders to facilitateresidential growth, urban expansion and the implementation of Council’sstrategic planning objectives
• Provide high-level strategic planning adviceon land use, growth management, settlement planning, infrastructure planningand development opportunities across the municipality.
• Engage and collaborate with the community,government agencies, developers, infrastructure providers and internalstakeholders to support the planning and delivery of sustainable growth.
• Mentor and support planning team members whilecontributing to innovation, continuous improvement and the delivery ofstrategic planning objectives across the service.

About You

You are a knowledgeable and forward-thinking planningprofessional who enjoys finding practical solutions to complex land use anddevelopment challenges. You bring strong strategic thinking, project managementand stakeholder engagement skills, and are passionate about creatingsustainable and thriving communities. You thrive in a collaborative environmentand can confidently communicate planning concepts to a wide range of audiences.

Key Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated experience managing strategicplanning projects and Planning Scheme Amendments within a public and/or privatesector environment.
• Proven experience across a broad range ofplanning application and development types with a specific focus on urbangrowth
• Demonstrated ability to effectively managecompeting priorities and deliver high-quality planning outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencingskills with the ability to achieve positive community outcomes.
• Degree or Diploma in Town Planning suitable forcorporate membership of the Planning Institute of Australia.
• Demonstrated experience in local governmentplanning, including policy development, development controls and strategicplanning projects.

We encourage applications from candidates with diversebackgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every requirement.

Successful applicants will be required to apply for andsatisfactorily obtain a National Police Check and Working with Children'sCheck.

We’re looking forward to receiving your application by 5.00pm on Friday 30 October 2026.

Belonging at Latrobe City Council

At Latrobe City Council, we are committed to creating asafe, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels they belong. Wehave zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to maintaining a childsafe organisation. Our recruitment practices reflect this. We value diversityand welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences andidentities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are committed to providing an inclusiverecruitment process and offer support through our Indigenous Employment Programfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. For further information,contact ***************@latrobe.vic.gov.au or 1300 367 ***. If you requirereasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contactour Careers team at *******@latrobe.vic.gov.au or 5128 6113