Senior Development Compliance Officer

Mackay Regional Council; Mackay Regional; On-site; AUD 94,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Nine-day fortnight roster

Permanent role

Learning & development opportunities

Lifestyle in Mackay

Job summary

Mackay Regional Council is seeking a Senior Development Compliance Officer to lead the Development Compliance team, oversee day-to-day work, and provide technical guidance on complex development compliance matters in the Mackay region.

You will conduct site inspections, prepare investigations, and assist with legal actions while ensuring adherence to statutory notices and council processes. This is a permanent, full-time role offering growth and stability in a dynamic regional setting.

Qualifications

• Essential: Planning, Building, Legal Studies, Investigation and Compliance (degree preferred, or diploma, or trade qualification) or equivalent experience.
• Essential: QLD "C" Class Driver's Licence or interstate equivalent (transferred within 3 months).
• Desirable: Certificate IV or higher in Business Management or related field.
• Desirable: General Construction Induction (White) Card.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Development Compliance team, overseeing day-to-day flow of work and provide guidance.
• Oversee complex land use, building, plumbing and development compliance matters.
• Conduct site inspections, gather evidence and issue statutory notices.
• Assist with legal actions, prepare evidence and liaise with legal advisers.
• Manage escalations and maintain compliant processes across the team.
• Interact with builders, contractors, landowners and the public professionally.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Investigation skills

Legislation interpretation

Stakeholder liaison

QBCC knowledge

Education

Planning/Building/Legal/Investigation degree or equivalent

QLD C Class Driver's Licence

Certificate IV or higher in Business Management (Desirable)

White Card (Desirable)

Job description

HRS043 | Level 5 (Stream A) | Permanent Full Time | Development Planning & Engineering | Mackay

Lead from the front, tackle the complex matters and help shape a well-run, consistent and fair development compliance service for the Mackay region.

Senior Development Compliance Officer

HRS043 | Level 5 (Stream A) | Permanent Full Time | Development Planning & Engineering | Mackay

Lead from the front, tackle the complex matters and help shape a well-run, consistent and fair development compliance service for the Mackay region.

About the role

Reporting to the Coordinator Development Compliance, the Senior Development Compliance Officer is the experienced, hands-on lead within our Development Compliance team. You'll oversee the day-to-day flow of work, provide technical guidance and support to our Development Compliance Officers, and take on the more complex, sensitive and escalated matters yourself.

This is a varied role that blends leadership, investigation and regulatory decision-making. From monitoring the compliance inbox and allocating customer requests, to preparing matters for legal action and making sure the team consistently follows compliance processes, you'll play a key part in delivering a professional, timely and defensible service to our community.

What you'll be doing

Leading the team and managing workload

• Monitor the development compliance inbox, triage incoming customer requests and allocate work across the team.
• Confirm whether each matter falls within the Development Planning & Engineering jurisdiction, or redirect it to the appropriate internal or external stakeholder.
• Oversee the Development Compliance Officers' functions, roles, customer requests and workload, ensuring priorities are balanced and service levels are met.
• Provide technical support, coaching and guidance to Development Compliance Officers, including Development Compliance Officer (Plumbing).
• Review and sign off on notices prepared by Development Compliance Officers.
• Ensure the team consistently follows Council's compliance processes, procedures and legislative requirements.

Managing complex compliance matters

• Manage your own caseload, including the more complex and sensitive land use, building, plumbing and development compliance matters.
• Undertake site inspections, collect evidence and issue statutory notices.
• Prepare clear, well-evidenced investigation reports and recommendations.
• Assist with matters progressing to legal action, including preparing evidence, liaising with legal advisers and acting as a witness where required.
• Manage escalations from the team and brief the Coordinator Development Compliance on complex or high-risk matters.
• Work with builders, contractors, landowners and members of the public, including managing challenging or aggressive interactions calmly and professionally.

Supporting the Coordinator and the wider program

• Help prepare agendas and material for monthly team meetings.
• Negotiate and liaise on compliance matters with other Council departments, legal advisers and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to developing and improving operational policies, procedures and processes.
• Help create a safe, supportive and psychologically safe workplace for the team.

About you

You're an experienced compliance professional who is confident leading people and making sound regulatory decisions. You're a genuine team player who also works well on your own, can organise and prioritise a busy workload, and stays calm and fair in challenging situations. You'll bring:

• Extensive experience in a similar development, building or regulatory compliance role.
• Supervisory or managerial experience, including overseeing other people's work, allocating tasks and supporting team performance.
• Practical experience interpreting and applying legislation, including the Planning Act, Building Act, Plumbing and Drainage Act, relevant Australian Standards and planning schemes.
• Sound knowledge of investigation and enforcement procedures, including inspections, evidence collection, statutory notices and related legal processes.
• Building and construction industry knowledge, ideally including experience with QBCC-related matters and overseeing jobs, contractors and customers.
• Strong written skills, with the ability to prepare clear investigation reports and correspondence.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with the confidence to manage difficult or aggressive customers.
• Sound judgement to determine jurisdiction and refer matters to the right internal or external stakeholder.

Qualifications and requirements

• Essential: Qualifications in Planning, Building, Legal Studies, Investigation and Compliance or a related discipline (Degree preferred, or Diploma, or Trade qualification), or lesser formal qualifications combined with significant relevant experience.
• Essential: QLD "C" Class Driver's Licence or interstate equivalent (interstate licences must be transferred to QLD within three months of commencement).
• Desirable: Certificate IV or above in Business Management or a related field.
• Desirable: General Construction Induction (White) Card.

Why join Mackay Regional Council?

• Salary: Level 5 (Stream A) - $104,821.68, plus 18% Superannuation and applicable allowances.
• Flexible Working Arrangements and a nine-day fortnight roster.
• A permanent, secure role where your work directly shapes safe, lawful development across the region.
• A supportive, close-knit team and ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• The chance to live and work in the Mackay region, with its lifestyle, beaches and hinterland on your doorstep.

Important information for applicants

To be considered for this position, all candidates must have the appropriate working rights for Australia, which will be verified during the recruitment process.

Applicants who progress beyond the interview stage will be required to undergo a pre-employment process, including a Pre-Employment Medical Assessment (inclusive of drug and alcohol testing) and a criminal history check.

For recruitment enquiries, please contact the Talent and Onboarding team on 1300 622 *** or via ****@mackay.qld.gov.au.