Senior Planning Officer (Statutory)

City of Subiaco; Perth; On-site; AUD 126,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave entitlements (up to 5 weeks)

Sustainable travel allowance

Free gym membership

Superannuation co-contributions

Paid parental leave

Employee assistance program

Learning and development opportunities

Novated lease and salary packaging

Job summary

City of Subiaco is seeking a Senior Planning Officer (Statutory) to lead statutory planning activities and deliver high‑quality planning outcomes for the City. This newly created role offers greater responsibility and expert input across development assessments, subdivision, and planning policy.

The position requires strong negotiation skills, extensive knowledge of WA planning legislation, and the ability to manage multiple applications with a focus on service and integrity.

Qualifications

• Considerable expertise in development control and negotiation with developers and community.
• Experience with WA Planning legislation, Local Planning Schemes, and planning processes.
• Strong verbal and written communication for reports and recommendations.
• Experience mentoring planning services staff and collaborating with internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage statutory planning matters including complex development applications.
• Determine planning matters under delegated authority and respond to SAT matters.
• Inspect properties for development, subdivision and compliance with planning framework.
• Prepare reports, correspondence, and recommendations for Council and for reviews.

Skills

Development control

Negotiation with developers

Stakeholder liaison

Verbal and written communication

Mentoring planning staff

Planning workflows

Education

Tertiary qualification in planning

Job description

The City of Subiaco is in a period of significant growth, with new residential developments, refreshed main streets and public spaces and an expanding mix of retail, dining, culture and recreation. We are working closely with the community, businesses and partners to guide this change while maintaining Subiaco’s heritage, character and identity. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a city with a strong sense of place and vision for the future.

The City of Subiaco Planning Services team was recently awarded the 2025 Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) (WA) Local Government Team of the Year (Band 2-4), along with several other awards for improving planning processes and performance and innovation in development assessment. Come and join our award-winning team and work on some of the most unique, challenging and rewarding projects in Western Australia.

About the Role

The Senior Planning Officer (Statutory) plays a key role in facilitating the orderly and proper development of the City of Subiaco, within the guidelines of accepted town planning practices.

This is a newly established position, created following the reclassification of an existing permanent Planning Officer (Statutory) role to provide a greater level of responsibility and expertise. The position presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take on a more advanced role and contribute to the delivery of high-quality statutory planning outcomes across the City.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Assess and manage a range of statutory planning matters, including complex development applications, subdivision and amalgamation proposals, strata title applications, signage applications, and public submissions relating to development proposals.
• Determine planning matters under delegated authority, including development approvals, street numbering, subdivision matters and condition clearances.
• Investigate unauthorised activities and complaints within the City relating to planning matters
• Undertake preliminary assessments of development proposals, identifying potential planning issues and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, planning schemes and City policies.
• Prepare correspondence and reports in relation to applications for review lodged with the State Administrative Tribunal, and attend to SAT matters where necessary
• Prepare reports, correspondence and recommendations relating to planning application, associated matters, and applications for review lodged with the State Administrative Tribunal.
• Manage workflows and undertake research, surveys and investigations to support the assessment of planning proposals.
• Assess development applications and subdivision or amalgamation proposals referred by State agencies (such as Development WA, and Western Australian Planning Commission) for comment.
• Investigate unauthorised development and respond to planning complaints.
• Undertake property inspections for development, subdivision, amalgamation strata title proposals to ensure compliance with the City's planning framework and other relevant requirements, and negotiate with property owners or applicants to resolve any non-compliance issues.
• Liaise and negotiate with applicants, landowners, neighbours, the community and other stakeholders regarding development proposals and planning matters, including providing professional planning advice and responding to enquiries.
• Check and clear building licence applications for planning compliance.
• Prepare reports for Council consideration.
• Implement and action Council resolutions
• Provide professional advice on planning matters to support Council decision making.
• Implement and maintain planning, systems, programs, and projects to ensure high town planning standards in accordance with statutory obligations, operational procedures and City policies.
• Support the Strategic Planning Team with planning advice and input where required.

Further information about this position can be found on the position description, found with this advertisement on the City's website.

Essential Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in planning or a related discipline.
• Considerable expertise in development control and an ability to negotiate and liaise with developers and the community, with experience dealing with significant and complex development applications
• Considerable experience with and knowledge of WA Planning legislation, Local Planning Schemes, development control, subdivision, policy application, and related procedures.
• Considerable experience in development, subdivision, policy application, and related procedures.
• Proven ability to liaise and negotiate effectively with developers, applicants, landowners, neighbours, government agencies, and the community, managing complex or contentious planning matters.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports, correspondence, and recommendations for diverse audiences.
• Experience mentoring and supporting planning services staff, collaborating with internal teams, and contributing to strategic planning initiatives.
• Skilled in administering multiple applications, inspections, and planning workflows with a focus on process improvement, customer service, and professional integrity.

Salary Package

In line with the City of Subiaco Inside Staff Industrial Agreement 2025, this position is classified as a Level 8. The salary range is $126,477.00 to $135,088.20 per annum, exclusive of superannuation.

Working for the City of Subiaco

The City of Subiaco’s culture is community-focused, collaborative, inclusive and safety-oriented. On joining the team, you’ll receive great benefits, including training and development opportunities to expand your talents. Whether you’re located in an office or out in the field, everyone who works at the City reflects the values of Supportive, United, Bold and Impactful.

Benefits to help you a achieve a positive work-life balance include, but are not limited to:

• Up to 5 weeks annual leave plus the option to accrue time in lieu.
• Sustainable travel allowance, or a parking permit.
• Free membership to Lords Recreation Centre.
• Superannuation co-contributions.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 24/7 employee assistance programme.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Novated lease and salary packaging options.

See what other benefits the City can offer you on the City's website.

Enquiries about this role can be made to Anthony Denholm– Manager Planning Services at ••••@subiaco.wa.gov.au
For further assistance and queries regarding the application process, please contact our HR team at ••••@subiaco.wa.gov.au

Closing Date on SEEK

Tuesday 03 November 2026. The City of Subiaco reserves the right to commence shortlisting and interviews earlier than the commencement date. The City also reserves the right to close the vacancy early. If you are interested in this position, please submit an application as early as possible.

Applicants must have the right to work in Australia.