Senior Program Officer Planning Services

Current Jobs; City of Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 138,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in Parramatta is seeking a Senior Program Officer Planning Services EO10 to deliver environmental planning policy, guidelines, and land use strategies. The role is full-time, 35 hours, with hybrid working and location options across NSW.

You will lead the development of frameworks, provide policy guidance, engage stakeholders, interpret legislation, and support biodiversity initiatives under NSW Plan for Nature.

Qualifications

• Experience with environmental planning and assessment tools.
• Ability to interpret legislation and policy.
• Strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Understanding of biodiversity planning and land use policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental planning policy development and guidelines.
• Develop frameworks for regional planning and biodiversity certification.
• Interpret legislative reforms to influence biodiversity outcomes.
• Maintain reporting frameworks for planning assessment activities.
• Ensure compliance with governance and statutory requirements.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Policy analysis

Project management

Environmental planning knowledge

Communication

Job description

Do you want your work to make a difference for NSW?

Working to protect the state’s environment and heritage.

• Senior Program Officer Planning Services (Environment Officer Class 10)
• Ongoing full-time (35 hours per week) opportunity
• Office location - Parramatta – other NSW locations may be considered subject to operational requirement, hybrid working supported.
• Salary relative to experience, and ranges from $138,454 to $152,686 + super

Our Biodiversity Offsets Branch is currently seeking to appoint a Senior Program Officer Planning Services to play a key role delivering environmental planning policy, operational guidelines, and strategic land use planning initiatives. You would join a small, supportive team of environmental planners that strategically influence positive biodiversity outcomes for NSW.

The position is responsible for:

• Building capacity and application of contemporary environmental planning and assessment tools to ensure a consistent strategic approach across the organisation.
• Providing expert advice on environmental planning assessment policy and guideline development, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Developing frameworks and methodologies that support organisational participation in strategic land use planning including regional planning and biodiversity certification.
• Interpreting NSW and Australian Government legislative and policy reforms to influence biodiversity outcomes and lead implementation of changes.
• Supporting the organisations commitments in the NSW Plan for Nature.
• Identifying emerging issues and opportunities that may impact environmental planning and assessment outcomes.
• Establishing and maintaining effective reporting frameworks for planning assessment activities.
• Ensuring planning assessment practices comply with relevant legislation, governance requirements, and organisational standards.
• Supporting performance monitoring, productivity improvements, and achievement of strategic objectives.

This role requires strong stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, project management, and problem‑solving capabilities, along with a deep understanding of statutory planning processes, development assessment, environmental legislation, and ecologically sustainable development principles.

About You

You are an experienced planning or environmental professional with strong knowledge of strategic and/or statutory planning, environmental policy, and relevant legislative frameworks. You can interpret complex legislation, develop practical policy solutions, and provide strategic advice to support sustainable planning outcomes.

You are a skilled stakeholder manager and communicator, able to build effective relationships, influence outcomes, and collaborate across diverse teams. .

You bring strong project management, critical thinking, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify emerging issues, implement change, and contribute to organisational objectives.

For more information read the full Role Description: Senior Program Officer Planning Services EO10 RD

Who we are

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy.

DCCEEW conserves and protects the state’s natural environment. It manages the NSW national park estate, including its rich and diverse biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage for future generations.

DCCEEW also ensures sustainable management of water resources across the state, to support the environment, communities and industry.

We acknowledge the ongoing custodial responsibilities of the Aboriginal peoples of NSW to care for Country and water and are committed to establishing meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal peoples in the management of the environment.

Participation in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS)

Please read the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Protocol to understand if it applies to your circumstances. All applicants for this role and new employees with an existing defined interest in the BOS will be required to disclose their personal (or a close family member’s) participation to ensure potential conflict of interests are declared and managed appropriately.

Looking for more information or assistance in applying?

• Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• How we encourage and support people with disability
• Information and adjustments for individual needs for the recruitment process and the workplace.

Please contact our Talent Acquisition Team by emailing [e-mail] or contacting Vithiya Yogarajah on 02 9995 5011 (please mention reference number 552838).

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander use our Aboriginal applicants guide to assist with applying for roles or our Aboriginal Career pathways team at [e-mail] for a yarn.

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Advertised: 25 Aug 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 13 Sep 2026 AUS Eastern Standard Time

Applications close: Sunday, 13 September 2026 at 11:55PM.