Statutory Property Officer

Careers at Council; Wollongong City Council; Hybrid; AUD 97,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Flexible hours / 9-day fortnight

Career growth

Five weeks annual leave

Wellbeing programs

Social club

Job summary

Wollongong City Council is seeking a Statutory Property Officer to join a small, specialised property team. You will provide expert advice on complex land transactions, support projects enabling infrastructure and growth, and collaborate with internal specialists across the Property Management and Development Teams.

This permanent full-time role (35 hours/week) offers exposure to high-value property matters, and a pathway to develop technical, legal and commercial expertise in local government

Qualifications

• Practical knowledge of surveying, valuation and conveyancing practices.
• Experience in property, legal, planning, conveyancing, valuation, real estate or a related field.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Ability to provide sound advice and navigate complex property matters.
• Commercial awareness and focus on achieving positive outcomes.
• Strong organisation skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications and other business systems.
• A commitment to Work Health and Safety and a current driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Managing land and easement acquisitions, sales, leases and licences
• Identifying strategic land acquisitions and disposals to support Councils Strategic Property Portfolio
• Coordinating road closures, road dedications and land reclassifications
• Negotiating with landowners, solicitors, consultants, government agencies and other stakeholders
• Reviewing valuations, title searches, survey plans and related property documentation
• Preparing reports, recommendations and correspondence on property matters
• Maintaining Council's land register and supporting special property projects
• Providing practical advice to internal and external customers on land, road status and property matters
• Supporting major community infrastructure initiatives through land acquisition and property transactions
• Contributing to projects and working groups while managing competing priorities and deadlines independently
• During your first 12 months, you will have the opportunity to contribute to major land acquisition programs supporting significant infrastructure projects, including work associated with the significant infrastructure upgrades and expansions to support the West Dapto development area, and other strategic community developments

Skills

Surveying knowledge

Valuation experience

Conveyancing experience

Property law basics

Planning experience

Real estate experience

Communication skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

MS Office

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.

Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.

We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.

The opportunity

Join a small, highly specialised property team helping to shape Wollongong's future. As a Statutory Property Officer, you will work alongside experienced property professionals to provide expert advice, manage complex land transactions and support projects that enable community infrastructure and growth. You will be part of a close-knit team that collaborates with Council's Property Management and Property Development Teams, as well as a broad network of internal specialists.

In this role, you will engage with stakeholders across Council, as well as landowners, solicitors, surveyors, valuers, consultants, government agencies and members of the public. You will help Council acquire land for public infrastructure, community facilities and other essential projects, while also managing land sales, easements, road closures and related property matters. This role also helps manage Council's Strategic Property Portfolio, allowing you gain meaningful exposure to high value and high impact property transactions.

This is a unique opportunity to develop technical, legal and commercial expertise in a niche area of property. If you have relevant qualifications or transferable experience in property, valuation, conveyancing, law, planning or a related field, you will be supported to build your knowledge and capability in local government property transactions.

You will enjoy a varied workload, learn from experienced professionals and contribute to projects that make a lasting impact across the city.

This is a permanent full-time 35 hour per week position. Salary from : $97,300 up to $112,228 per annum plus superannuation. (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications)

What you will be doing

In this role, you will provide property advice and coordinate a broad range of statutory property matters on behalf of Council.

Your work will include:

• Managing land and easement acquisitions, sales, leases and licences
• Identifying strategic land acquisitions and disposals to support Councils Strategic Property Portfolio
• Coordinating road closures, road dedications and land reclassifications
• Negotiating with landowners, solicitors, consultants, government agencies and other stakeholders
• Reviewing valuations, title searches, survey plans and related property documentation
• Preparing reports, recommendations and correspondence on property matters
• Maintaining Council's land register and supporting special property projects
• Providing practical advice to internal and external customers on land, road status and property matters
• Supporting major community infrastructure initiatives through land acquisition and property transactions
• Contributing to projects and working groups while managing competing priorities and deadlines independently

During your first 12 months, you will have the opportunity to contribute to major land acquisition programs supporting significant infrastructure projects, including work associated with the significant infrastructure upgrades and expansions to support the West Dapto development area, and other strategic community developments

About you

You are a motivated property professional who enjoys solving complex problems, building relationships and finding practical solutions. You are curious about how land, infrastructure and communities connect, and you are keen to develop specialist expertise in statutory property.

You will bring:

• * Practical knowledge of surveying, valuation and conveyancing practices
  * Experience in property, legal, planning, conveyancing, valuation, real estate or a related field
  * Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder relationship skills
  * The ability to provide sound advice and navigate complex property matters
  * Commercial awareness and a focus on achieving positive outcomes
  * Strong organisation skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
  * Confidence working independently and as part of a collaborative team
  * Proficiency in Microsoft applications and other business systems
  * A commitment to Work Health and Safety and safe work practices
  * A current driver's licence

Most importantly, you will share Council's values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability and Courage, and bring a genuine commitment to serving the community.

Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!

• True work-life balance
  We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes.
• Great working conditions
  Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO).
• Career growth and recognition

We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.

• Generous leave provisions
  Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years.
• Health, safety, and wellbeing
  We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships.
• A vibrant social culture
  Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!

Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.

Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.

Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.