Team Leader Heritage and Urban Design

Inner West Council; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 129,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym membership from $18.65/week

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Inner West Council is seeking a seasoned leader to head the Heritage & Urban Design team. Reporting to the City Architect, you will provide expert guidance on heritage conservation and urban design, ensuring high-quality development outcomes for the community.

You will lead a professional team, coordinate assessments, engage stakeholders, and drive a culture of excellence while balancing heritage with growth.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience and knowledge in heritage and urban design within development assessment.
• Knowledge of the Heritage Act 1977, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and The Burra Charter.
• Ability to coordinate, supervise and lead a team to meet community outcomes.
• Commitment to excellent customer service and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead a specialist team shaping heritage and urban design outcomes for the Inner West.
• Oversee delivery of heritage and urban design advice and support complex development assessments.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to achieve sustainable, place-based outcomes.
• Drive a culture of excellence and collaboration while balancing heritage conservation with growth.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Education

Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning, Urban Design, Heritage Conservation qualification

Driver's licence (Class C NSW)

Job description

17h ago , from Leichhardt Municipal Council

Inner West Council (IWC) is among Sydney’s larger local metropolitan local government councils looking after a community of 201,000 people living in some of the inner city’s most vibrant, creative, liveable, and diverse suburbs. As we continue to deliver quality, innovative, and inclusive programs and services, we invite you to join in on our journey towards becoming the best council for our community.

The community is at the heart of IWC, and our values ofIntegrity,Respect,Innovation,CompassionandCollaboration are at the centre of everything that we do.

We offer flexible career life balance with hours that allow you to relax and recharge.We offer a variety of flexible work arrangement options(e.g. flexible hours and working from home) where appropriate giving you even greater quality of work life balance.

Permanent employees benefit from our great valuegym membership from $18.65/week giving access to a vast network of gyms in Sydney.

About the role

Lead a specialist team at the forefront of shaping the future of Sydney's Inner West while protecting and enhancing its rich heritage character. Reporting to the City Architect, the Team Leader - Heritage & Urban Design provides expert leadership, guidance and strategic direction across a broad range of heritage conservation and urban design matters, ensuring high-quality development outcomes for the community.

In this influential leadership role, you will oversee the delivery of expert heritage and urban design advice, support complex development assessments, and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to achieve innovative, sustainable and place-based outcomes. You will lead a team of professionals, drive a culture of excellence and continuous improvement, and play a key role in maintaining the unique character, liveability and design quality of the Inner West.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced heritage, architecture, urban design or planning professional who is passionate about city-shaping, people leadership and creating high-quality urban environments while balancing heritage conservation with future growth.

Pleaseread thePosition Descriptionto familiarise yourself with all the requirements and conditions of the role.

Remuneration

$129,387.96 - $155,168.00 + 12% Superannuation + Access to Motor Vehicle Leaseback

Some of the required skills, experience and qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning, Urban Design, Heritage Conservation or equivalent related discipline;
• Extensive experience and knowledge in heritage and urban design related matters in the development assessment field;
• A working knowledge of Heritage Act 1977, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and related legislation, The Burra Charter and concepts as they relate to development assessment.
• Demonstrated ability to co-ordinate, supervise and lead a team and its functions to achieve outcomes that address current challenges for the IWC and its commitment to the community.
• Demonstrated ability and commitment to deliver and embed a culture of excellent customer service and improvement within a team.
• Strong interpersonal communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills including negotiation, mediation, facilitation skills
• Current Class C NSW Drivers licence

Enquiries

Rory Toomey, City Architect on 02 9392 5***

Closing Date

Sunday 15 November 2026, 11:30PM

Council is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applicants.

Eligibility for employment/Pre employment Checks

Successful applicants must be eligible to work in Australia and agree to provide information for pre-employment checks as required for the position. This may include police records checks, certified copies of relevant qualifications, Driver’s Licence and proof of work rights in Australia (please refer to the Position Description for the specific qualifications/requirements for the role). Copies of any sighted documents will be kept by IWC for its records as proof of verification.

For more information about work rights in Australia please visit theDepartment of Home Affairswebsite.

Inner West Council is proud to be an inclusive and equitable employer

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to reflecting the diversity of our community. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ people, veterans, young people, and mature age workers.

This commitment to diversity and inclusion is one of the many reasons we were named the 2023 AR Bluett Award Winner as the most progressive council in NSW. We’re also proud recipients of the 2023 Australian Business Awards Employer of Choice and the 2025 NSW Local Government Excellence Award for Organisational Diversity and Inclusion.

Reasonable Adjustment Assistance

IWC are intent on respecting the rights and improving opportunities for people with disability. Should you require adjustments or support for your application and throughout the recruitment process and beyond, please Click here for more information on reasonable adjustments