Town Planner Development Assessment

Careers at Council; Murwillumbah; On-site; AUD 102,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary + increments

12% super

Permanent full-time

70-hour, 9 day fortnight

Training & development

Flexible work options

Generous employment conditions

Job summary

Tweed Shire Council is seeking a proactive Town Planner to lead the full development application process, shape key planning policies, and mentor junior staff. You will engage with the community, coordinate across Council divisions and represent the Council in planning panels and legal proceedings.

The role offers a base salary with competency-based increments, a permanent full-time contract, a 70-hour, 9 day fortnight, and flexible work options to support work–life balance.

Qualifications

• Leadership in managing the entire development application and assessment process.
• Input into LEPs, DCPs and planning policies for sustainable growth.
• Collaborate with diverse teams, stakeholders and government agencies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full development application process from assessment through to compliance.
• Represent Council in high-profile legal and planning forums.
• Mentor junior planners and contribute to policy input and budget planning.

Skills

Leadership

Planning legislation

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related field

Job description

Join our team as a proactive and solutions-focused Town Planner, leading the full development application process-from assessment to compliance-while shaping key planning policies and strategies. You'll collaborate across Council divisions, engage with the community and external stakeholders, and represent Council in legal proceedings and planning panels. This is a high-impact role where your expertise in legislation, negotiation, and strategic thinking will help drive smart, sustainable development. You'll also mentor junior planners and contribute to shaping the Division's future through policy input and budget planning.

About the role

Join our team as a proactive and solutions-focused Town Planner, leading the full development application process-from assessment to compliance-while shaping key planning policies and strategies. You'll collaborate across Council divisions, engage with the community and external stakeholders, and represent Council in legal proceedings and planning panels. This is a high-impact role where your expertise in legislation, negotiation, and strategic thinking will help drive smart, sustainable development. You'll also mentor junior planners and contribute to shaping the Division's future through policy input and budget planning.

What's on offer

• a base salary ranging from $102,118 per annum with competency-based increments up to $117,528 per annum, plus 12% super
• a permanent full-time position
• 70-hour, 9 day fortnight
• training and development opportunities
• flexible work options for a healthy work/life balance
• generous employment conditions

We are seeking

• Leadership in managing the entire development application and assessment process-shaping impactful planning outcomes.
• Have input into development and refinement of Local Environmental Plans (LEPs), Development Control Plans (DCPs), and innovative planning policies that guide sustainable growth.
• Collaborate closely with diverse teams, community stakeholders, and government agencies to deliver coordinated and effective development solutions.
• Serve as a trusted expert on planning legislation, skilfully navigating complex issues and representing Council in high-profile legal and planning forums.

About us

• Located on the picturesque far North Coast of NSW, bordering the Gold Coast.
• The Tweed is a vibrant, diverse location offering a lifestyle near the water, in a rainforest or on a farm.
• Tweed Shire Council is committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds in both traditional and non-traditional roles. We provide workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options.
• Join anemployer of choice. Professionals Australia (Local Government Engineers' Association) has named Council the 2021 Employer of Choice for our great employment practices within NSW local government.

Where it's located

This position is based in Murwillumbah and can be directed to work from any Council work site.

Position closes

Friday 21 August 2026 at 12 noon sharp (NSW time). Late applications will not be permitted.

Pre-Employment Screening

Tweed Shire Council conducts pre-employment assessments as part of its recruitment process.

Job offers are not made until screening has been completed. Tweed Shire Council uses third-party providers to undertake:

• Pre-employment medical - some roles require a functional (physical) assessment, and all positions are subject to drug and alcohol screening (a positive test result means the recruitment process ends and your application will not be considered).
• Background screening - verifies that the information you have provided throughout the recruitment process is true and correct.

Reference Checks are undertaken by the panel. Your 2 referees should ideally be your current and most recent supervisors. Your referees are not contacted unless you've been interviewed and are a preferred candidate.

SK97188A

UnitDevelopmentJob Grade7IndustryDevelopmentEmployment TypeFull-time