Principal Urban Planner

Apply Now; Coburg; Hybrid; EUR 55.000 - 74.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Monthly RDO

Training & career development

Salary sacrifice options

Work-life balance

Study assistance

Wellness programs

Zusammenfassung

Merri-bek City Council in Coburg seeks an experienced statutory planner to join the Urban Planning Unit on a fixed-term full-time basis. You will assess significant apartment and mixed-use proposals, respond to complex requests, and supervise staff while presenting recommendations at Council Meetings and VCAT.

The role demands sound planning knowledge, strong stakeholder engagement, and a commitment to timely, accurate statutory planning outcomes with flexible, hybrid work options.

Qualifikationen

• Extensive experience in the field of statutory planning.
• Ability to interpret complex planning policy and manage multiple stakeholders.
• Experience presenting to audiences including residents, Councillors and VCAT.

Aufgaben

• Assess significant apartment and mixed-use proposals and ministerial referrals.
• Respond to complex requests from internal and external stakeholders.
• Supervise and mentor staff; present recommendations at Council Meetings and VCAT.

Kenntnisse

Statutory planning

Stakeholder management

Policy interpretation

VCAT presentation

Political/regulatory context

Jobbeschreibung

• Full-time permanent role (based on 38 hours per week)
• Monthly RDO
• Ability to transfer or take LSL (Long Service Leave) within Local Government

About Merri-bek City Council

Merri-bek City Council is a progressive council of 195,125 residents: one community, proudly diverse. Our council area sits within the banks of the Merri Creek and the Moonee Ponds Creek, and includes Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Hadfield, Oak Park and Pascoe Vale. Our city is vibrant and energetic, known for its active community, cultural diversity, creative industries and the arts. Our long-term vision has ambitious goals for environmental sustainability, social justice, community wellbeing, and creating great places. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food and cafés right at the doorstep.

Merri-bek Council strives to be a contemporary, innovative and collaborative organisation with a deep commitment to engaging and supporting the Merri-bek community. Our organisational vision is to be one team, brave and diverse, making a difference.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We offer flexible and hybrid work options and genuinely care about providing our staff work/life balance. With the Civic Centre located in Coburg, 8 kilometres north of Melbourne’s CBD, there are excellent public transport options and great food, cafés, parks and a cinema right at the doorstep. Merri-bek is a great place to live, work and play.

About the role

The Urban Planning Unit is seeking an experienced, confident and autonomous statutory planner to join the team on a fixed-term full-time basis. Merri-bek’s Principal Urban Planners process the largest applications lodged at Council and play an integral role in both shaping the municipality and developing a highly capable and enthusiastic team. You will assess a range of proposals including significant apartment and mixed-use developments,(including Ministerial enquiries and referrals), while assisting the Planning Coordinator and Unit Manager in responding to complex requests from various internal and external stakeholders. Working in a political and regulatory environment, your sound planning knowledge and problem-solving skills will see you resolve complex and time-sensitive matters, enabling you to present accurate and fearless planning recommendations. Within this role you will be required to supervise and mentor staff, as well as present and defend recommendations at both internal and external decision-making forums such as Council Meetings and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The Urban Planning Unit is responsible for the provision of a helpful, engaged, accountable, respectful and timely statutory planning service for our community.

Skills and experience required to perform the role

• Extensive experience in the field of statutory planning
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and effectively interpret complex planning policy
• Track record in operating within a political and regulatory environment
• Ability to explain planning policy and present recommendations to audiences such as residents, Councillors, other Council and State Officers, and VCAT
• In-depth knowledge of the VictorianPlanning &Environment Act 1987

What the role can offer

• Monthly RDO
• Extensive opportunities for training & career development
• Salary sacrifice options
• A real sense of work-life balance & flexible work options
• Employer-supported study assistance schemes
• Wellness programs

Further support offered for our staff

• Up to 20 weeks primary & up to 5 weeks secondary parental leave
• Purchase leave
• Ceremonial leave
• Gender affirmation leave
• Family violence leave

For further information about this position please contact Esha Rahman, Planning Coordinator, on 9240 1266 or by emailing [e-mail]

Applications close: 11:30pm, Tuesday 6 October 2026.
*in the case that we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close this advertisement before the current closing date.

Please note that when applying for this role, you may be required to attach your valid Driver's Licence and Qualifications. Please have this ready when completing your application.

Our Commitment

In May 2021, Merri-bek Council adopted a revised Statement of Commitment to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the municipality. The statement recognises the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the traditional owners of the lands and waterways of our municipality.

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse.We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. You can read more about our Child Safety Commitment Statement on our website.

Privacy Acknowledgment

Merri-bek City Council's recruitment system, medical, police check, reference checking and onboarding processes are hosted by external service providers who also recognise the importance of privacy. By proceeding with your application, you acknowledge that your personal information will be hosted by these external service providers unless you request us not to do so.

Personal and or health information collected by Council is used for municipal purposes as specified in the Local Government Act 2020. The personal and or health information will be used by Council for these purposes and or related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if authorised or required by legislation. The applicant understands that the personal and or health information provided is for the above purpose and that they may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information.

Please note that the information provided as part of your application will not be accessed by anyone other than the People and Safety Branch and the hiring manager.

Acknowledgement

By submitting this application, I declare that to the best of my knowledge, the information supplied in this application (including accompanying documents) are true and correct. I understand that if any false or deliberately misleading information is given, or any relevant material withheld, my application will not be progressed, or if I am employed, my employment may be terminated at the discretion of Council. I further understand that any offer of employment is subject to all the pre-employment checks appropriate to the role being completed to the satisfaction of the Council.

Consent to Contact Referees

I understand that a representative of Merri-bek will contact me to gain my permission to contact any listed referee's before conducting a reference.

Preliminary Health Declaration

All applicants are required to complete a Preliminary Health Declaration as part of the application process. Merri-bek City Council advises that failure to disclose any pre-existing or past relevant physical restrictions, injury or condition, suffered by you which may affect your ability to fulfil inherent requirements of the position(s) applied for may result in you being disentitled to claim compensation. This is in accordance with the current Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act in respect of any further injury or illness, recurrence, exacerbation or aggravation of this injury, disease or condition.

Council requires all staff to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide evidence of this as part of this application. Please note: If you are short listed for an interview, you will be required to present your vaccination certificate for sighting.

Working With Children Checks

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and providing environments that are safe for children and young people. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and harm. If the role you are applying for requires a Working with Children Check, you will be required to upload a copy of this document as part of your application.

Qualifications/Licences

Evidence of relevant qualifications and/or licences as required for the position you are applying for will need to be uploaded as part of your application.

• Yes I agree to the privacy statement *

Personal Details * Required field

• Title *
• First name *
• Last name *
• E-mail *

Digits only or add + for international numbers

• Street *
• Street Cont.
• City, Town or Suburb *
• Postcode or Zipcode *
• Country *
• State, Region or Province *
• LinkedIn URL

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Questions

Work rights: *

• Australian Permanent Resident Visa
• Australian Temporary Resident Visa
• New Zealand Citizen
• Bridging Visa
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If you answered no to not being an Australian Citizen, Merri-bek City Council will require to conduct a VEVO check through the Department of Home Affairs. Do you consent to this? *

• Yes
• No
• NA

Have you lived outside of Australia for greater than 6-months over the last 10 years? (if yes, you will be required to complete an international police check as part of the final stages in our recruitment process).

• Yes
• No

To support culturally safe recruitment processes, do you identify as an Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander)? *

• Yes, Aboriginal
• Yes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
• No
• I do not wish to disclose

Do you require any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process? *

• Yes
• No

For equity and inclusion reporting we collect information on Gender. Please describe your gender. *

• Man
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Current Employee Status with Merri-bek City Council: *

Have you previously been employed at Merri-bek through an Agency or as a Contractor: *

• Current
• Former
• Not applicable

We conduct police checks as part of our recruitment process; do you give Merri-bek permission to conduct this check if your application progresses to the final stage? *

• Yes
• No

Do you have a valid driver's licence? *

• Yes
• No

I have read and understand the position description *

• Yes
• No

I have read and understand the relevant physical requirements of this position in the position description *

• Yes
• No

Do you have a current or pre-existing physical injury, or medical condition that may prevent you from undertaking the inherent requirements of the role? Disclosure will assist Council to provide reasonable adjustments as appropriate*

• Yes
• No
• If yes to the above please outline

You may be required to undertake a medical, which includes a drug and alcohol test prior to offer or commencement, do you give permission for this testing to be conducted? *

• Yes
• No

Merri-bek City Council advises that failure to disclose any or all relevant physical, medical or any other illness, injury or condition, or any past or pre-existing illness, injury or condition suffered by you which may affect your ability to fulfill inherent requirements or position(s) applied for may result in you being dis-entitled to claim compensation according to the Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2013 in respect of any further injury or illness, recurrence, exacerbation or aggravation of this injury, disease or condition. *

• Acknowledge

Merri-bek City Council is committed to being a Child Safe organisation and has zero tolerance for child abuse. We believe children and young people have the right to be and feel safe and that their safety and wellbeing is the responsibility of everyone. All employees are required to adhere to Council’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policies and Procedures and training will be provided on commencement. *