Graduate Assessment Officer

Join our team as a Graduate Assessment Officer – Shape the Future of North Sydney!

Are you a dynamic and enthusiastic individual eager to kickstart your career in Town Planning? We have an exciting opportunity/opportunities for a graduate/s with a passion for development. As a key player in our dedicated team, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of the beautiful North Sydney area.

North Sydney Council administers the North Sydney local government area on Sydney’s picturesque lower North Shore. Our 400 employees look after 77,000 residents spread across 10 square kilometres of land on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour providing spectacular harbour views, beautiful parklands and a bustling CBD.

The role 

As a Graduate Planner reporting to the Team Leader Assessments, you will play a vital role in shaping the character of North Sydney through management and assessment of development applications. Your responsibilities will include providing valuable advice on planning issues and delivery of planning outcomes to meet community needs and to achieve impactful planning outcomes. This is not just a job, it’s an opportunity to be mentored by seasoned professionals and to be involved in vital decision making.

Working in part of a fast-paced working environment you will have opportunities to:

• Collaborate with planning staff to coordinate and execute planning initiatives.
• Undertake key duties of a Planner, including preliminary assessment of development applications, participation in the preparation of statutory planning documents, and provide customer focused responses to development information requests.
• Assist with prelodgement, reviews ad decision making for applications.
• Gain hands on experience in all aspects of development services.

How you'll make a difference

Joining North Sydney Council means being part of an organisation committed to sustainability, fostering great organisational culture and employing staff who embrace our core values. As a Graduate Planner, you will:

• Contribute to the future development of North Sydney.
• Gain hands on, enjoyable experience in Town Planning within a Local Government setting.
•  Apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.
• Work collaboratively with a professional and diverse team of subject matter experts and mentors.

What we're looking for 

• Studying to obtain or recently obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Planning/Town Planning.
• Class C driver's license.
• Awareness/understanding of relevant planning legislation.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to interpret and apply local planning regulations and policies effectively.
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive and adaptable approach to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Alignment with Council’s values.
• Proven competency with Microsoft Office suite.

If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling journey in Town Planning, apply now to be a part of our dynamic team and contribute to the growth and sustainability of North Sydney. Make a difference while gaining valuable experience and mentorship in a vibrant and collaborative work environment.

Our culture 

In 2023 we reviewed our organisational structure to increase leadership capacity and streamline decision-making, as well as increasing innovation, collaboration and communication.  Our broader cultural transformation for 2024 and beyond includes a focus on staff engagement, investment in learning and development and improved systems and processes all working together to empower the broader workforce to perform at their best.

Joining North Sydney Council now will enable you to go on this cultural transformation with us and to make a meaningful difference to both the organisation and the community of North Sydney.

Salary Range: $66,563 to $79,481 per annum + $1,000 pa transport allowances + 11% superannuation 

Why work at NSC? 

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and positive workplace. Our teams are reflective of the communities in which we operate, and we value the unique contribution each member makes to the North Sydney Council. The work we do makes a real difference to the lives of our residents and contributes to their economic and social wellbeing.

North Sydney Council as an employer offers excellent employee benefits such as:

• Easy accessibility to work with spectacular harbour view work locations
• Access to Fitness Passport 
• Excellent work-life balance with a 35-hour working week for indoor employees or fortnightly RDO’s for outdoor employees
• Flexible working hours with access to flexi-time for indoor employees
• Freedom to direct contributions to any compliant superannuation fund
• A holistic health and well-being program offering exercise classes, flu vaccinations, skin checks, and a touch football team
• Health and Well-being programs for all employees such as Yoga, Pilates, Kick Boxing
• Access to employee recognition and reward program
• Weekly fruit baskets
• Free access to counselling sessions through our Employee Assistance Program
• Free financial advice by a certified Financial Planner
• Monetary transport allowance
• Invitations to local government events, training and planning sessions
• Access to corporate social events at picturesque harbour locations
• Close locale to transport options including train, bus, metro and bike ways 

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a resume and respond to the selection questions below. 

To view the Position Description, Click Here 

Closing Date: 8 February 2024 - 11.30pm 

North Sydney Council is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity in order to  provide a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. North Sydney Council  also adheres  to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people. We strongly encourage candidates from wide-ranging backgrounds, identities and experiences to apply.