Help shape tomorrow! Join the team planning our community’s future today. 

We are seeking two motivated and qualified Strategic Planners to join Council’s Strategic and Growth Planning team as we deliver transformative projects that will shape the future of our community and play a central role in this important work.

In this position, you will collaborate with council teams, external stakeholders and the community on a wide range of planning and development matters, making a real impact on how our city evolves.

These roles will assist in delivering our strategic land use planning programs, policies and documents with opportunities to be involved in:

• Preparation and assessment of planning proposals
• Coordinating the assessment of scoping proposals
• Undertaking reviews of Development Control Plans (DCPs)
• Preparation of detailed masterplans
• Heritage planning
• Contributing to infrastructure strategies that support growth with appropriate services and facilities

You will be joining a progressive, supportive and future-focused team with a wealth of varied experience across planning and development.
The team values autonomy, collaboration and professionalism and will provide strong mentoring and support as you grow in the role and will actively support your career development, offering opportunities to expand your skills and contribute to outcomes that reflect both council’s priorities and community aspirations.

Our ideal candidate will be a natural collaborator with exceptional communication skills, able to build and maintain positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including professional partners, community groups and the wider public.

We are looking for candidates with: 

• A degree in Town Planning or industry equivalent qualifications
• Experience in strategic planning, with added value in heritage or recreation planning
• Skills in preparing detailed strategic planning documents and/or masterplans
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

What we are offering:

Shellharbour City Council offers a high performing and sustainable organisation to deliver outcomes for the community through leadership, collaboration and innovation. We have exciting, rewarding career opportunities and flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work/life balance. 

• 1 x permanent full-time, 35 hours per week with access to flexi-time
• 1 x temporary full-time position, 35 hours per week with access to flexi time, covering a 12-month maternity leave position.
• Salary ranges from $101,440 up to $111,998 per annum (based on qualifications, skills and experience) 
• Plus 12% superannuation
• Great culture with a strong, values led and progressive team 
• Enjoy our employee benefits programs and access to Novated lease options and significant retail discounts and corporate fitness programs, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Provident Fund activities, weekly pay run and more. 
• Access to local government and employee benefits such as, long service leave after five years, three weeks sick leave per annum, health and wellbeing leave and more.

For further information about the position, click here for the position description.

Contact:  Luke Musgrave, Executive Manager Strategic Planning & Environment on 0459 857 270 or Lucy Langley, Strategic Planning Manager on 0473 871 371.

Closing date: Friday, 26 September 2025 at 11:30pm.

About us: 

Shellharbour City, located in the Illawarra region, is just 80 minutes south of Sydney and is home to over 82,000 people in a city that spans 154 square kilometres.  It's an area of great natural beauty - stretching west from the picturesque coastline to rolling pastures, set against the majestic backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment. 

Our dedication to be financially sustainable in an evolving environment, while striving for a great organisational culture and committing to employing staff who embrace our core values, has made Shellharbour City Council an employer of choice.

We have been recognised with numerous state and national awards in recent times, including eight wins for our First Nations Community the Yirran Muru (many pathways) playspace, as well as being presented as winners in the NSW Landscape Architecture Awards, Regional Achievement Awards, and Parks and Leisure Australia Regional Awards of Excellence.

Apply now...

Complete the application below by answering the questions, describing how your skills and experience are relevant to the position.  

Your Resume and qualifications can be attached on the NEXT page.

Once you start your online application, you may save and return to this later, however incomplete applications will not be considered. You may wish to prepare your responses in a word document and then COPY and PASTE into the fields below. Your Resume and qualifications can be attached on the NEXT page.

When you have submitted your application, an email confirmation will be sent to your nominated email address. Please ensure you have the correct email address and check your inbox (including your "junk" inbox). 

For further information about the selection process including tips on how to address the selection criteria, please view our Guide To Applying.

Shellharbour City Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values the unique strengths and talents of all people.  Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.

At Shellharbour City Council we promote respect at work as a fundamental right for all, and strive to create a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.  This commitment extends to the promotion of the rights of all children and young people to be safe from harm when interacting with our services and spaces. Our values, Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Sustainability underpin all we do.

Your decision to apply for a role at Shellharbour City Council is the first step in acknowledging your alignment to our values and aspirations to create a great workplace.