Planner
About Us
The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust is a Commonwealth Government agency (part of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) responsible for the conservation and renewal of former Defence lands and iconic sites around Sydney Harbour. These sites include Cockatoo Island, Sub Base Platypus, Headland Park (Mosman), and North Head Sanctuary.
The Harbour Trust’s mission is to bring to life our natural and cultural heritage and provide a lasting legacy for all Australians through the conservation, remediation and adaptive reuse of the places in our care.
The Harbour Trust is the planning authority for the land under its care as its legislation exempts it from certain NSW laws, including laws relating to town planning. This makes for a unique, diverse and professionally stimulating environment to work as a Planner. As the Harbour Trust is responsible for implementing the plans for the lands, this role offers the opportunity to be involved in projects from inception through to completion.
The Role
- The Planner will assist the Director, Planning in providing the Harbour Trust with a range of planning services to meet legislative compliance. The role will suit a person with a tertiary qualification in town planning or a related field, and with between 2 – 5 years of relevant work experience.
- This role will engage directly with project managers, heritage architects, consultants, proponents and members of the public and will be involved in assessing development proposals, creating plans, policies and procedures, implementing solutions to planning issues and corresponding with various stakeholders on planning matters.
- The Planner will be working in a fast-paced team setting and will undertake a variety of unique on-site and office-based work across Harbour Trust sites. This is a unique opportunity for a planning professional to be involved in a wide range of planning practice. This role requires you to be a personable and collaborative team player, capable of working in multidisciplinary teams with the ability to influence and promote a positive workplace culture.
Role Accountabilities
- Assess development proposals and applications for permits in accordance with relevant legislation.
- Prepare and amend Harbour Trust Plans, Policies and procedures.
- Identify, plan for, research and implement solutions to operational and environmental issues such as parking management, new signage etc.
- Prepare documents concerning planning matters such as correspondence, grant applications, research/investigations, written reports, plans, policies and letters.
- Analyse relevant legislation, plans, policies etc. to ensure that the Harbour Trust complies with all its statutory obligations.
- Liaise with key internal and external stakeholder and provide planning advice on various planning matters.
- Monitor Harbour Trust plans and planning approvals to ensure that statutory requirements and approval conditions are complied with.
- Prepare and conduct tendering processes, and manage private consultants, when needed for specific projects.
- Ensure that relevant administrative procedures (such as record-keeping, payment of invoices etc) are properly followed.
- Keep abreast of changes in legislation, plans, policies etc. that might affect the Harbour Trust and communicate these changes accordingly via different methods such as making presentations on planning matters etc.
- Attend open days/info sessions as part of community consultation process.
Selection Criteria
Essential (Qualifications, attributes, skills and knowledge)
- Tertiary qualifications in planning or related fields and relevant Planning experience
- Experience in development assessment and/or strategic planning and plan preparation, including current knowledge of relevant planning and land-use legislation
- Experience in preparation of reports and submissions and providing planning advice
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated abilities in negotiation, representation and liaison
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Ability to use Microsoft Office, SharePoint and Microsoft teams
Desirable
- Knowledge or experience of the cultural heritage of Sydney Harbour and its environs
- Current Driver Licence
Eligibility
- Satisfy a Police Check
- Hold Australian citizenship or residency or appropriate visa.
What we offer!
- Friendly team culture
- Parkland office setting on the harbour with free parking
- Opportunities for learning and development
- Hybrid working environment
- Flexible start and finish times to support other commitments
- Diverse range of work and the opportunity to be involved in projects from strategic planning through to their implementation.
- Healthy lifestyle reimbursement and much more!
This is a rare opportunity for someone who wants to make a difference to some of Australia’s most important heritage sites in a bespoke organisation.
Please refer to our Careers page for the full position description and information on how to apply for the role.
Please submit your application (cover letter addressing selection criteria and CV) and resume to hr@harbourtrust.gov.au by 8 September 2024.