Senior Town Planner

Blacktown City is a growing and thriving city, located halfway between Sydney City and the Blue Mountains. With 450,000 residents, we are the largest and most diverse city in NSW, spread across 54 suburbs. Blacktown City is vibrant, dynamic and multicultural, home to a large First Nations community and people from more than 180 different birthplaces and languages.

With $24.8 billion regional economy, Blacktown City is also home to 35,000 businesses. Working at Blacktown City Council provides widespread, exciting professional opportunities. Our Council is leading the transformation of Blacktown City and Western Sydney. We are implementing a vision for a modern city, full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.

Our Council is led by highly skilled and experienced professionals, working with talented and passionate teams across a diverse range of business units. We are delivering high quality, customer-focused services, experiences, and facilities, and leading a program of strategic planning, activity and investment.

Blacktown City Council strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We welcome applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans and people with disabilities.

About the opportunity

We are looking for an experienced, capable and self-driven Senior Town Planner to join and work in our Development Assessment section on a term contract, full-time basis for up to 12 months. 

The principal duties of the position are to process the more significant development applications, including those to be reported to the Sydney Planning Panel. The position involves undertaking development application assessments and other planning tasks in a timely manner whilst ensuring compliance with Council's statutory responsibilities, policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate would be an experienced town planner who has expert working knowledge of the relevant planning legislation and the Land and Environment Court appeals. 

Qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Tertiary qualification in Town Planning
• Solid experience as a Town Planner, especially involving the assessment of development applications
• Experience working with other disciplines and coordinating input from various professionals
• Experience in setting short term and long-term objectives with follow-up performance monitoring
• Current class C driver’s licence
• Experience in writing complex reports competently.

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of applicable legislation/regulations including, working knowledge of appropriate sections of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, State Environmental Planning Policies and the recent Planning Reforms
• Demonstrated ability to process complex Development Applications for consideration and determination by the State Planning Panel and Blacktown Local Planning Panel
• Effective computer skills
• Demonstrated superior communication skills and commitment to customer service
• Excellent liaison, negotiation skills and associated conflict resolution capabilities
• Ability to work within a team environment
• Availability to work flexible working hours
• Ability to work to key timeframes
• Experience in developing implementing and monitoring internal work procedures.

Remuneration and benefits

The salary and conditions of employment are in accordance with Blacktown City Council’s Enterprise Agreement.

• Entry level for this position starts at $2,165.24 per week
• 35-hour working week 
• Car allowance
• Opportunity to participate in Council's flextime arrangement
• Employee benefits such as leave entitlements (where applicable), 12% employer contribution payable to your nominated superannuation fund, Fitness Passport, gym membership discounts, and social clubs.

Our commitment to safety

Blacktown City Council is committed to safety. We have introduced alcohol and other drug testing at the pre-employment phase, and via a series of random and cause testing.

We are a child safe organisation that supports and promotes the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of children.

Position description 

Click here to view or download the position description.

  Apply now using our fast and easy-to-use online application process:

1. Have your resume and any other relevant documentation ready to attach. 
2. Have a personal email address ready to use and complete your application without 'logging out' of the system.
3. Review the questions and decide on your responses before commencing your application.
   
   Best of luck.

Closing date:           Friday 30 January 2026, 11.59 pm    

Contact officer:       Smriti Jasuja on 9839 6104 or Samuel Vance on 9839 6464

Internal ref:              BCC587, BCC1763 and BCC1765