Governance Officer

Are you the kind of person who gets excited when things are tidy, compliant, and exactly where they should be?

Do you enjoy a good spreadsheet? Find joy in legislation? Get a small thrill from ensuring things are done properly?
If so, we think you’re going to love this.

MidCoast Council is looking for a Governance Officer to help keep our organisation running like a well-oiled machine. You’ll work at the heart of corporate governance, maintaining policies, supporting compliance, managing registers, processing GIPA requests, assisting Councillors, and occasionally feeling like the quiet hero keeping everything together (because you are).

Think of this as the behind-the-scenes role that makes the front-of-stage magic happen.

 Why you’ll enjoy this role

• You get to influence how Council operates, from policy development to compliance frameworks.

• You’ll become everyone’s favourite person when they’re navigating regulations (and you help them decode it).

• No two days are the same: reports, register updates, elections work, supporting Councillors, governance training and more.

• You’ll work in a supportive team that values teamwork, wellbeing, respect, sustainability and integrity.

• You can proudly say, “I make good governance happen.” (It feels powerful, trust us.)

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you will:

• Maintain and improve Council’s governance and compliance frameworks

• Manage policy registers, legislative compliance and delegations

• Process GIPA applications and public access information

• Research and develop governance reports for Council

• Support Councillor inductions, training and general governance queries

• Provide advice on Code of Conduct and assist in training delivery

• Contribute to elections work and liaise with external authorities

• Support the organisation with all things policies, integrity, and good practice

• Work collaboratively across Council to keep us accountable, transparent and on track

What we’re looking for

You’ll thrive here if you have:

• Qualifications or experience in governance, legal, policy, or related fields

• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation (or willingness to learn)

• Excellent communication and writing skills (accuracy is your thing)

• The ability to prioritise, juggle deadlines, and interpret legislation with confidence

• Professional integrity (you’ll be the person people trust with sensitive matters)

• A collaborative style and relationship-building skills

What we offer?

We are committed to the growth of our employees and have a range of benefits available to support wellbeing and career development. Click here to find out more. 

Looking to relocate? From housing and transport to community connections and personalised support - discover a range of local services designed to make your move to the MidCoast region easier.  Learn more here.

Salary: Commencing salary circa $71,000 p.a. plus superannuation.

Location: This position will be based at our Administration Centre in Yalawanyi Ganya at 2 Biripi Way, Taree. You may also be required to be based from other Council sites across the MidCoast Council region.

Tenure: Permanent, Full Time.

Closing date: Sunday 11 January 2026 at 11.30 pm.

Want to know more?

Please review the position description in PDF or Word formats

For questions relating to the position requirements please contact Kathy Duggan, Governance Coordinator who is the hiring manager for this role. Kathy can be reached on 0418 864 725 or kathy.duggan@midcoast.nsw.gov.au.

For enquiries regarding the application process contact Corinne Matlawski, Human Resources Business Partner who is the HR representative for this role. Corinne can be reached on (02) 7955 7275 or at corinne.matlawski@midcoast.nsw.gov.au.

How to apply: 

• When responding to the questions below, please include detailed and relevant examples of your skills and experience. Using the STAR method can help you prepare clear and concise responses using real-life examples. For more information regarding the STAR method, please click on this link.
• Please avoid using AI to generate responses to answer the questions in your application.
• You have the option to save your application prior to submitting, however please ensure you don't forget to submit your application before the closing date.
• Click the "NEXT" button at the bottom of the application form to attach your resume. We recommend using Pdf formatting where possible.
• Attaching a Cover Letter is not a requirement of the application process. However, there is an 'optional field' to attach a Cover Letter, if you wish to do so.
• We will be in touch via email.

Our organisation

At MidCoast Council our people are our most important resource and we believe that we can only reach our full potential when you reach yours. This is the place for those who seek to play a role in the community and have an enthusiasm to learn and grow. Here you can make a real difference.

Our community is our customer and is at the centre of everything we do.  We value, support and empower our people to deliver positive results for our community.

Right now, we are investing heavily in our organisation, and our people. Our Administration Centre is a state-of-the-art facility designed to inspire innovation, creativity and collaboration. The building has been named ‘Yalawanyi Ganya’ which means “sitting/meeting place” in the Gathang language of the indigenous people across the MidCoast Region.

About the MidCoast Region

From lakes and estuaries to white sandy beaches to world heritage mountain wilderness, the MidCoast region offers an attractive lifestyle for everyone. Our community is characterised by its welcoming attitude, growing economy and natural beauty. These are the pillars of the quality of life we value. 

Our commitment

At MidCoast Council we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities. Our aim is to provide all of our staff with an inclusive, safe and healthy working environment. We never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age or marital, veteran or disability status. If you have a disability and need to request any adjustments to assist with the application process, or to discuss workplace adjustments you may require, please contact the HR representative.

Council also recognises the skills and attributes of veterans and welcomes applications from ex-service personnel.

We respectfully ask that recruitment agencies do not contact us at this stage.