Are you a planner who enjoys helping people understand what is possible and how to help them navigate the planning process?

North Sydney Council is seeking an enthusiastic and customer‑focused Planning Advice Officer to join our Development Assessment team, in a role fundamentally centred on providing planning advice and guidance.

This position is predominantly advisory, dedicated to delivering clear, accurate and practical planning advice to residents, applicants, consultants and other stakeholders.

North Sydney Council administers the North Sydney local government area on Sydney’s picturesque lower North Shore. Our 400 employees support 77,000 residents across 10 square kilometres of harbour foreshores, heritage neighbourhoods, parklands and a vibrant CBD.

The role 

This is not a traditional assessment‑heavy position. Instead, you will act as a frontline planning advisor, shaping how the community engages with the planning system and supporting well‑informed development outcomes.

Your core responsibility will be to communicate planning controls, opportunities and constraints clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing.

The role includes:

• Providing day‑to‑day planning advice to members of the public, applicants, architects and planners
• Explaining statutory planning controls, heritage requirements and environmental considerations in plain language
• Guiding applicants through development pathways, approval processes and Council expectations
• Leading and participating in pre‑development application meetings
• Responding to written enquiries and preparing clear advisory correspondence
• Undertaking site visits to inform advice and recommendations

While development application assessment forms part of the role, it is secondary to the advisory function. The emphasis is on guidance, interpretation and communication, rather than high‑volume technical assessment.

You will work closely with a professional team committed to achieving high‑quality planning and community outcomes, particularly in areas of heritage significance, foreshore locations and environmentally sensitive sites.

The person 

This role is ideal for a planner who identifies as a strong communicator first and foremost.

You will bring:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex planning matters clearly and confidently
• A customer‑focused and empathetic approach to providing planning advice
• Confidence engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, applicants and professionals
• A proactive, solution‑oriented mindset
• Strong professional judgement and attention to detail
• The ability to manage multiple enquiries and competing priorities in a busy inner‑city environment

You will enjoy being a trusted source of planning advice and take pride in helping people navigate the planning system with clarity and confidence.

In this role, you will play a key part in shaping the community’s experience of planning at North Sydney Council.

Why work at NSC? 

When you join North Sydney Council, you become part of a team dedicated to delivering high‑quality, community‑focused services. Our aim is to ensure North Sydney remains a welcoming, sustainable, well‑designed and safe place to live, work and visit.

Our people and community are at the heart of everything we do, supported by a forward‑thinking and adaptable workplace culture.

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
• 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
• Close locale to transport options including train, bus, metro and bike ways 

This is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to elevate your career while making a tangible impact on 77,000 residents who call North Sydney home!

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a resume and provide a brief summary of how your skills and experience meet the key requirements of the role. 

Salary from: $84,730 to $101,174 per annum + 12% superannuation + $1,000 pa transport allowance 

(Market allowance from $3,000 to $12,000 per annum may be negotiated with the successful candidate) 

35 hours per week with access to flexi time 

To view the Position Description, Click Here 

Closing Date: 29 April 2026 - 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.