* Full Time / 9-day fortnight / 36 hours
* $101,616 to $108,140 plus Superannuation
About the team:
The City Planning Branch is responsible for long term planning and policy development to manage the growth and development of our city while protecting the qualities that make Gold Coast City a great place to live.
The Planning Scheme team within the City Planning Branch plays a key role in formulating and delivering planning policy and maintaining effective and efficient planning instruments to manage growth and respond to the evolving needs of the community and stakeholders.
About the role:
The Senior Strategic Planner contributes to the development of the new planning scheme. This is a significant City project which only occurs once every ten years. It will provide you with a rare opportunity to develop and enhance your plan-making skills within a supportive team environment.
You will work on a broad range of deliverables across various policy areas, ensuring your days are varied and interesting. These may include work on land use policy, growth management, urban design, managing constraints (flooding, bushfire, landslide) and the protection of environmental values.
The role will suit someone who has a strong foundation in statutory planning or strategic planning. You will leverage your experience to solve complex policy matters and draft suitable planning provisions that facilitate policy implementation through the new planning scheme. You will reconcile big picture thinking with actionable implementation strategies.
As a Senior Strategic Planner, you'll be at the centre of some of City of Gold Coast's most exciting land use, policy and placemaking initiatives. You will lead moderate‐to‐complex projects, influence key planning directions, and provide trusted expert advice that drives meaningful change for our growing community.
Your key responsibilities include:
* Policy development and drafting activities for the new planning scheme
* Collaboration and consultation with stakeholders across the organisation, state government agencies, industry and community groups
* Providing high quality specialist advice to internal and external stakeholders on policy matters
* Preparation, maintenance and implementation of the planning scheme
We're looking for people who have:
* A Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or equivalent
* 3+ years of experience as a town planner/urban planner
* Government or private sector experience in statutory or strategic planning
* Excellent interpersonal and communications skills with an emphasis on consultation, negotiation, report writing and presentations
* Strong project management skills and a high attention to detail to ensure program deliverables are completed on time and to a high standard
* Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills to develop innovative solutions and solve complex policy challenges
* A positive mindset and passion for working in a dynamic environment where each day will provide new challenges
Be part of shaping the Gold Coast's future
The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.
We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia. We have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:
* 9-day fortnight
* Flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle, including hybrid/work from home options, flexible working hours and locations
* Personal and professional development courses
* Access to 350+ fitness facilities through Fitness Passport
* 4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member
* 1 free nutritionist and financial advice session per year
We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer-focused organisation which delivers value-for-money services to the community.
How to apply:To submit your application, please click apply now and complete the application form. You will be required to upload your resume and a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining how your skills, experience and personal attributes will enable you to be successful in this role. Please note that you may also be asked to provide relevant qualifications, where applicable.
Contact Person Natalia Macedo
Contact Email *******@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
Closing Date Sunday 29th March 2026 at 11:59pm
Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.
We're committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture. We take pride in people who align with our high-performance principles. We believe that the diverse makeup of our workforce reflects the community we serve. We consider all qualified candidates for employment, irrespective of race, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics by law.