Senior Planner – Assessment
Location – Parramatta Hybrid
Employment type – Temporary till 30 June 2028
Salary: Clerk Grade 9/10, $ 129,464 - $142,665pr annum + superannuation
Your role
Responsible for the development assessment of social and affordable housing projects in NSW
The Senior Planner within the Planning and Assessment team in Homes NSW works to deliver more social and affordable housing, end the cycle of homelessness, and deliver quality public housing to our 262,000 tenants across NSW.
As a Senior Planner within the Planning and Assessment Team, you will provide planning advice and guide projects from inception to approval. This is a unique role which requires strong written and verbal communication skills and a solid background in residential development assessment. As a Senior Planner you will be required to prepare SEEs and REFs, manage multiple projects through the assessment process, either internally (Part5), with Councils (Part4), or DPHI (SSDA) and attend both internal and external meetings.
Homes NSW is a division of the Department of Communities and Justice. It brings together the housing and homelessness functions of the Department of Communities and Justice, the NSW Land and Housing Corporation, Aboriginal Housing Office and key worker housing functions from across government all under one roof. The NSW Government is making its largest-ever investment in social housing and homelessness with the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW package.
What You'll Do
Provide accurate and timely technical planning advice to internal and external stakeholders, providers, contractors, and consultants.
Prepare and/or review planning assessment reports, including REFs, SEEs and EISs, and associated packages to ensure they comply with planning legislative requirements, planning policies and Homes NSW requirements.
Manage Part 4 approvals and Part 5 assessments under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) to enable the efficient delivery of Homes NSW's strategic objectives and developments.
Complete planning and study reviews, provide advice and planning solutions, review third party submissions and project manage consultants, contractors, and providers (as required) in relation to planning activities.
Conduct and document planning and legislative issues and reporting, project status and perform risk management analyses on project performance for early issues management.
Build and maintain strong working relationships and provide planning outcomes to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of projects to meet briefs, timelines, and expectations in line with Government planning policies.
What We're Looking For
Tertiary qualifications in urban/regional planning or related discipline or equivalent planning experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills including stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
Demonstrated experience in residential development assessment including the preparation of assessment reports, SEEs and REFs. Experience in Part 5 assessment and planning proposals is desirable.
Extensive experience in providing planning advice in a fast paced environment whilst managing multiple tasks and competing priorities.
Eligibility for membership of a relevant industry association.
The role may involve travel both locally and regionally, including overnight travel, as required by the business and/or directed.
Download the role description.
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To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the 'Apply now' button.
We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.
What We Offer
We offer a variety of benefits, including:
A challenging and rewarding career
Flexible, autonomous work environment
Competitive pay and conditions
Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.
Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.
We do work that really matters
Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.
Apply now and join Australia's top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment
Are you ready to join us?
Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).
Applications close Sunday 8 March at 11:59pm AEST.
Got a question?
For more information about the role or what it's like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Carolyn Howell on or at
If you've got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Katie Hardy on or
Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.
Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit
We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.
To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.
Other Information
A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.
For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.
Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.
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