This is a leadership opportunity with purpose, scale and real community impact.
Hornsby Shire Council is seeking a people‑focused senior leader to join its Executive Leadership Team as Director, Planning & Compliance. Reporting to the General Manager, this role offers real influence over land use planning, development and compliance outcomes across Hornsby Shire, supporting sustainable growth and liveability for the community.
At a time of significant growth and change, you will join an organisation with established, capable teams and strong internal expertise. This is an executive‑level opportunity to lead work of genuine scale and impact within a values‑driven, supportive and collaborative executive culture.
You will lead Council’s Planning & Compliance Division, with responsibility for Strategic Land Use Planning, Development Assessment and Regulatory Compliance. In this role, you will provide organisation‑wide leadership, set clear strategic direction and lead a highly capable leadership team through a period of sustained growth and change. This is a leadership‑first role that requires sound judgement, strong influence and a long‑term view of planning, infrastructure and liveability.
You will be responsible for:
- Provide leadership for Council’s planning and compliance functions, shaping sustainable growth and development outcomes
- Lead Council’s responses to State Government planning reform, housing priorities and major residential growth
- Align land‑use planning and infrastructure with population growth long‑term liveability
- Build trusted relationships with Government, Councillors and the community while developing strong leadership capability and a collaborative culture.
You will bring:
- Senior experience leading complex, multidisciplinary planning or compliance functions
- Strategic land‑use expertise with confidence in high‑profile stakeholder environments
- A collaborative leadership style that builds trust and capability
Apply via the Executive Vacancies | LGNSW portal where the Information Pack, Position Description, and Selection Criteria can be downloaded.
To learn more about Council, visit Hornsby Shire Council.
For a confidential discussion please contact Claudia Nossa Cortes, LGMS Senior Consultant on 0405 540 554.
Applications close 5pm, Monday 23 February 2026
