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Play a key leadership role in shaping service excellence for the community
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Work with data, insights, and innovation to influence planning outcomes
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Make a meaningful difference in how the community engages with development processes
About Us
City of Ryde, just 12 kilometres from Sydney CBD, is a place of unique lifestyle and opportunity. It is home to an engaged and culturally diverse community of around 130,000 people, and a strong and growing Smart City economy including more than 13,000 local businesses, Macquarie Park, world-class hospitals, and a leading university. All balanced with beautiful bushland, riverfront parks, open spaces, and sport facilities.
Our council delivers a broad range of services, projects, programs, and events. We are actively committed to innovation, sustainability, resilience and providing exceptional customer experiences, and this relies on attracting and keeping great people. We offer a range of benefits, including flexible work arrangements, health and wellbeing programs, a learning and development program including study support, and a reward and recognition program.
Currently located at North Ryde, we will be relocating to Macquarie Park in April 2026.
About the Role
In this pivotal role, you will help lead the delivery of a customer‑focused development advisory service that meets the evolving needs of our community. You will oversee operational performance, respond to emerging issues, and provide insights that drive continuous improvement across the team and department.
With a strong emphasis on data, analysis and critical thinking, you will interpret trends, performance metrics, and complex information to inform strategy, identify opportunities, and improve service outcomes. You’ll move beyond presenting numbers — demonstrating what the data means and how it should influence decision‑making.
You will also support the development and delivery of innovative planning strategies, policy reforms, and e‑Planning solutions, helping modernise and enhance how we serve customers, applicants, and stakeholders.
About You
You are an inspiring, confident and solutions‑focused leader with a proven ability to guide teams through complexity while maintaining high performance and exceptional service standards. You bring strong capability in managing people, coordinating workloads and delivering results within tight timeframes, even in high‑pressure or fast‑moving planning environments.
With extensive experience across Development Applications, Strategic Planning, Demography or Policy Reform, you understand the full planning lifecycle and the operational realities faced by both customers and staff. You apply a data‑driven, evidence‑based approach to your work — not just presenting numbers, but translating insights into meaningful actions, trends, and service improvements.
You build trust quickly, communicate with clarity, and are comfortable working with diverse stakeholders, including customers, internal teams, technical specialists, Planning Panels, and the Land and Environment Court. Your strong analytical skills, critical thinking, and ability to interpret complex legislation support your sound judgement and strategic mindset.
Above all, you thrive in a collaborative environment, contribute positively to team culture, and are motivated to deliver high‑quality planning and advisory services that support community needs and evolving expectations.
What you will be doing?
- Supporting the day‑to‑day leadership, workflow management, and operational direction of the Development Advisory Team.
- Monitoring service performance and identifying insights and trends to drive continuous improvement and service excellence.
- Applying a data‑driven, evidence‑based approach to analyse complex development and planning information.
- Supporting and contributing to planning strategies, policy development, and the implementation of e‑Planning solutions.
- Providing accurate and well‑researched advice on legislation, case law, Environmental Planning Instruments, Development Control Plans, and other statutory frameworks.
- Representing Council in formal settings, including the Land and Environment Court, Planning Panels, and Design Review Panels.
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure high‑quality advice and strong customer service standards.
- Tertiary qualifications in Town Planning or equivalent required.
Your commencing annual salary will range from $130,929.08 to $170,207.81 + Superannuation dependent on your experience and qualifications.
Culture & Benefits
- Free shuttle bus between the North Ryde Office and North Ryde Metro Station
- Commitment to providing opportunities for work/life balance
- Hybrid work from home and office arrangements available for eligible positions
- Flexibility regarding start and finish times to suit your lifestyle
- Work 37.5 hours and enjoy a rostered day off approx. every 3 weeks
- Long service leave after 5 years, then accrued monthly
- 18 weeks paid parental leave (for eligible employees)
- 3 extra grant days at Christmas to ensure you have time to enjoy the holiday
- Annual performance reviews and Award increases
- Opportunity to sign up as a fitness passport member
- Various health & well-being initiatives (i.e. flu vaccinations, etc.)
How to apply
Please ensure you give full answers to the online application questions, showcasing your abilities and experience. Your answers, in conjunction with your resume, will determine if you are invited to an interview.
Please note you do not need a “password” to use our on-line application system, however you have the option save and return to your application prior to the closing date. In addition to answering the online questions, this position requires you to attach your Resume to complete the application process. Please note, you are not required to submit a cover letter or a statement addressing selection criteria.
Closing Date: Wednesday 4 March, at 11:30pm (interviews will be conducted during the week beginning 9 March). -
If you would like to know more, please see the position description or contact David Rohloff on 0468627502 for a confidential discussion.
City of Ryde is committed to Equal Employment and Child Safety