North Sydney Council

Legal Counsel – Planning

North Sydney Council administers the North Sydney local government area on Sydney’s picturesque lower North Shore. Our 400 employees look after 77,000 residents spread across 10 square kilometres of land on the foreshores of Sydney Harbour providing spectacular harbour views, beautiful parklands, and a bustling CBD. Our aim is to ensure North Sydney remains a welcoming, well-designed, safe and beautiful environment for residents, workers and visitors.

The role 

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Legal Counsel to provide expert legal services relating to planning and development matters within our Planning and Environment Division. In this pivotal role, you will manage legal issues related to planning proposals, development applications, environmental compliance, and enforcement, whilst playing a critical role in providing strategic guidance and advice to broader Council. 

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Services: Deliver high-quality and responsive legal services on a range of planning and development matters, with a focus on the Planning and Environment Division.
• Litigation Management: Effectively manage Land and Environment Court litigation and other development-related matters, representing Council in court proceedings, conciliation conferences, and collaborating with Barristers and other professionals as required.
• In-House Legal Advice: Provide in-house legal advice and guidance on a variety of planning issues, including planning proposals, development applications, environmental compliance, and enforcement actions.
• External Legal Representation: Instruct Council’s external legal representatives on specific matters when necessary.
• Legislative Awareness: Stay informed of changes to relevant environmental and planning legislation, statutory guidelines, and caselaw updates, and ensure that relevant Council staff are kept up-to-date with these changes.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Provide strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of in-house legal services, promoting collaboration among staff to deliver high-quality services that align with Council’s plans, policies, and operational goals.

Why work at NSC? 

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and positive workplace. Our teams are reflective of the communities in which we operate, and we value the unique contribution each member makes to the North Sydney Council. The work we do makes a real difference to the lives of our residents and contributes to their economic and social wellbeing.

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
• Access to corporate social events at picturesque harbour locations
• Close locale to transport options including train, bus, metro and bike ways 

Salary Negotiable 

35 hours per week with access to flexi time

To view the Position Description, Click Here 

How to apply

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

Due to the nature of this role, a National Police Clearance will be required as part of the recruitment process. 

Closing Date: 20 March 2025 - 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.