Shellharbour City Council

Executive Manager Strategic Planning & Environment

An opportunity to establish and implement a vision and strategic direction to shape the future Shellharbour City, supported by a team of professionals in planning and environment.  

• Highly competitive senior management salary package, total annualised package up to $228k.
• Senior Leadership role to lead the City’s strategic planning and environment functions to deliver the community's long-term vision for our City.
• Deliver high profile and best practice planning and design initiatives to ensure that the City can leverage growth and investment in infrastructure to create a better future for Shellharbour.
• Opportunity to work in an idyllic coastal location, Shellharbour is the gateway to the South Coast of New South Wales, yet only a short drive to Sydney.

With great visions and big plans, it takes talented people to build such a leading organisation. Be part of continuing Shellharbour's reputation as a desirable place to live and work! 

The Role:

The role will lead a large, multi-disciplinary team, to establish and implement a clear strategic framework for the City to ensure that growth and development occurs in a way that reflects the unique characteristics of Shellharbour and meets the current and future needs of our community and environment. 

This role will play a key role in developing and implementing Council’s long term land use planning framework and environmental management programs, as well as initiatives to achieve Council’s operational and community net zero emissions targets. 

The role is part of Council's Senior Leadership Team and will manage the preparation of reports and submissions to Council, oversee policy, compliance and budget items across the group. 

As part of Council's Senior Leadership Team, your portfolio areas include the Strategic Planning and Environment business units who are involved in shaping the sustainable growth and development of the area with a focus on balancing economic, social and environmental priorities.

This is a key role in leading the transformation of our city to create a better future for Shellharbour.

The Person:

You will be passionate leader who can work collaboratively with the CEO and other members of the Executive Leadership team to ensure successful integration of strategic and operational planning activities are achieved across the business. 

With high level communication skills to form strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including the Senior Leadership Team, Councillors, the community, industry and Government.

You will possess relevant tertiary qualifications and extensive industry experience to champion environmental outcomes that meet community expectations that are both pragmatic and sustainable. 

You will undertake your work in a way that balances the focus on both outcomes and process in a way to ensure objectives are met in a repeatable and accountable fashion.

You will drive a culture of collaboration, cooperation and mutual support between teams to continue to foster a progressive and work environment and the pursuit of service excellence to the community, environment and the long-term transformation of our City.

Success looks like the enhancement of Shellharbour’s built, social and economic fabric of our community by promoting modern strategies and development controls.

About us: 

You will have the opportunity to work for an award-winning local government authority that is progressive, dynamic, financially secure and ushering in an era of growth and change.

Shellharbour City, located in the Illawarra region, is just 80 minutes south of Sydney and is home to over 82,000 people in a city that spans 154 square kilometres.  It's an area of great natural beauty - stretching west from the picturesque coastline to rolling pastures, set against the majestic backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment. 

Our dedication to be financially sustainable in an evolving environment, while striving for a great organisational culture and committing to employing staff who embrace our Core Values, has made Shellharbour City Council an employer of choice.

We have been recognised with a wealth of state and national awards in 2019, 2020 & 2021 including our 5 star Civic Centre building, Museum space and City Library, Winner in 2021 for Small Regional Airport of the year, and recently being presented an AR Bluett Memorial Award for Most Progressive Metropolitan and Regional Council in NSW.

Click here to view the diverse and unique operational footprint we look after.  This diverse mix of community and business operations provides a unique and exciting work environment for all roles and people within Council. 

We offer:

Shellharbour City Council offers a high performing and sustainable organisation to deliver outcomes for the community through leadership, collaboration and innovation. We have exciting, rewarding career opportunities and flexible working arrangements and work/life balance in a relaxed coastal lifestyle.

• Permanent full time position 
• An attractive salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate, based on skills and experience 
• Remuneration package includes salary, motor vehicle component and superannuation
• Great organisational culture with a strong, values led and progressive team 
• Access to our Employee Value Proposition which includes;
  • Local Government benefits of LSL after five years, three weeks sick leave per annum, Health and Wellbeing leave, purchased additional annual leave
  • Employee benefits program and access to Novated lease options and significant retail discounts and corporate fitness programs, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and a weekly pay
  • Annual performance discussions and professional development opportunities
  • Reward and Recognition programs and events
  • Health and Wellbeing programs and initiatives and staff sponsored provident fund activities. 

Please Note: This position requires a National Police History Check and Working with Children Check clearance for paid workers in accordance with the 'Child Protection (WWC) Act 2012'.

Contact:  Michael Park, Executive Director Planning and Environment on 0491 968 749 to discuss the position.

For further details please see our Information Pack or Position Description. 

Closing date: Sunday, 5 January 2025 at 11:30pm

Apply now...

Complete the application below by answering the questions, describing how your skills and experience are relevant to the position.  

Your Resume and qualifications can be attached on the NEXT page.

Once you start your online application, you may save and return to this later, however incomplete applications will not be considered. You may wish to prepare your responses in a word document and then COPY and PASTE into the fields below. Your Resume and qualifications can be attached on the NEXT page.

When you have submitted your application, an email confirmation will be sent to your nominated email address. Please ensure you have the correct email address and check your inbox (including your "junk" inbox). 
For further information about the selection process including tips on how to address the selection criteria, please view our Guide To Applying.

Shellharbour City Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values the unique strengths and talents of all people. 

Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability are encouraged to apply. At Shellharbour we understand the skills and attributes veterans can bring to our organisation and are also encouraged to apply. 

At Shellharbour City Council we promote respect at work as a fundamental right for all and strives to create a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. This commitment extends to the promotion of the rights of all children and young people to be safe from harm when interacting with our services and spaces. 

Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Sustainability represent who we are and what we expect of one another.

Your decision to apply for a role at Shellharbour City Council is the first step in acknowledging your alignment to our values and aspirations to create a great workplace.