Senior Development Officer, Planning

Who We Are The City of Salisbury is the most progressive council in South Australia, driving growth, jobs, housing and opportunity in the north. With a workforce of over 400 people, we offer the chance to collaborate with teams across the organisation to deliver meaningful, community-focused projects. The City Development Department shapes a sustainable and well-planned future for Salisbury by managing diverse planning and development projects, from large-scale commercial and industrial initiatives to residential developments. This is an excellent opportunity for a planning professional seeking to further develop their leadership capability while remaining actively involved in complex development assessment. Join us and make a positive impact on Salisbury's future. About The Role The City of Salisbury is seeking an experienced and collaborative planning professional to join our Development Services team. Reporting to the Team Leader Planning, you will assess and determine a diverse range of development applications, from complex residential proposals through to significant commercial and industrial developments that support Salisbury's continued growth. This senior position combines advanced development assessment, technical planning expertise and leadership responsibilities. You will provide specialist planning advice to internal and external stakeholders, support the coordination of development assessment activities across the team, mentor Development Officers and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that deliver quality planning outcomes for the community. Working closely with applicants, consultants, community members, Council Assessment Panel representatives and colleagues across Council, you will have the opportunity to influence development outcomes while supporting a high-performing and customer-focused planning team. Your Key Responsibilities Will Include Assessing and determining complex, significant and controversial development applications under delegated authority.Providing specialist planning advice to applicants, consultants, the community, Council Assessment Panel, Elected Members and internal stakeholders.Supporting the Team Leader Planning in coordinating development assessment activities and work allocation.Providing technical leadership, mentoring and support to Development Officers across a range of planning matters.Leading process improvement initiatives and contributing to the enhancement of systems, procedures and development outcomes.Preparing reports and recommendations for the Council Assessment Panel.Undertaking site inspections and ensuring compliance with planning legislation and development approvals.Contributing to strategic planning initiatives and broader Development Services projects. About You You are a pragmatic and solutions-focused planning professional who enjoys navigating complex development issues and facilitating positive planning outcomes. You bring sound judgement, a practical and customer-focused approach, and the confidence to manage challenging development matters. You understand how to balance legislative requirements, community expectations and development objectives to achieve well-considered outcomes. You will also have Tertiary qualifications in Urban and/or Regional Planning or a related discipline.Significant experience in development assessment, including complex and contentious applications.Strong knowledge of planning and development legislation, codes and standards.Advanced report writing, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.Experience providing professional advice to a diverse range of stakeholders.The ability to mentor and support less experienced team members.Strong customer service, communication and relationship management skills.A current Class C Driver's Licence.Membership of the Planning Institute of Australia or accreditation by the Accreditation Authority (desirable).Previous local government planning experience (desirable). What We Offer State-of-the-art Salisbury Community Hub is 25 minutes from the CBD with excellent rail and road connections.Modern and positive work environments.Free car parking.Flexible work options.Three additional leave days per year.Annual pay rises.Health and wellbeing programs, including skin checks, health assessments, flu vaccinations and an employee assistance program.Professional development opportunities. Read the [Position Description]. People who are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity as well as people of culturally diverse backgrounds and of diverse abilities are encouraged to apply. Contact us All enquiries can be made to employment@salisbury.sa.gov.au Applications close 9:00am, 19 October 2026.