Senior Planning Officer

Ready to make a lasting impact? The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is seeking talented and proactive professionals to join our team and make a meaningful contribution to the planning and development of our State.

The Senior Planning Officer position assists with the delivery of the Department and State government priorities to create a contemporary and strategic planning system for Western Australia by reviewing how we work, embracing change and leading reform activities; and creating opportunities to enable sustainable growth and ensure regional communities are best placed to thrive. This ensures we have an effective system for planning communities, administering lands and conserving cultural heritage in Western Australia, by promoting communities where people want to live, work and recreate.

Senior Planning Officers in Land Use Planning are principally involved in assessing and writing reports on a range of land use planning proposals, including local planning strategies, schemes, amendments, structure plans, subdivisions and development. This involves engagement with applicants, landowners, local governments and State agencies. They may also be required to undertake research and provide advice on a range of planning matters, relevant to land use planning.

This is a pool recruitment process for permanent full-time, and fixed term full-time opportunities. However, consideration will be given to part-time applicants. This pool may be used to fill future similar permanent or fixed-term positions that may arise within the Department and across the WA public sector in the next 12 months from the initial date of appointment.

To be successful for this position, you need to demonstrate:

1. An accredited degree in Urban and Regional Studies, Planning and/or Development or an approved equivalent relevant to planning.
2. Demonstrated experience in strategic planning (including policy development) and/or statutory planning, with a sound knowledge of planning practices, legislation, policy and systems.
3. Demonstrated ability to undertake research and investigate a range of subject matters relevant to land use planning, with the ability to make balanced recommendations.
4. Well-developed conceptual, presentation and analytical skills.
5. Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain internal and external stakeholder relationships.
6. Demonstrate the behaviours within the leadership context as outlined below.

Core leadership behaviours outlined in Leadership Expectations are applicable to this role and should be demonstrated in the context of Personal Leadership. The Personal Leadership context is about the work of individuals not yet in traditional leadership positions who make a direct and immediate difference to the agency.

The expected behaviours may be assessed during the recruitment and selection process.

About us

Our Perth office is centrally located in the CBD, above the Perth Underground rail station and close to major transport links. We also have a number of offices located in the regions.

For more information on what we do, our recruitment process, and why working at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is an attractive proposition, please visit the Department page on the DPLH website.

We have a comprehensive Applicant Information Pack to provide information about us, the values of the department and practical guidance on the process for you.

Benefits of Working at DPLH

DPLH offers a broad range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Access to flexible working arrangements including working from home or alternate work locations for enhanced work life balance.
• 12% superannuation, full employer contribution and salary packaging options
• Comprehensive learning and professional development opportunities.
• 4 weeks annual leave with 17.5% loading paid as additional pay every December
• 3 days additional public sector holidays each year
• Cultural leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff
• Leave for study, bereavement, foster caring and parenting
• Free access to a confidential employee assistance program (EAP) for you and your family, which includes psychology and counselling services.

How to apply: All applications are submitted online. Select ‘Apply for Job’, located at either top or bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions; you will need to provide a:

• Applicants must submit copies of their relevant degree in order to be considered for this role.
• Comprehensive CV that clearly shows your skills, experience, and key achievements, including the details of two referees.
• Maximum two (2) page Cover Letter, with examples to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to position requirements 2 to 6, as listed above.

Please note, if you hold an overseas qualification you will need to provide supporting documentation of proof of assessment for equivalency. Please feel free to have your degree assessed by DTWD’s Overseas Qualification Unit (OQU) or alternatively contact our Recruitment team on (08) 6551 9419 or email recruitment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

Further Information:

If you would like to know more, please give Scott Vincent a call on (08) 6551 9572 or email Scott.Vincent@dplh.wa.gov.au (Monday-Thursday) to discuss the role in further detail. Please do not send your application to Scott Vincent or seek assistance with lodging your application.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants – For a confidential discussion about the recruitment process, please reach out to Jake Louthean or Barb Culbong from our Aboriginal Employment and Engagement team. You can contact Jake at 0428 429486 or Barb at 0408 895 002 or alternatively email us at aboriginalemployment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

The Department is an equal opportunity employer and as a measure to achieve equality under sections 51, 66R and 66ZP of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people (24 years of age and under) and people with disability who meet the requirements of the position, may be prioritised for appointment.

Accessibility:

If you have any communication or access needs that require adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process, please contact our Recruitment team on (08) 6551 9419 or email recruitment@dplh.wa.gov.au.

We can also be contacted via the National Relay Service on the below numbers:

TTY/voice calls – 133 677

Speak and Listen – 1300 555 727

SMS relay – 0423 677 767

Special Requirements for this position:

The Department will conduct a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check for applicants successful to this recruitment process.

To be eligible for a permanent appointment to the Western Australian public sector it is essential that you are an Australian citizen or have permanent residency status in Australia. To be eligible for a fixed term appointment you must have documentary evidence of your entitlement to live and work in Australia for the period of the contract.

Please ensure you have saved your documents in MS Word (.docx files only) or PDF format and have allowed plenty of time to submit your application, as late, emailed and proforma applications will not be accepted.

If you experience technical issues when submitting your application, contact ramshelpdesk@bigredsky.com, or please call (08) 6551 9419 for any other queries.

DPLH reserves the right to close this vacancy prior to the advertised closing date should circumstances around the vacancy change.

Closing Date - Monday, 19th October 2026 4:00pm AWST