Development and Environment Compliance Coordinator
At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community.
Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.
We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.
The Opportunity
Are you a skilled and passionate leader ready to make a difference in development and environmental compliance?
As the Development and Environment Compliance Coordinator, you'll step into a leadership role within the Regulation and Enforcement team, guiding a group of 11 professionals in delivering high-quality compliance outcomes. You'll lead a team who delivers excellent customer service, proactive compliance programs, and takes enforcement action that upholds our community's standards and values.
This role is a unique blend of technical expertise and people leadership. You'll coach and mentor a diverse team-some new, some seasoned-ensuring they feel supported and empowered in a challenging field. You'll also play a key role in maintaining a positive and supportive work environment, especially important given the nature of the work, which often involves conflict resolution and enforcement.
You'll be an important member of the Regulation and Enforcement Divisional leadership team, work closely with other areas of Council and external stakeholders, interpreting complex legislation and navigating sensitive issues with professionalism and empathy. Your ability to build relationships, lead with integrity, and drive strategic outcomes will be key to your success.
This is a Permanent Full-Time position. Salary from: $116,251 up to $134,913 per annum plus superannuation and an operational Motor Vehicle under lease back arrangements. (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications)
How you'll make a difference
- Lead and coordinate investigations into unauthorised development, land use, pollution, and environmental breaches.
- Mentor and support a diverse team, ensuring a safe and supportive work environment.
- Triaging and prioritising customer service requests using a risk-based approach.
- Develop and implement proactive compliance programs and community education initiatives.
- Support Council in legal proceedings and collaborate with external stakeholders and agencies
- Contribute to strategic planning, policy development, and continuous improvement across the branch.
About you
You're a confident and collaborative leader with a strong foundation in development and environmental compliance. You bring a balance of technical expertise and emotional intelligence, knowing how to interpret complex legislation while also supporting a team that deals with challenging and sometimes contentious situations.
You thrive in fast-paced environments and are skilled at identifying and tasking priorities based on risk, making sound decisions under pressure, and guiding others through uncertainty. Whether you're mentoring new staff or collaborating with external agencies, you lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose.
You're someone who:
- Holds a recognised tertiary qualification in a related discipline with extensive relevant experience
- Has demonstrated leadership experience, ideally in a regulatory or compliance setting.
- Is well-versed in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, and related legislation.
- Communicates with confidence and tact, especially when navigating conflict or sensitive community issues.
- Is passionate about developing proactive compliance programs and community education initiatives.
- Values teamwork and contributes to a positive, calm, and resilient workplace culture.
- Is committed to Council's values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability, and Courage
- Has a valid driver's licence.
You may have worked in local government, state agencies, or other regulatory environments-and you understand the importance of building relationships across teams and with external stakeholders. Most importantly, you're ready to make a meaningful impact while supporting others to do the same.
Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!
- True work-life balance
We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes.
- Great working conditions
Enjoy a 35-hour work week or a 9-day fortnight with a regular rostered day off (RDO).
- Career growth and recognition
We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed.
- Generous leave provisions
Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years.
- Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks, vaccinations, and discounted gym memberships.
- A vibrant social culture
Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!
Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.
For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.
Applications close 11:59pm, Monday 18 August 2025.
We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.
Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.
Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.
