Division: Community & Recreation
Business Unit: Community, Arts & Culture
Title: Social Planner, Permanent - Full-time Role, 35 hours per week
Salary Range: $92604.95 to $107622.32 per annum + super (subject to skills and experience)
Who we are:
Stretching from Palm Beach to Manly, the Northern Beaches boasts more than half of all the beaches in Sydney and a population of more than 270,000. Northern Beaches Council strives to deliver the highest quality services to our community. Join us and you’ll be part of an organisation committed to promoting sustainable growth, leading the community, protecting our environment, and creating a great future for the Northern Beaches.
The Community, Arts and Culture Business Unit manages the strategy, planning, implementation and evaluation of a broad range of community programs, collaborations, community and cultural facilities and services.
Our Social Planning team works to create inclusive, connected, and resilient communities across the Northern Beaches. We develop and deliver innovative strategies, policies and programs that respond to the diverse needs of our community, with a focus on equity, wellbeing, and social sustainability.
Northern Beaches Council is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Council acknowledges that protecting the safety of children and young people is a whole of community responsibility and is everyone’s business.
Working with us:
Northern Beaches Council provides a comprehensive range of benefits focused on our employees’ lifestyle, health and wellbeing, recognition and career development. In this role you’ll enjoy -
• Values based culture and a teams oriented working environment
• Mentorship opportunities available for aspiring leaders
• Genuine work-life balance and flexible working arrangements
Our opportunity:
The key focus areas of this role include:
1) Preparing strategic advice, research, information, and reports on social planning matters to inform decision-making.
2) Collaborating across the organisation to integrate social planning into broader policy, land use, and strategic planning processes.
3) Undertaking data and demographic analysis to inform policy and strategy development.
About you:
We are seeking a motivated and collaborative Social Planner to join our team. This role supports the planning, consultation, research, evaluation and reporting of innovative and strategic social policy, projects, and programs that respond to the diverse needs of our community.
As a Social Planner, you’ll play a key role in shaping inclusive, evidence-based strategies that strengthen community wellbeing and respond to the needs of priority population groups. You’ll bring strong skills in research, engagement, and data analysis to help deliver strategies that make a real difference.
You are someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is passionate about making communities more inclusive, connected, and sustainable. You are highly organised, skilled at managing competing priorities, and comfortable engaging with stakeholders from all walks of life.
We’re looking for someone who can bring creativity, rigour, and collaboration to our team. We value:
• Experience planning and delivering community and stakeholder engagement, ensuring inclusive and accessible participation.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to use technology to synthesise quantitative and qualitative data into practical insights.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, balancing competing priorities and perspectives.
Additional Information:
- Position Description
- Applications close on: 21 October 2025
- Expected Interview Date: 29 October 2025
- Questions? Please call the Hiring Manager: Briana Wherry, Team Leader Social Planning & Strategy on 8495 6821
Northern Beaches Council is a diverse and inclusive employer and encourages applications from differently abled candidates. Reasonable adjustments to the workplace may be made where these are required.
If you would like to contact us to discuss your specific circumstances, please contact the hiring manager for this role. If you do not feel comfortable to do so, please contact HR Services on (02) 8495 5070.
