Why work with us?

At Council, we’re proud of our region. We collaborate with community to achieve truly sustainable outcomes, enhance our enviable lifestyle, and create award-winning places and spaces that are uniquely Sunshine Coast. So, if you love it here as much as we do, and you want to shape our region for the future – you’ll want to join our team !

With the vision to be Australia’s most sustainable region - Connected. Liveable. Thriving , our region is a model of sustainability, where caring for our environment, creating vibrant communities and growing our local economy is a way of life.

About the Role

The Development Services Branch is responsible for enabling sustainable development for the community on the Sunshine Coast by working with industry stakeholders to achieve timely, customer focused development assessment services, advice, advocacy in the areas of planning, engineering, environment, landscape, building plumbing and legislative compliance.

Our team is looking for a biodiversity professional who is experienced in the process and delivery of natural assets associated to parkland, public spaces, landscaping and horticultural works as part of the council’s development assessment process.

Primarily, you will:

• Provide detailed technical environmental advice and undertake the efficient assessment of development applications to all internal and external customers.
• Process, assess and negotiate on a range of simple to moderate development applications as part of a multi-disciplinary team, in a timely manner, while maintaining a strong customer service focus.
• Provide detailed ecological, landscape and horticultural advice, in relation to development applications, conditions of approval, statutory procedures, and process matters to management.
• Interpret and apply legislation, policy, guidelines and best practice procedures and compliance with development conditions.
• Prepare quality correspondence, reports, recommendations, and information documents on ecological, landscape design and horticultural aspects of development applications.

About you

You possess a recognised formal qualifications/accreditation in landscape architecture, ecology or a related discipline or equivalent experience in the environment profession or construction industry.

The successful applicant will have well-developed knowledge of and experience in interpreting and applying the relevant legislation, regulations, standards, polices, planning scheme and state government codes, in particular those associated with ecological, landscape design and horticultural in the assessment and compliance process for development applications.

You have demonstrated ability to work as part of a highly engaged multi-disciplinary team with detailed ecological, landscape design and horticultural knowledge and experience on a broad range of contemporary design and construction practices in relation to development.

Pre-Employment Medical Required

Essential to your success is physical agility and the level of fitness, strength and dexterity to carry out labouring and frequent heavy lifting & bending. As such, appointment to this position is subject to completion of a pre-employment medical assessment.

Our Culture & Employee Benefits

Council is committed to creating an inclusive, culturally diverse , healthy, skilled and dedicated workplace culture. As an employee you will enjoy a range of benefits and working styles to suit you:

• Wellbeing : Your wellbeing is important to us therefore we offer a number of different initiatives such as discounted health related memberships, fitness passport, employee assistance program and development opportunities.
• Flexibility: We know it is important to balance life and work, therefore we offer flexible working including a 9-day fortnight and a hybrid WFH model that help you be your best.
• Extras: Those extras make a difference therefore we offer salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation, smartphones and devices.

How to apply

Your written application should include:

• A 1-2 page cover letter demonstrating your ability to fulfil the mandatory and desirable requirements on the Position Profile . Keep the key responsibilities in mind when addressing this criteria; and
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.

Once you have these two documents ready, click ‘Apply Now’ and follow the prompts to complete your application.

Further Information

Helpful information to assist you in completing your application is available on the Sunshine Coast Council website.

To learn more about Council’s vision and projects, you can view the Corporate Plan 2025-2030 .

For specific enquiries contact Paul Gallagher during business hours on 0437 448 177

At Sunshine Coast Council, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background including First Nations, disability, religion and sexual orientation. To deliver the best service to our region we want a workforce that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Sunshine Coast Council strongly encourages all suitable applicants to apply for this role.