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Town Planning career market update with Emma Murphy
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Town Planning career market update with Emma Murphy
over 2 years ago By Emma Murphy
Emma Murphy, our resident Public Sector People Town Planning Recruitment Consultant, shares her views on the current Town Planning talent market.
Key market drivers.
In the new financial year we’ve seen an increase in demand for contract staff, due to new council budgets and covering for staff taking periods of leave. Council restructuring and staff movements are also affecting talent flows.
This is very positive considering at the start of the calendar year we noticed a decrease in planning permit activity. Some councils commented that it was the lowest number of applications they had seen since 2014.
There's continued demand in the growth area councils such as Wyndham, Melton, Hume, Whittlesea, Casey & Cardinia. The demand for ‘growth area’ experience is increasing as it's a unique form of town planning requiring a unique skillset. These areas are the focus of new residential development along with relevant facilities such as commercial districts, schools and other community amenities and services.
There's a demand for Contract Planners in Regional Victoria, due to covering staff shortages and the increased development in those areas.
What candidates need to know.
Contract Planners are typically being employed for 6 months per contract in regional areas and in metro councils this has been around 3-6 months. Regional councils are typically offer more flexibility and generous hourly rates to attract contract staff.
Contract staff are particularly interested in roles that can offer a varied workload, flexible working hours, an opportunity to work remotely and some security, either in the form of a longer term contract or financially.
Contract roles are a great foot in the door to those who are new to the industry, whether interstate, international or new to the profession. If there is a genuine opportunity to transition into a permanent role, even better to attract contract staff.
Contract roles allow planners to dip their toes in the water of the Public Sector, if they are not sure which direction they would like to take in their career. It allows for flexibility, if someone cannot commit to a permanent role due to upcoming travels or study/family commitments. It also allows planners to get exposure to different types of applications in various councils and broaden their experience.
More about Emma:
Emma hails from the Emerald Isle and recruited for a large global recruiter before she found her new home here in Melbourne. She spends her free time exploring all the best spots regional Victoria has to offer, with the
occasional hike and well-earned brunch thrown in!
emma@publicsectorpeople.com.au
03 8535 3100
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Emma Murphy's Job
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Statutory Planner
MelbournePublic Sector People are currently working with a regional Council located North Melbourne. A Band 5 Statutory planner is required for a period of at least three months while they manage an increase workload. It is likely the role will go for longer due to the volume of work. This is a supportive team and suitable for someone early in their planning career as you will get exposure to a variety of planning issues. You will be working across a range of applications, farming, commercial, residential infill and subdivision, heritage and environmental. This role is suited to candidates who have previous public or private sector experience withing planning. This is a regional council and they have their team back in the office, will be a hybrid model with some days in office, some days from home. Great opportunity for a planner early in their career, keen to develop public sector experience. Requirements include: Tertiary qualification in Town Planning, Urban Studies, Environmental Planning or related discipline. Some exposure to Victorian Planning Scheme. Available for a full time contract, five days a week. Benefits include: Three month contract, with potential for extension. $35 - $45 p/h dependent on experience. Regional councils offer a range of applications and candidates benefit from increasing their skills across the board. For a confidential discussion regarding this position and other opportunities within Metropolitan and Regional Victoria, please contact Emma Murphy at Public Sector People on (03) 8535 3111. Alternatively, please e-mail your current resume in Word format using the link below.
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Design Manager
MelbournePSP are working with a busy, growth area council on the recruitment of a highly motivated and emerging design manager for a newly created role. Drawing on your design, preconstruction project management and well developed client and stakeholder engagement skills, this is an outstanding opportunity to drive the design and development of council’s forward pipeline of growth area Community Centres, and the renewal of Centres in established areas. With a focus on the delivery of high quality, sustainable and user responsive design outcomes you will forge effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, manage design timelines, prepare functional briefs and site masterplans, and appoint the architect and technical consultants to design and document these important community facilities. Key Skills The successful candidate will have qualifications in Urban Design or Architecture Project management in a community or capital projects setting Development facilitation Exceptional stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills Benefits Work within a team that can offer ongoing support and development. Can offer a permanent arrangement or an 18 month contract – depending on your preference. Flexible working arrangements. Hybrid office and working from home model. Opportunity to transition into a public sector role. For a confidential discussion regarding this position and other planning opportunities within Metropolitan and Regional Victoria, please contact Emma Murphy at PSP on (03) 8535 3111. Alternatively, please e-mail your current resume in Word format using the link below.
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EHO
MelbournePublic Sector People are working with a local council in the South Eastern suburbs on the recruitment of two Environmental Health Officers. Environmental Health Officer 1 The Environmental Health Officer will be an intensive program of conducting Risk Based Food Safety assessments at predominately Class 2 and maybe 3 registered food businesses. This position will be for 9 weeks. Environmental Health Officer 2 The Environmental Health Officer will be managing a part-time area and conducting additional assessments to make up Full time capacity at least until the end of the 2021 year. They will be predominately be conducting Food Act activities including Assessments, New business applications ect, but will also need to be able conduct inspections and investigate matters under the PH&W Act. This position will be at least until the end of 2021. Requirements include: Suitable qualifications – Bachelor of Applied Science or Health Science (Environmental Health) – or recognised equivalency Recent public sector experience as a practicing Environmental Health Officer, or membership with Environmental Health Australia Current Victorian driver licence. Previous Local Government experience as an EHO. For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other Environmental Health roles within public sector, please contact Emma Murphy on (03) 8535 3111 | Emma@publicsectorpeople.com.au.
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Statutory Planner
MelbournePublic Sector People are currently working with a regional Council located North West of Melbourne. A Band 5 or Band 6 Statutory planner role is available on a contract basis until the end of 2021, although it is very likely the role will be extended. This is a small team of planners in a beautiful location in Victoria. You will be working across a range of applications, farming, commercial, residential infill and subdivision, heritage and environmental. Ideally, the successful candidate is competent managing a caseload of 25-30 applications. However, we will consider candidates who have had six months’ Local Government experience and have experience with secondary consents, extensions of time and are comfortable with phone and counter duty. Open to part-time and full-time arrangements and can offer fully remote work or a hybrid working from home and working from office model – flexible to suit your situation. Requirements include: Tertiary qualification in Town Planning, Urban Studies, Environmental Planning or related discipline. Six months experience working under the Victorian Planning Scheme. Local Government experience Benefits include: Immediate contract, with potential for extension. Attractive hourly rate. Regional councils offer a range of applications and candidates benefit from increasing their skills across the board. Remote working and flexible working arrangements. For a confidential discussion regarding this position and other opportunities within Metropolitan and Regional Victoria, please contact Emma Murphy at Public Sector People on (03) 8535 3111. Alternatively, please e-mail your current resume in Word format using the link below.