TOWN PLANNER JC Engineers · Sydney CBD

NSW planning and approvals is the core of this job — DAs, SEEs, planning proposals. Around that, engineering projects across Australia, some of them nothing to do with planning.

We're hiring on attitude. We'll teach the rest.

You'll work from our Sydney CBD office and report to the Technical Lead in our Technical division.

The work

DAs and Statements of Environmental Effects — residential, commercial and industrial, across Sydney and regional NSW

Assessing sites against LEPs, DCPs and SEPPs, and giving the client a straight answer on what's achievable

Lodging and managing applications through the NSW Planning Portal, RFIs included

Pre-DA meetings and negotiation with council planners s4.55 modifications, planning proposals and Gateway submissions; support on Panel and Land & Environment Court matters

Due diligence, site constraints and feasibility advice, before design starts

Approvals work on national projects alongside our civil, structural and infrastructure teams

Reviewing and mentoring junior staff

What matters most

We can teach you our systems, clients and templates. We can't teach these, so this is what the interview will be about:

You tell clients the truth, including when it isn't what they want to hear

You ask the awkward question, and hold your position when you're right

You can disagree with a council planner and still work with them next month

You treat the client's project as an investment, not paperwork

You care how the business goes, not just how your file goes





What you need

Degree in Town or Urban Planning, or equivalent

Working knowledge of the NSW framework — EP&A; Act 1979, LEPs, DCPs, SEPPs — and hands-on NSW DA experience

Australian working rights

PIA membership or working toward RPIA is a plus, not a requirement

Meet most of that and recognise yourself in the list above? Apply. We'd rather have the conversation.

What we offer

- Competitive Salary + Benefits + Incentives
- Flexible Working Arrangement
- Career development, PIA fees, CPD
- Real World Experience and Exposure

The process Shortlist Advisory is running this search for us. They specialise in placement across engineering and the built environment. What it means for you:

A person reads your application, and you get an answer on the outcome of your application either way A confidential call with Shortlist Advisory before anything reaches JC Engineers

Feedback at every stage, including when it's a no

Steps: Phone call with Shortlist Advisory → interview with the NSW Director & Technical Lead → offer. About 3 weeks.

To apply

Apply here or send an email to Shortlist Advisory [email protected] referencing this role to organise a confidential chat first. Either is fine.

Skip the cover letter. Send a few sentences on this instead:

A time you told a client, a council or your own boss something they didn't want to hear — and what happened next.

That's the first thing we'll read.

- JC Engineers is an equal opportunity employer.

📌 Town Planner (Sydney)
🏢 J.C. Engineers
📍 Sydney