Are you an experienced planner ready to contribute to NSW’s housing future? The Planning Officer role within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure offers a unique opportunity to work on complex, high-profile developments that shape communities and deliver urgently needed housing. Based in Parramatta with regional options, this full-time opportunity allows you to help meet ambitious housing targets and influence long-term urban outcomes across the state.
Whether you’re familiar with public sector hiring or new to NSW Government jobs, this guide covers everything you need to know—from salary details to crafting your government cover letter using STAR method examples.
You will need a strong cover letter to make sure you get shortlisted. You can read how to write an effective cover letter for government jobs here.
Table of Contents
NSW Planning Officer Salary and Role Overview
| Position Title | Planning Officer (Assessments) |
|---|---|
| Organisation/Entity | Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) |
| Job Location | Parramatta (with options in Jindabyne and Queanbeyan) |
| Work Type | Ongoing and Temporary, Full-Time |
| Base Pay | $112,479 to $126,745 + Super |
| Closing Date | 14 May 2025 at 11:55pm |
About the Planning Officer Role at DPHI
The Planning Officer sits within the Housing and Key Sites Assessment team at DPHI. This team is critical to meeting the government’s target of 377,000 well-located homes over the next five years. You’ll assess complex State Significant Development (SSD) applications such as built-to-rent housing, seniors housing, and strategic developments in key precincts. The department values quick, evidence-based, and high-quality assessments that reflect stakeholder concerns while delivering strong outcomes.
The Project Officer is responsible for supporting the successful delivery of government projects through coordination, communication, and structured project management. This role contributes to achieving project outcomes by preparing reports and briefs, managing timelines and documentation, and ensuring alignment with agency project methodologies. Project Officers play a vital role in facilitating stakeholder engagement, analysing emerging issues, and supporting informed decision-making through research and trend analysis.
Key Challenges You’ll Face as a Planning Officer
- Managing multiple stakeholders with competing interests while maintaining assessment quality.
- Meeting benchmark timelines without compromising rigour.
- Translating complex planning frameworks into actionable, community-friendly decisions.
Why the Planning Officer Role is a Great Opportunity
This recruitment presents an excellent opportunity to step into the NSW Public Sector—particularly for those looking to make a meaningful impact through planning and development. As a Planning Officer, you’ll contribute directly to major city-shaping projects that influence the future of housing across NSW. It’s a role where your work will help deliver critical development outcomes and support the government’s housing targets.
You’ll be joining a collaborative and inclusive team environment that values flexibility and diversity. The department offers hybrid working arrangements and is committed to fostering a supportive culture where everyone can thrive. With multiple full-time positions available—both ongoing and temporary—this recruitment round increases your chances of securing a role. Regional flexibility is also on offer, with some positions based in Jindabyne or Queanbeyan, making this an attractive opportunity no matter where you’re located.
Application Requirements for the Planning Officer Role with NSW DPHI
NSW Planning Job Application Process
To apply, you must submit:
- Your current resume
- A tailored cover letter expressing your interest and suitability
There are no target questions listed for this role. In your cover letter you must clearly address the role’s key responsibilities using the STAR method. For more help, use this free NSW government cover letter template.
What to Include in Your NSW Government Cover Letter
Even though there are no target questions, your cover letter must demonstrate your readiness using STAR-based examples.
Your cover letter will need to clearly address the essential role requirements, and
If this is your first time writing a government cover letter, get real feedback before you apply. You can get your cover letter reviewed for just $29—the easiest way to significantly improve your chances.
Planning Officer Essential Role Requirements
- Tertiary degree qualification or equivalent
- Class C driver’s licence and ability to travel (for regional positions)
For these two essential requirements, you can simply confirm that you have these in your cover letter.
What You Will Bring To The Role
The ‘what you will bring to the role’ section of this job add lists exactly what you’ll need to address in your cover letter.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively convey ideas and collaborate with team members and prepare well written reports and other documentation.
- The ability to translate complex technical information into easy-to-understand material.
- Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant environmental assessment and planning legislation and processes.
For these points above, you need to give a clear example using the STAR method.
NSW Planning Officer Application Checklist
| ✅ | Read the full job ad carefully |
| ✅ | Write a tailored cover letter using this free government cover letter template |
| ✅ | Address key duties using STAR examples |
| ✅ | Get your cover letter reviewed for just $29 |
| ✅ | Apply by 14 May 2025 at 11:55pm |
Example Candidate Profile for a Planning Officer Application
Meet Raj – a mid-level planner with five years of experience working in development assessment at a metropolitan council. Raj is skilled in interpreting planning legislation, preparing planning reports, and managing stakeholder engagement on infill housing proposals. Looking for more complex and large-scale work, Raj is now applying for this Planning Officer opportunity to work on State Significant Developments and expand their impact at a state level.
Planning Officer Example Cover Letter
Click here to download a free public sector cover letter template
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the Planning Officer role within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
With five years of experience in development assessment at a metropolitan council, I have developed expertise in interpreting planning legislation, managing stakeholder expectations, and preparing clear, actionable advice for decision-makers.
I confirm that I hold a valid NSW drivers license, and a Bachelor of Planning from the University of Western Sydney.
To demonstrate my communication skills, I highlight a recent role where I coordinated the assessment of a mixed-use development in a growing urban precinct. The proposal involved complex planning controls, including traffic impacts and heritage overlays. I prepared a comprehensive assessment report that translated these technical issues into accessible, plain-language recommendations. The clarity of my report was commended by senior planners and adopted by the planning panel without amendment. This example highlights my ability to communicate technical content effectively and write for diverse audiences.
In relation to stakeholder engagement, I led a working group to review our council’s standard DA conditions, following feedback about inconsistent noise management during construction. I facilitated workshops with compliance officers and planning staff to ensure shared understanding and practical implementation. This collaborative approach helped build a sense of shared ownership across teams and resulted in updated, enforceable conditions that significantly reduced complaints in the following quarter.
To demonstrate my understanding of planning legislation, I note that my work regularly draws on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and related policy instruments, and I am confident in applying legislative requirements to varied assessment contexts. For example, I recently prepared a planning proposal involving rezoning under a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), ensuring all procedural requirements were met before public exhibition. I worked closely with internal legal and strategic teams to align our approach with both statutory obligations and community expectations.
I am now seeking a role where I can make a broader impact and contribute to strategic state planning outcomes. The opportunity to work on State Significant Developments and be part of the Housing and Key Sites Assessment branch strongly aligns with my career goals. I am motivated to contribute to high-quality housing outcomes across NSW and to work in a collaborative, flexible environment.
I look forward to the opportunity to support your team in delivering evidence-based, timely planning outcomes that benefit the people of NSW.
Thank you for considering my application.
Yours sincerely,
Raj
How to Use the STAR Technique in Your Planning Officer Application
The STAR method helps structure clear, evidence-based responses:
- Situation: Briefly describe the context or problem
- Task: Explain your responsibility or objective
- Action: Outline the specific steps you took
- Result: Share the outcome or impact of your actions
Use STAR in your cover letter to show how you’ve delivered planning assessments, negotiated stakeholder outcomes, or streamlined approval processes. It aligns directly with the NSW Capability Framework and helps you demonstrate your value clearly and confidently.
How to Prepare for Your NSW Government Interview
Public sector interviews for roles like Planning Officer focus heavily on behavioural indicators outlined in the NSW Capability Framework. These interviews are structured around real-life examples that demonstrate how you’ve applied specific capabilities in past roles. Your goal is to show not just what you’ve done, but how you did it, why it mattered, and what impact you had.
The best way to prepare is to thoroughly review the focus capabilities listed in the role description. For each capability, brainstorm STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples from your past experience that align with what the interviewers are likely assessing. Focus on examples that show your ability to manage planning assessments, resolve stakeholder conflict, apply legislation, and meet deadlines.
Practice Interview Questions For NSW Planning Officer Role
- Tell us about a situation where you translated complex technical planning information into a report for a non-technical audience.
- Describe a challenging stakeholder engagement scenario you’ve handled. What approach did you take, and what was the outcome?
- Can you give an example where you had to respond quickly to changes in policy or planning guidelines?
- Describe a project where you had to monitor progress against milestones and adjust plans to stay on track.
Example STAR Talking Points For Government Interview Answers
“Tell us about a situation where you translated complex technical planning information into a report for a non-technical audience.”
Use the STAR method to keep your answer clear and focused on impact.
S – At council, I assessed a mixed-use development with complex flood modelling and a SEPP variation.
T – I needed to explain these technical issues clearly to councillors and the community.
A – I broke down the modelling into plain English, added simple diagrams, and created a one-page summary factsheet. I also tested the draft with a non-planner colleague.
R – The report was praised for its clarity, the application was approved with minimal objections, and the factsheet became a template for future use.
If you’d like more sample government interview questions and answers aligned to NSW Public Sector capabilities, download the NSW Public Sector Interview Workbooks. For this role, focus your preparation on the Intermediate and Adept levels, as these reflect the role’s core capability requirements.
Time To Apply For Your New Planning Officer Career
This Planning Officer role is your chance to contribute meaningfully to NSW’s housing goals. Apply via the official listing before 14 May 2025.
Need help standing out? Get your cover letter reviewed for just $29 by an experienced government hiring manager.
