The Principal Investigator role at the Office of Local Government gives an experienced investigator the opportunity to support integrity, accountability and public trust across local government in NSW. It is a permanent full-time position within the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, listed for Sydney – West with the office location negotiable and flexible working supported.
For the Principal Investigator application, the written task is clear: submit a current CV and cover letter, together with evidence of the Certificate IV in government investigation or equivalent relevant professional experience and/or training, as requested. Your documents should make it easy to assess the depth of your investigations experience, your understanding of the local government environment, and your ability to make careful, defensible decisions on sensitive matters.
This guide shows you how to organise that evidence, address the role-specific requirements and check the conditions that apply before submitting. The advertised salary is $133,347 to $146,944 plus super, relative to experience, at Clerk Grade 9/10. Applications close Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at 11:55pm.
You can view the official Principal Investigator role before preparing your application.
Role snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Organisation | Office of Local Government, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure |
| Location | Sydney – West, with office location negotiable |
| Employment | Permanent, full-time, 5 days / 35 hours per week |
| Salary | $133,347 to $146,944 plus super, relative to experience, Clerk Grade 9/10 |
| Closing date | Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at 11:55pm |
| Official role | Read the official role listing |
Document requirements
The application requires:
- Current CV
- Cover letter
No targeted or pre-screening questions are included in the available role description. Check the online application carefully before submitting in case the portal presents additional questions.
For a free starting point, use the NSW Government cover letter template.
Candidate requirements
The candidate evidence below comes from the role-description section headed “What you will bring to the role”.
| Candidate evidence area | What to show in your application |
|---|---|
| Formal investigations, evidence gathering and compliance review | Give examples that show the complexity of the matters you handled, your investigative method, the evidence you assessed, and the outcome you achieved. |
| Local government knowledge | Explain your understanding of the local government sector, its operating environment and the legislation that shapes council and councillor responsibilities. |
| Judgement, analysis and investigative skill | Show how you navigated complex or sensitive matters, tested competing information, identified risks and reached sound conclusions. |
| Attention to detail and defensible advice | Demonstrate how you produced accurate investigations, reports or recommendations that could withstand scrutiny. |
| Written and verbal communication | Include examples of clear written advice, sensitive conversations and effective engagement with diverse stakeholders. |
| Public service and good governance | Connect your work to fair, transparent and accountable outcomes for councils and communities. |
| Caseload management and initiative | Show how you prioritised high-volume or competing work while maintaining quality and meeting tight timeframes. |
These are practical candidate evidence areas drawn from the role description. They are not a separate list of named NSW Government focus capabilities.
Essential role requirements
These conditions are typically confirmed in the online application form or through supporting-document uploads. Keep them separate from the evidence in your cover letter:
- Certificate IV in government investigation, or demonstrated equivalent relevant professional experience and/or training. Attach supporting evidence as requested.
- Australian or New Zealand citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid Australian working visa for the duration of the appointment.
- Ability to complete standard pre-employment checks, including a criminal record check.
Example cover letter structure
The role asks for a CV and cover letter, with no page limit stated in the available listing. A focused two-page cover letter is a practical recommendation unless the online application gives you a different instruction.
| Cover letter section | What to include |
|---|---|
| Opening paragraph | Name the Principal Investigator role, your relevant investigation background, and your interest in supporting integrity and accountability in local government. |
| Investigation and compliance experience | Outline a strong example involving formal investigation, evidence gathering or compliance review. Explain your role, method and outcome. |
| Local government knowledge | Show your knowledge of councils, councillors, local government operations and relevant governing legislation. Use a specific example where possible. |
| Judgement and analytical skill | Explain how you assessed complex or sensitive information, identified risks and reached a defensible recommendation. |
| Accuracy and written advice | Give evidence of reports, recommendations or advice that required careful analysis and could be relied on by decision-makers. |
| Stakeholder communication | Show how you communicated with people who had different interests or levels of knowledge, including in sensitive situations. |
| Public service and governance | Connect your approach to fairness, transparency, accountability and community outcomes. |
| Caseload management | Describe how you balanced a high-volume caseload, exercised initiative and met tight deadlines without reducing quality. |
| Essential requirement | Confirm the Certificate IV or equivalent experience and training, and note the supporting evidence attached. |
| Closing paragraph | Reconfirm your interest, availability and commitment to the role. |
What the panel will want to see in your examples
- A clear investigation process, including how you framed the issue, gathered evidence and tested the facts.
- Sound judgement when matters were sensitive, contested or incomplete.
- Advice and recommendations that were accurate, balanced and defensible.
- A practical understanding of local government responsibilities and governance risks.
- Respectful communication with councils, councillors, staff and other stakeholders.
- The ability to manage competing matters and deliver within defined timeframes.
Before you submit
Check that your CV and cover letter tell the same story about your investigation experience. Make sure the cover letter contains specific examples rather than a list of personal qualities, and confirm that your evidence for the Certificate IV or equivalent experience and training is attached as requested.
Review the official Principal Investigator listing and the online application form before submitting. Confirm the closing date, upload requirements and any questions shown in the portal. The advertised closing time is Wednesday, 29 July 2026 at 11:55pm.
If you would like a practical starting point, the NSW Government cover letter template can help you organise your evidence. Team 3Thirty can also help you shape the application itself through the $497 application-writing service.