About the role
As the Municipal Building Surveyor, you will lead the customer-focused and innovative Building Services team dedicated to ensuring the safety of the Greater Geelong community. You’ll provide strong leadership and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. This role is responsible for fulfilling all statutory obligations under the Building Act 1993, including overseeing compliance enforcement and ensuring accurate and timely statutory reporting.

Work type: 5-year contract, Full Time Opportunity
Classification: SPL - $225,500 pa plus super

Key responsibilities include:

• Fulfil all statutory responsibilities of the Municipal Building Surveyor under the Building Act 1993 and Local Government Act 2020, whilst ensuring compliance with Council policies and delegations.
• Lead and modernise the Building Services Unit’s technical functions, promoting innovative, customer-focused service delivery.
• Oversee the City's statutory reporting obligations and represent Council in legal proceedings, including the Building Appeals Board and relevant courts, to protect community amenity and safety.
• Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive Essential Safety Measures audit program.
• Ensure compliance with the VBA Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors, both individually and across the Building Services team.
• Mentor and support technical staff by, providing leadership, expertise, and professional judgement to resolve complex building control and compliance matters.
• Participate in the emergency on-call roster as required.
• Co-lead the Building Services Unit to foster a high-performing, inclusive, and adaptive culture, and provide expert advice to executives, councillors, and the community.
• Manage resources, budgets, and performance planning in collaboration with the Coordinator Building Services Support, embedding continuous improvement, compliance, and best practice across all activities.

About you
To be successful in this role you will be a Registered Building Surveyor (Unlimited) with the Building Practitioners Board and possess a strong ability to interpret and apply building legislation. You will bring in-depth knowledge of the Building Act 1993, Building Regulations 2018, Local Government Act 1989, the Building Code of Australia, and other relevant regulations and Council Local Laws, enabling you to provide expert guidance and make sound, compliant decisions.

Essential Experience:

• Proven experience in a supervisory or leadership role, with the ability to engage, coach, mentor, and inspire team members.
• Demonstrated success in delivering innovative, customer-focused services.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective industry networks and manage complex relationships, including negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Experience in developing creative and practical solutions to contemporary challenges.
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage competing demands independently and as part of a team.
• Highly developed communication skills, including writing, presenting, consulting, and public speaking, to influence and achieve strategic outcomes.
• Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check and a pre-employment medical assessment as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now! 

Child Safety Responsibilities   
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion  
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications and Enquiries

Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Enquiries: Sonia Cheema | Coordinator, Talent Acquisition | Sonia.Cheema@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.

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