Approvals Officer- INTERNAL ONLY

The Approvals Officer coordinates public utility notifications and heavy vehicle access permits for the City of Gold Coast. This role involves high-level engagement with utility providers, transport regulators, and internal stakeholders. Responsibilities include assessing work notifications, heavy vehicle permits, and infrastructure placement in parks, ensuring compliance with legislation and City procedures. The officer also provides advice, maintains records, and conducts field inspections.

Must Have

• Assess utility service provider work notifications.
• Liaise with stakeholders for utility services and heavy vehicle access.
• Process heavy vehicle movement permits.
• Evaluate infrastructure placement in parks and open spaces.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, and legislative requirements.
• Provide advice to customers and stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate records and conduct field inspections.
• Hold a Diploma in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Possess an unrestricted Class C Drivers licence.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Exhibit strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Capable of managing multiple tasks and prioritizing work effectively.

Perks & Benefits

• Superannuation

About the team:

Situated within the Planning, Regulation and Services Gold Coast department, the City Activation branch is responsible for developing the City’s standards and local laws and issuing of City enforced permits to residents and organisations, planning and delivering key Council events and programs, and activating community recreational spaces including playgrounds, green spaces and outdoor sports and recreation activities. The Licenses and Permits business unit is responsible for facilitation, assessment and issuance of permits/licences/approvals across multiple services including:

• Events
• Film productions
• Temporary road closures
• Advertising devices
• City Laws approvals
• Environmental Health permits
• Trade waste
• Parking
• Asset protection

About the role:

The Approval Officer is responsible for coordination of public utility notifications of work and heavy vehicle access permits throughout the City. Providing a high level of engagement with all public utility providers, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Department of Transport and Main Roads, transport industry and internal stakeholders.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Assess notifications of work from utility service providers in accordance with relevant legislation and City procedures.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to determine suitable outcomes for the installation, relocation or upgrade of utility services within the road reserve.
• Provide responses to utility providers within required timeframes.
• Assess permit applications for heavy vehicle movements within the City and issue road manager consent/refusal within legislative timeframes.
• Engage with relevant authorities and stakeholders to support appropriate heavy vehicle access to the City’s road network.
• Assess permit applications for the placement of infrastructure within City-controlled parks and reserves, ensuring proposals are appropriate for the location and compliant with environmental, safety and legislative requirements.
• Assess permit applications for temporary access to parks and open spaces associated with major projects, including establishing permit conditions, monitoring compliance and ensuring the protection and reinstatement of City assets.
• Provide advice and guidance to customers and stakeholders in accordance with applicable legislation, policies and procedures.
• Maintain records of public utility projects, parks/open space permits and heavy vehicle assessments.
• Conduct field inspections to support assessment and decision-making.
• Ensure all work complies with safety, environmental and legislative requirements.

We’re looking for people who have:

The ideal candidate is a highly self-motivated professional with an ability to converse with all levels to promote continuous improvement and efficient business outcomes for the City.

• Diploma in Engineering or demonstrated equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Drivers licence Class C unrestricted
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with particular emphasis in the areas of consultation, negotiation, influencing, conflict management and assertiveness in order to resolve organisational issues and met changing organisational needs relevant to the work area.
• Demonstrated effective analytical, problem-solving and investigative skills.
• Well-developed ability to work within a team environment with demonstrable experience in managing multiple tasks, that may have an impact beyond the work area, with the ability to plan, organise and prioritise work and resources to reach agreed and successful outcomes.
• Ability and willingness to acquire new skills and knowledge required to undertake the responsibilities of the role.

If you have a passion for helping the community and love being part of a hardworking and inclusive team, this may be the position for you!