Manager Regulatory Services

Lane Cove is Australia’s most liveable community, named so in the 2025 Australian Liveability Census: a Lower North Shore community of close to 43,000 people, around ten kilometres from the CBD, with distinctive village neighbourhoods, a strong sense of community and a natural environment its residents value highly. That liveability relies on safe food, healthy environments, compliant buildings and well-managed public spaces, and on a community that trusts Council to act fairly and decisively when it matters.

The Manager Regulatory Services leads that work. This is an opportunity for an accomplished regulatory leader who combines statutory depth with composure under pressure: someone who can manage complex, politically sensitive and crisis-driven safety and compliance matters with clarity, while building a proactive and well-prepared service.

The Role

Reporting to the Director Planning and Sustainability, the Manager Regulatory Services provides strategic and operational leadership of Council’s regulation and enforcement activities, leading the environmental health, building surveying and ranger services teams. You will develop and implement Council’s regulatory services strategy; oversee Council’s statutory compliance responsibilities; and lead complex investigations, enforcement action, statutory notices and orders, and prosecution matters, ensuring every decision is evidence-based, procedurally fair and legally defensible.

The portfolio spans food safety, public health, pollution, illegal development, fire safety, building certification, companion animals, parking, illegal dumping and public place management, supported by education programs that encourage voluntary compliance. You will build strong partnerships with NSW Police, the EPA, NSW Health, neighbouring councils and the community, and present clear business cases and reports to the Executive Leadership Team and Council.

About You

You hold tertiary qualifications in environmental health, planning, building surveying, regulatory services, law or a related discipline, or bring extensive senior experience in local government compliance. You have proven leadership of multi-disciplinary regulatory or enforcement teams in a complex public sector environment, comprehensive knowledge of the relevant NSW legislation, experience managing investigations and court proceedings, and the financial capability to manage significant operational budgets. Accreditation as an Environmental Health Officer or Building Surveyor, experience with regulatory technology platforms and postgraduate study are desirable. A current NSW Class C driver licence is required.

Just as important is how you lead. You are a calm and credible communicator who resolves conflict and advocates effectively with elected officials, the community and State agencies. You assess emerging risks quickly, communicate transparently, and build the protocols, scenario planning and team capability that keep Council ready for high-pressure situations.

Why This Role

Lane Cove offers a rare combination: a council of a scale where a manager’s influence is direct and visible, an engaged community that cares deeply about its places, and a leadership team that prizes collaboration, integrity, professionalism and a willingness to have a go. For a regulatory leader who wants to protect the safety, health and amenity of one of Australia’s most liveable communities, and build a service known for being fair, firm and well prepared, this is a defining appointment. An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Applications and Confidential Enquiries

To access a copy of the comprehensive candidate brochure, please visit our website, locate the advertisement under the job search function, and then directly request the brochure.

For a confidential discussion, please contact either Gareth Broadrick or Susanna Trochilas at Capstone on 02 9146 6660.

Recruitment Timeline Closing Date: Midnight, Friday 23rd October 2026.