Trainee Compliance Officer

Location: Gunnedah NSW 

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Duration of Traineeship - 2 Years)

Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week 

Salary Range: T1-T10 ($482.00 - $1230.40 per week + 12% Superannuation)

Application Deadline: 5:00pm, Monday 8 June 2026

A council truly passionate about community!

Gunnedah Shire Council is an integral part of the Gunnedah community, a vibrant, warm and friendly town surrounded by the expansive Liverpool Plains and framed by the Nandewar Ranges. At Gunnedah Shire Council we are committed to providing a friendly and helpful service to all stakeholders. We are dedicated to Gunnedah being a liveable and accessible community for all ages and demographics. Additionally, as a council we are proud to promote economic and business development in the region.

We are not only invested in the people of Gunnedah, we are also heavily invested in its employees and their future careers.

• Looking for a career change? Enjoy fully funded training and mentorship from experienced compliance staff
• Fantastic opportunity to start your career in a vibrant local community!
• Additional benefits include a paid rostered day off every three weeks, ongoing professional development opportunities and negotiable flexibility!

Our Next Trainee Compliance Officer

As a Trainee Compliance Officer, you will aid in ensuring that our council's policies, procedures, and activities comply with relevant laws and regulations. You will work closely with various departments to help identify potential compliance issues and promote a culture of compliance throughout the organisation.

Key Responsibilities for this role include:

• Assist in the administration of activities such as inspections, surveillance, and investigation of activities on public and private land to identify possible legislative breaches and hazards.
• Aid in the undertaking of regulatory compliance and enforcement functions, including parking, street activities, animal matters, impounding, rubbish dumping, and where appropriate issue penalty infringements, notices, and orders for breaches.
• Promote a positive image of the Council to the public through professional standards of personal presentation and through the provision of services/advice in a courteous and efficient manner.
• Assist in providing educational programmes to the community.
• Aid in the operation of the Animal Management Facility (Pound)
• Assist with regulatory responsibilities issued from various acts, regulations, codes, and standards.
• Creation of correspondence such as notices, emails, and other administrative documents.
• Perform other duties as required, provided such duties are within the limits of your skills, confidence and training and provided such duties do not promote a narrowing of your skill base.

To read the full position description, please click here.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

To qualify, you will need to live within the Gunnedah Shire LGA or be within a reasonable driving distance. This role also involves handling and working around animals, both alive and after life. 

Key requirements for this position include:

• Negotiation and conflict management skills.
• Numeracy, written and verbal communication skills including ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels on animal control.
• Willingness and ability to undertake professional development. 
• Current Driver’s Licence.
• Willingness to successfully complete a Criminal History Check, Pre-employment Health Screening, Working with Children Check and Council paid booster immunisation regime.
• Sound interpersonal skills, ability to contribute to a cohesive team environment, maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and ability to learn new skills and adapt to changing situations.
• Effective organisational skills, with the ability to work to deadlines along with strong attention to detail and perform work with a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to recognise when support/assistance should be sought regarding the exercising of judgement.
• Ability to handle animals with a willingness to develop skills with all types of animals including but not limited to dogs, cats, horses and cattle.
• Willingness to exercise responsibility for animal control, environmental protection and development compliance and other compliance functions and activities within set guidelines.
• Willingness to work flexible hours on a regular basis over a 7-day period and limited overtime as required including call backs.
• Commitment to completing relevant qualification through a registered training organisation while also working full time.
• Hold or be willing to obtain a WHS General Construction Induction Card.

No candidate will meet every single desired qualification or skill.  If your experience looks a little different from what we have identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we would love to learn more about you!

Why Join Gunnedah Shire Council?

Some of the benefits working for Gunnedah Shire Council include:

 - Work only 35 hours per week!

 - Accrue a Rostered Day Off (RDO) every 3 weeks, helping you manage the work-life balance

 - Flexible Working Arrangements Negotiable

 - Long Service Leave after 5 years!

 - Access to 2 Health and Wellbeing days annually, allowing you to get to those important appointments

 - Receive annual award salary increases with potential for further increases during performance appraisal cycles

 - Salary packaging and salary sacrificing options available - Salary Packaging Australia

 - Supportive and dynamic work environment.

 - Professional development and career growth opportunities.

 - 4 weeks annual leave

 - Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community.

 - Access to employee wellbeing programs

 - Active social club

For further information regarding this role please contact Tony Krawczyk, Manager Community Safety, on 02 6740 2169 or see the Position Description

How to Apply

Please read the Position Description by clicking on the link above.  It is important to read this carefully to understand what the job involves.

No candidate will meet every single desired qualification or skill.  If your experience looks a little different from what we have identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we would love to learn more about you!

If this sounds like you, click the Apply button below, complete the application form. Please ensure you answer all questions and upload a current resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for this role, as well as any copies of relevant qualifications that support your application. The use of AI to assist with creating and formatting documents is welcomed; however, written responses should remain thoughtful and personalised, as generic or impersonal submissions may be viewed less favourably.

Only candidates with current Australian work rights (Australian citizens, permanent residents, NZ citizens with a current passport, valid work visa) will be considered.

Further information

As part of the recruitment process, suitable applicants will be required to complete pre-employment screening which may include relevant background checks, functional capacity assessment and drug and alcohol screening. Our recruitment process is primarily via system generated emails.  Please ensure your email is correct before submitting your application to avoid missing crucial updates and outcomes.

Email notifications may include application confirmation, interview invitations, request for references, and application outcomes.  Please check your email regularly, including your junk email.

Council is an equal opportunity employer is committed to a merit-based workforce that encompasses inclusiveness and diversity in an environment of mutual respect. We invite, encourage, welcome and value candidate of all ages and from all backgrounds.

For all enquiries regarding the application and recruitment process, please contact the People and Culture team on 02 6740 2100 or peopleandculture@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au