• 2008 Council Elections
• Citizenship
• Councillors
• Councillors Diary
• Council Forms
• Council Policies
• Council Structure
• Filming & Photo shoots
• Leichhardt Archives
• Latest News
• Local History
• Political Donations
• Meetings – Agendas & Minutes
• Precinct Committees
• Public Consultation
• Positions Vacant
  • Current Vacancies
• Rates
• Regional Partnerships
• Statistics & Maps
• Tenders

 Print this page

// Home // Your Council // Positions Vacant

Positions Vacant

Why work here?

Leichhardt and its inner city area are steeped in history, heritage and conservation. Around 70% of dwellings are within heritage conservation areas. Not only does this make our municipality beautiful and interesting but it also provides tremendous opportunities to become involved with a Council and municipality that are vibrant, rich and challenging.

Leichhardt Council administration centre is directly adjacent to Norton Street in Leichhardt.  Norton Street is well known throughout Sydney for its coffee shops, restaurants and shopping experiences.  There are two good shopping plazas in Leichhardt providing supermarkets, delis, fresh food and produce shopping plus a variety of other services.   There is also a Palace Cinema on Norton Street which screens many general release films plus a number of limited release and film festivals.

Neighbouring suburbs such as Balmain also boast numerous eateries and a thriving community life.  Many of the suburbs within the Leichhardt municipality have beautiful and relaxing harbour frontage.   To balance our residential predominance, there are 79 parks, gardens and reserves covering some 84 hectares, providing both active and passive recreation opportunities.

Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre provides an attractive and outstanding community facility with its incredible location overlooking part of Iron Cove Bay, and is widely used by Leichhardt Council employees for recreation and relaxation.   Extensive aquatic facilities are complimented by a broad range of classes and a well equipped gymnasium.

Notable Sydney attractions are located close to Leichhardt, for example, the Fish Market, Darling Harbour, Anzac Bridge and Birkenhead Point factory outlets.  It is also the traditional heartland for the soccer and Wests Tigers rugby league team who still play some of their games at Leichhardt Oval.

The benefits of working for local government

If you have never worked for local government, it is difficult to appreciate the diversity and experience that this environment provides to its employees.   The community services that we provide include early childhood, child care, aged services, community development, waste services, libraries, aquatic centres and numerous recreational venues.   Additionally, our main stream activities include planning, compliance, heritage, conservation, traffic management, environment and sustainability issues.  A quick review of our website also reveals numerous other projects that we are responsible for or sponsor.

Local Government can provide many career paths.  It is not uncommon to master a wide variety of skills associated with certain areas of our operation, making employees very knowledgeable and marketable.  Local Government experience stands people in good stead for moving from one council to another.  This may assist with developing your career and gaining knowledge. 

Working for Local Government provides a number of very tangible benefits, for example, long service leave accrues after five years service, carer’s leave, sick leave which accumulates each year, and so on.  See the section “Conditions of employment with Leichhardt Council” for a fuller picture of these benefits.  (It should be noted that it is not possible to guarantee that these benefits will always be available as our operating conditions change from time to time, as does industrial relations legislation.)

Information for Applicants

The following information is provided to assist you in the preparation of your application for employment, and to explain the recruitment process within Leichhardt Council.  Please read through the following information carefully.   It is divided into two sections:

• Preparing your application
• The recruitment process

Leichhardt Council expects you to write a concise application addressing the selection criteria (which are found within the position description for the role).  Please also provide an up to date resume and the names and contact details of at least two referees.  Do not send any other information in support of your application.

Leichhardt Council would prefer you to email your application.  If you do not have access to email, please send by fax or post. 

Leichhardt Council is an equal opportunity employer and assesses suitability for roles on the basis of merit.  

Preparing your application

Advertising positions

Roles within Leichhardt Council are advertised in a range of media including local and national press, local government publications, specialist press, and through the Leichhardt Council website.  On occasions, recruitment consultancies may assist us with recruitment and will advertise on our behalf.

Advertisements will contain the details of a contact person.  Should you wish to discuss the role before making or writing your application, please contact the person nominated.

Position Descriptions

Advertised roles will have a position description which will outline the responsibilities and duties of the role.  It will also contain essential and sometimes desirable selection criteria.   You need to obtain a position description for the role that you wish to apply for.  You can do this by either downloading from our website or by telephoning the contact person nominated on the advertisement who will post a position description to you.

You should read the position description carefully before writing your application.

Selection Criteria

For each position there are selection criteria (sometimes termed essential and desirable criteria).  The selection criteria are the most important elements required to perform the role.  They may contain reference to qualifications, experience, skills, abilities or attributes.

Addressing the selection criteria

When you write your application, you must address the selection criteria and say how you meet each one in turn.   Some important points to remember:

• do not simply state that you meet the criteria - use evidence and examples to demonstrate how you meet each one;
• you may wish to outline where you believe skills that you have gained in the past which may not be exactly what is being asked for, could be transferable;
• generally it will be work related experience that you would use to illustrate how you meet the selection criteria.  However, don’t forget that you also develop experience and skills through other activities that you may be involved in outside of the workplace such as community groups, clubs, associations, schools, churches, etc. 

References

Part of our recruitment process is to speak to referees about the application that you have made and your suitability for the role that you are applying for.  We therefore ask you to provide details of at least two recent work related referees.

Further details regarding Leichhardt Council taking up references are provided below.

Your application package

In summary, your application package should include:

• your address of the selection criteria
• an up to date resume
• details of at least two work related referees from roles that you have recently held

Closing date

A closing date for applications will be indicated on each role advertised.  Applications must be received at Leichhardt Council before midnight on the closing date quoted.

Submitting your application

Leichhardt Council would prefer you to email your application.  If you do not have access to email, please send by fax or post. 

Our email address is:

            jobs@lmc.nsw.gov.au

An automatic acknowledgement will be generated from this email address when your application is received.

Please note that attachments should be created in any version of Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).  Other file formats cannot be accessed by Leichhardt Council.

Alternatively please fax to:

            (02) 9367 9111

or post to:

            Records Section

            Leichhardt Council

            P.O. Box 45

            Leichhardt  NSW  2040

Whichever method of lodgement you are using, please ensure that the SPV number is quoted and can be clearly seen on your application.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have attached all of the relevant documents to your email.   Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible for Leichhardt Council to assess if you have attached all documentation.

However, your application will be checked to ensure that we are able to open any documents which are attached.  Please be assured that if a problem is encountered with opening any attachments, we will contact you. 

The recruitment process

Selecting for interview

Once the closing date for an advertised role has passed, all applications are reviewed in order to select for interview.   Applications are assessed by reviewing both your resume and how well you meet the selection criteria as outlined in your document addressing them.

In some cases, this process can take a little while and we would ask you to bear with us.

On occasions, we receive a large number of applications for advertised roles and the field of applicants becomes very competitive.  When this occurs and a large number of applicants appear to meet the selection criteria, we need to assess who best meets the criteria to make selections for interview. Therefore, there may be occasions when an application does meet all of the selection criteria but the applicant is not invited for interview.

Should you need to speak to someone at Leichhardt Council regarding the progress of your application, please contact the person who was the nominated contact on the original recruitment advertisement.

Attending for interview

If you are invited for interview, you are likely to meet with a panel of interviewees, generally comprising of more than one person.  We aim to have a balanced panel in terms of gender and representation within Leichhardt Council. One panel member will most likely be female, one male, and one other panel member.  You will normally be given a few days notice of the interviews taking place.

Interview questions are primarily designed around the selection criteria for the role but may also focus on a number of other components too.  The questions are designed to explore how well you would be able to fulfil the role.

To prepare yourself, try to think about what type of questions you may be asked.  In most cases, a good way to answer questions is to provide examples.   We would suggest that you think about examples that you may wish to use.  You may also be asked situational type questions in which case you will need to describe what process you would follow in certain situations.

A number of other selection techniques may be used in the Leichhardt Council recruitment process, for example, exercises or tasks, work preferences questionnaires or other assessment methods.   This may be done as part of the initial interview or may take place at a later date or at a second interview.

What to bring to interview

Please bring certificates to support your academic or other qualifications that are relevant to the role that you are applying for. 

Please also bring evidence of your right to work and live in Australia.

Any particular needs?

If you have any requirements such as building access or communication assistance, please advise the person who contacts you who will make the appropriate arrangements for the interview.

Selecting a candidate and reference checking

Once the selection panel have completed the interviews, they will reach a decision on who is the best applicant or applicants for the role.  At this stage, we will want to contact the referees that you have provided to conduct a reference check.

Your referees will preferably be your manager or supervisor from a recent or current employment.  In almost all reference checks, Leichhardt Council will want to talk to your manager in your current employment prior to making any offer of employment.

Ideally, your referees will not be related to you, but if that is the case, would you please indicate that on your application.  

Your referees will be asked a series of questions about you and your performance in your previous or current role.

Background checking

For a number of roles within Leichhardt Council, we may carry out a number of background checks.  These may include one, some, or all of the following.  Please also note that this list is not exhaustive and other checks may be conducted.

• Qualification check
• Police/criminal record check
• Driving record check
• Bankruptcy check
• Working with children check
• Identity check

Normally, we will not offer a position unless all of the appropriate checks have been satisfactorily completed.  However, on occasions there may be exceptions to this in which case any offer of employment will be subject to the results of the check being satisfactory to Leichhardt Council.

Pre-employment medical

Leichhardt Council require a pre-employment medical to be conducted prior to offering certain roles.  This is carried out by a general practitioner.  The cost of this is met by Leichhardt Council.

Offer of employment

Roles are offered to selected candidates once the reference checks, background checks and pre-employment medical have taken place and the results have been received.  Normally, a verbal offer will be made, followed up by a written offer of employment.

Unsuccessful applications

Once the offer of employment has been accepted by the successful candidate, all of the unsuccessful candidates will be notified.

If you would like more information or clarification, please contact the nominated person on the advertisement or Leichhardt Council’s Employee Services Department on 9367 9079.

We wish you luck with your application!

Guide to Conditions of Employment with Leichhardt Council

A guide to current conditions of employment is set out below.  However, some sections within Leichhardt Council have a negotiated Enterprise agreement with slightly different or additional benefits.  Please speak to the Contact person if you require more information.

It should be noted that legislation and Leichhardt Council policies and procedures are subject to change and therefore the information below is presented as a guide only.

General conditions

Council employees are covered by the Local Government (State) Award 2007. The Award provides for general conditions of employment concerning entitlements, rights, and obligations for staff and management.  Leichhardt Council also has EBA (Enterprise Agreement) with some additional benefits and a range of policies that provide benefits over and above those contained within the Award or EBA.

Probationary periods

Candidates appointed to a position are required to satisfactorily complete a probationary and qualifying period that is normally six months duration.

Hours of work

Depending on the operational requirements of the position, employees are subject to different hours of work. Normal hours of work are generally 35 hours per week.

Rostered Day Off System

Council currently has a rostered day off system that most employees have an opportunity to participate in. To participate in the system, employees must work additional hours each day in order to be eligible to take a rostered day each cycle.  There are three different cycles being 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 weeks.

Study assistance

Incorporating leave and financial support is available through Council policy to assist with education and development. 

Payment arrangements

Employees are paid weekly and salary is paid directly into an account of choice.

Superannuation

Council pays superannuation contributions.  The industry fund is the Local Government Superannuation Scheme.  Employees are given a choice of fund each twelve months.  Council will contribute the statutory requirement for superannuation (employer's superannuation guarantee levy), which currently is set at 9% of the employee's salary. Employees may also make additional payments through a salary sacrifice arrangement.

Leave Entitlements - in addition to the regular rostered day off employees are entitled to:

• Annual Leave - full-time staff are granted 20 days paid annual leave per year. Part-time staff will receive 20 days annual leave per year calculated on a pro-rata basis.
• Sick Leave - full-time staff are entitled to 15 days paid sick leave per year. Part-time staff will receive 15 days paid sick leave per year calculated on a pro-rata basis. Sick leave will accumulate from year to year so that any balance of leave not taken in any one year may be taken in a subsequent year. An additional weeks’ leave for each year of service may be available for serious illness.  However, any accumulated and untaken sick leave will not be paid out on termination of employment.
• Carer's Leave - employees (other than casual employees) are entitled to utilise their sick leave entitlements as Carer's Leave to care for family members and relatives, subject to certain conditions.
• Twelve weeks paid Maternity Leave – for those full-time and part-time staff eligible for maternity leave.  Parental leave is also available and male or female employees are entitled up to 78 weeks unpaid leave for the purpose of caring for a newborn child or the adoption of a child.
• Long Service Leave - employees are entitled to Long Service Leave after 5 years of service with the Council as specified by provisions contained within the Local Government (State) Award 2001. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Leichhardt Council is committed to promoting a workplace that is free of all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.  This commitment is reflected by the integration of the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) into the work practices of Leichhardt Council and its policies and procedures.   EEO is about the right to be considered for a job, development, training opportunity, or other benefit, for which a person is skilled or qualified.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is about eliminating discrimination and harassment in employment on the grounds of:

• race or ethno-religious background
• sex, including pregnancy
• marital status
• parental status and or carer’s responsibility
• age
• physical impairment
• intellectual impairment
• psychiatric impairment
• homosexuality
• transgender

These groups are people affected by past or continuing disadvantage or discrimination in employment. As a result they may be more likely to be unemployed or working in lower paid jobs.

These grounds are specified in the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act and the Federal Disability Discrimination Act which bind Councils along with legal obligations under Section 345 (1) of the Local Government Act.  Not only is Council bound by law to comply with EEO, it also makes good business sense to ensure that the management of staff and our practices occur on the principles of merit and fairness. Council believes the implementation of EEO policies and programs will create a more productive workplace and will result in better services to the community.

Occupational Health and Safety

Leichhardt Council is committed to providing a safe and healthy place of work for all employees and visitors to Council’s premises.

Council has a proactive Occupational Health and Safety Committee that focuses on strategic safety issues that face council and provide support and advice, through open discussion and communication through a multilateral committee.

Leichhardt Council also supports employee health improvement initiatives that benefit the staff member, the workplace and ultimately the community through programs such as quit smoking, fitness and healthy lifestyle programs.  We provide a free swim at lunch time and subsidise gym membership at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre for Council employees, as well as participation in community charity events such as Spring Cycle, “Movember”, Big Bike Day, Active Fun Day and Relay for Life.