Working with Hilltops Council
Why work with us? It’s ‘more than just a job’
Hilltops Council provides a highly rewarding opportunity to build a career, contribute to your community and gain skills and experience that will carry you forward for the rest of your life. There are many different paths to take on your career journey with local government, and joining our Council is a great way to take your first step or extend your career.
We offer many and varied opportunities and encourage you to bookmark this page and check-back regularly to see what opportunities we have on offer.
Current Vacancies (click below to open)
Business Administration Trainee
Business Administration Trainee
Term contract up to 18 months full-time
70 hour 9-day fortnight
- Kick-start your career with Local Government
- Do you desire to working under a structured Traineeship?
- Are you service oriented with strong interpersonal skills?
- Local Government Award Trainee Salary Band (up to T5 – $49k p.a. + Super)
About the role
As our Business Administration Trainee, your primary focus will be to provide dedicated Executive Administration support to the Director Planning, and more broadly to the Planning department. In addition, you will learn about Council services through placement within our Customer Service team.
Whilst you are learning on the job, you will complete a Certificate III qualification in either Business Administration, Business or Local Government. This traineeship is designed to build on foundational skills you’ve developed at school or through post-school work experience.
We have identified internal support, coaching and mentoring opportunities to assist you to achieve success in this role.
Applications
Please refer to the attached position description & application form for details. If you require further details about the position, please contact Jaime Dyhrberg, Director Planning on 1300 445 586.
Applications close 10am Tuesday 7 April 2026.
When applying please email the completed application form, and a cover letter or email with your contact details (your résumé is optional but highly recommended) to careers@hilltops.nsw.gov.au, addressing applications to Jaime Dyhrberg, Director Planning.
Application forms are mandatory, or if you cannot complete the application form you must address each selection criteria in your email.
hilltops.nsw.gov.au
Open Spaces Crew Member (Weed Control - Boorowa)
Open Spaces Crew Member
(Weed Control – Boorowa)
(Permanent, full-time, 76 hour 9-day fortnight)
- Great opportunity for an experienced weed control operator to join our team working in Boorowa and the wider Hilltops area.
- Rate of pay up to $68k p.a. + allowances + 12% Superannuation with other entitlements from the Local Government State Award.
- Great employee benefits including regular wellbeing initiatives, Fitness Passport, annual flu vaccinations, health checks & much more.
About the role
As our Open Spaces Crew Member (Weed Control) you will be predominately tasked with weed control both in Boorowa and surrounding villages and more broadly, across Hilltops. You will be multi-skilled and expected undertake the maintenance of open spaces, facilities, roadsides and amenities, providing skilled labouring and plant operation duties where required.
Weed control functions are vital to preserve our natural environment both now and for future generations, and these skills will continue to remain in great need for many years to come. Our ideal applicant will be self-motivated & responsible, holding the appropriate training and skills to work independently and productively.
If this sounds interesting and aligned to your current experience and you’re looking for a career with job security, we encourage you to apply.
Applications
Please refer to the attached position description & application form for details. If you require further details about the position, please contact Paul Muller, Manager Operations on 1300 445 586.
Applications close 10am Thursday 2 April 2026.
When applying please email the completed application form, and a cover letter or email with your contact details (your résumé is optional but highly recommended) to careers@hilltops.nsw.gov.au, addressing applications to Duncan McGregor, Director Infrastructure.
Application forms are mandatory, or if you cannot complete the application form – you must address each selection criteria in your email.
hilltops.nsw.gov.au
Open Spaces Apprentice (Harden)
Open Spaces Apprentice
(Harden)
(Term contract for up to 4 years, full-time, 76 hour 9-day fortnight)
- Excellent apprenticeship opportunity based out of our Harden Works Depot to build your career and skills as part of a friendly Open Spaces team.
- Rate of pay up to $63k p.a. (Trainee band – dependent on age/qualifications/experience) + 12% Superannuation with other entitlements from the Local Government State Award.
- Great employee benefits including regular wellbeing initiatives, Fitness Passport, annual flu vaccinations, health checks & much more.
About the role
As our Open Spaces Apprentice, you will assist in the maintenance of Council’s open spaces, facilities and amenities while undertaking the qualification of Certificate III in Parks & Gardens.
Over the course of your apprenticeship, you will provide labouring & plant operation duties under supervision and play an active role in shaping the natural beauty of your community. You’ll come to play a key role in building and maintaining Council’s urban infrastructure across Harden and the wider Hilltops Local Government Area through undertaking work-rotations at other depots.
Applications
Please refer to the attached position description & application form for details. If you require further details about the position, please contact Paul Muller, Manager Operations on 1300 445 586.
Applications close 10am Tuesday 7 April 2026.
When applying please email the completed application form, and a cover letter or email with your contact details (your résumé is optional but highly recommended) to careers@hilltops.nsw.gov.au, addressing applications to Duncan McGregor, Director Infrastructure.
Application forms are mandatory, or if you cannot complete the application form – you must address each selection criteria in your email.
hilltops.nsw.gov.au
Water & Sewer Operator (Boorowa)
Water and Sewer Operator
(Boorowa)
Permanent, full-time | 76 hours per 9-day fortnight
- Excellent opportunity for an experienced Plant Operator/Skilled Labourer to join a Water & Sewer crew in Boorowa.
- Rate of pay between $61k and $68k p.a. + allowances + 12% Superannuation with generous leave provisions and other entitlements under the Local Government State Award.
- Great employee benefits including regular wellbeing initiatives, Fitness Passport, annual flu vaccinations and professional development
About the role
As one of our Water & Sewer Operators, you will be responsible for preventative and reactive maintenance and ongoing operation of water & sewer reticulation, to ensure the provision of safe drinking water across Hilltops and effective wastewater treatment.
This is a great role to secure your career in a vital industry, with great job security and opportunity for future progression. To ensure your success you will be supported by a dedicated team and provided with extensive training and development opportunities during your employment.
Please be advised that you would be expected to be available to work reasonable overtime and to be on a rotating on-call roster (shift penalties/on-call allowances would be applicable at those times.
Applications
Please refer to the attached position description & application form for details. If you require further details about the position, please contact Jonathan Hook, Manager Water and Waste on 1300 445 586.
Applications will remain open until we secure suitable applicants and will be assessed on an ongoing basis.
When applying please email the completed application form, and a cover letter or email with your contact details (your résumé is optional but highly recommended) to careers@hilltops.nsw.gov.au, addressing applications to Jonathan Hook, Manager Water and Waste.
Application forms are mandatory, or if you cannot complete the application form you must address each selection criteria in your email.
hilltops.nsw.gov.au
Our Purpose
We are part of the community we serve
Service to our Community is central to all that we do, and Council has recently undertaken a review of its organisational values, and we are promoting these throughout our organisation. Our collective staff values are Safety, Trust, Accountability and Respect – STAR
As staff, we strive to integrate these values into all aspects of our work, and we are seeking candidates who also embody these values.
Veterans Employment
Council supports the NSW State Government’s Veterans Employment Program. We understand the skills and attributes veterans can bring to our council and welcome applications from veterans for any of our vacancies. We encourage veterans to request specific application feedback, and we are able to provide support or refer veterans to the NSW Veterans Employment Program for further support with applications and interview techniques.
See below links for more information:
NSW Local Government Rank 2 Grade Guide
Equal Opportunity statement
Hilltops Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to building a welcoming and supportive workplace culture. We encourage applications from those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, people with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds and demographics.
General instructions for applying
Council recruits using merit-based selection, and we require candidates to demonstrate how they satisfy their eligibility for a vacancy by addressing selection criteria, which are indicated within the relevant application form.
Unless indicated otherwise in the advertisement, to be considered for a role with Hilltops Council, your application will require submission of an application form, which describes your claims to preferred criteria for the vacancy, which are derived from the position description.
Application forms are found on the relevant vacancy’s landing page and should be emailed to careers@hilltops.nsw.gov.au. If you cannot complete the application form due to technical issues, please instead respond to the selection criteria in your email. You should provide a cover letter or email detailing your personal details, your motivation for applying and a bit of information about yourself.
The application is just the first part of our selection process, and merit will be determined over time, using several metrics to determine suitability.
Generally, a copy of your résumé is considered optional, but including one is highly recommended. Think of your résumé as a tool to connect the broader context of your previous experience with your application.
A good rule for your application is that it should stand on its own merit, and you should be clear in your application how you meet relevant criteria.
Once advertising closes, a selection panel collectively assess all applications and agree on a candidate shortlist, and interviews are conducted with shortlisted candidate(s).
Not all meritorious candidates may be interviewed if there are many applicants that are suitable, making it essential that your responses set your application apart from others.
Responding to selection criteria (with examples)
Simply answering yes or no to a question will not allow for the selection panel to determine your merit, so a bit of detail is the best way to demonstrate that you meet the criteria, although we do not expect you to write extensively.
Using the STAR principle (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a good way of demonstrating your suitability for selection criteria. For an example, look at the following 2 criteria:
- Certificate III in Civil Construction or equivalent relevant experience.
- Previous experience of 1 or more years working in a civil construction or parks and gardens setting.
| Strong answer | Weak answer |
| Question 1) | |
| I obtained my Civil Construction (Plant Operations) Certificate III in 2020 through TAFE NSW and have attached the transcript and certificate. | Yes (no transcript or certificate attached) |
| Question 2) | |
|
I worked for Hilltops Council from 2020 – 2024 as Crew Member in the Open Spaces team. During this time, I undertook tasks involving the building and maintenance of parks and gardens within the Young, Harden & Boorowa region. I also completed line-marking for sports ovals during the sporting season and installed irrigation equipment under direction throughout various parks in the area. I learned a great deal during this time and completed several informal and formal courses during my time that helped upskill me as a Crew Member. |
Yes, I worked with Council from 2020 – 2024. |
Eligibility for employment
To be eligible for employment with Council, you must be willing to:
- provide 2 (minimum) professional referees who will vouch for your previous experience and performance in work/study, and
- demonstrate rights to work in Australia (birth certificate/visa/passport), and
- consent to undertake relevant pre-employment checks (medical checks, probity/police checks, reference checks).
Some roles may also require that you satisfy a working with children check, that you hold and maintain a suitable driver’s licence, or hold other forms of licencing such as high-risk work licences. Please include scanned or photographed copies of these and/or details of these with your email.
General applications or résumés submitted without a vacancy
While Council does accept résumés submitted without a corresponding vacancy and retain these on file, they are generally not followed up with applicants.
Instead of submitting your résumé via email or ‘over the counter’ at one of our offices, please check the website regularly for vacancies and apply directly for a vacancy.
Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the application process
Council accepts that generative AI such as ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini and others are widely used. However, Council strongly discourages candidates from using these tools to write their applications.
We have means available to us which help identify when AI has been used, and if there are reasonable grounds for the selection panel to believe this has been used to create a candidate’s application, it is noted and further follow-up with candidates may be undertaken.
A broad, generalised answer and lack of relevant information, either in support of the selection criteria or about yourself undermines the merit of your answers. We would much prefer to read answers that are written by yourself that relate to what you’ve achieved, rather than generated by prompts that do not help us get to know what you are capable of.
Local Government Information Statement & Award
Council employees who are employed under the Local Government (State) Award, have entitlements and protections at work in accordance with both the Award and relevant industrial legislation (including the Local Government Act 1993 and Industrial Relations Act 1996). To download a copy of the Local Government (State) Award click here
For more information, click here to download a copy of the Local Government Information Statement prepared in collaboration with relevant unions and Local Government NSW.
For employees new to NSW Local Government, aside from a great workplace and the benefits mentioned above, there are many additional benefits available that you may not be aware of. The local government unions (United Services Union, Development & Environmental Professionals’ Association, Local Government Engineers Association) and the employer body, Local Government NSW, have developed a short induction video for new staff which can be found here.