Temporary Senior Executive Planner
THE POSITION
The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Temporary Senior Executive Planner.
This is a Temporary Specified Purpose Contract for a period of approximately 2 years.
It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.
The Role of the Temporary Senior Executive Planner is to manage, under the general direction of the Senior Planner and in conjunction with the Planning Management Team, the day-to-day efficient running of a team within the Planning Department of Wicklow County Council.
This Department currently operates under three key areas:
Forward Planning to include responsibility for the review of the County Development and Local Area Plans.
Development Management.
Planning Enforcement (to include taking charge of housing developments).
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Character
Candidates shall be of good character.
2. Health
Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
3. Education, Experience, etc.
Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:
a) Candidates shall hold a qualification in Planning (at least level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications).
b) Have at least seven years’ satisfactory relevant experience of planning work.
c) Possess a high standard of technical training and expertise.
d) Possess a high standard of administrative and management experience.
e) Satisfactory knowledge of public service organization or the ability to acquire same.
PLEASE NOTE: Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. Failure to do so will deem your application inadmissible.
The onus is on the candidate to ensure that the relevant qualification is listed on their application form.
In the event that an offer of employment is made, the candidate will be required to submit all relevant Educational Qualifications in order to meet the requirements above.
DRIVING LICENCE/TRAVEL
The holder of the office will be required to hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification.
They must be a competent driver and shall drive a motor car in the course of his/her duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the Local Authority.
The Local Authority must be indemnified on their insurance.
https://www.ndls.ie/help/faq.html#exchange-of-foreign-driving-licence
DUTIES
The following is a non-exhaustive list of key duties and responsibilities which may be assigned to a Temporary Senior Executive Planner:
Lead and manage a team within the Planning Department.
Develop and manage a work programme for the delivery of planning functions for the assigned team, to the satisfaction of the Senior Planner, Senior Engineer and Director of Services for Planning.
Support the Senior Planner and Senior Engineer in the overall management of the section to include holding of regular team meetings and implementation of PMDS.
Actively participate in and contribute to the Planning Department Management Team.
Plan and prioritise work effectively and be pro-active and self-directed.
Ensure a high standard of presentation and accuracy in team output.
Take a leadership role in strategic planning related projects as required.
Take a lead role in the planning section’s input into multi-disciplinary teams within the local authority.
Monitor and review the implementation of planning policy within areas of responsibility.
Research, analyse, disseminate and communicate essential information on relevant policies, procedures and legislation internally or externally to the organisation when required.
Prepare and present planning reports and advice to the Chief Executive, Management Team, Elected Members and other relevant fora when required.
Provide high quality planning advice and recommendations to Elected Representatives and attend at Council, Municipal District and Strategic Policy Committee meetings as required.
Support the Senior Planner, Senior Engineer and Director of Services in advising and reporting to the Council on regional and national planning policy issues and preparing submissions on behalf of the local authority where requested.
Assist in identifying and delivering all change/improvements in efficiency within the department.
Identify opportunities to expand or improve the range, quantity or quality of existing services and make recommendations to that effect.
Work under pressure to tight deadlines and to take a strategic approach in the delivery of key policy objectives.
Ensure the local authority complies with its obligations under the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Directives.
Liaise with other Local Authority Departments and external bodies as appropriate.
Conduct site visits and prepare recommendations on planning applications, including applications directly to An Pleanála where a local authority report is required.
Prepare responses to planning appeals and attend and input at oral hearings as necessary.
Prepare development plans policies and other planning related material where required.
Supervise and prepare responses to pre-planning requests and attend pre-planning meetings where required.
Carry out site visits in relation to planning enforcement and derelict sites matters, including attendance at court cases and giving of evidence.
Prepare reports and recommendations on “Part 8” Local Authority Development applications.
Manage external consultants engaged by Wicklow County Council from time to time.
Attend meetings and other public forums on behalf of the local authority as required.
Deal professionally and courteously with customers and stakeholders at all times.
Maintain, manage and proactively foster positive Health and Safety culture within the workplace.
Ensure compliance with Corporate Policies (Human Resources, Data Protection, Child Safeguarding, etc.).
Engage in continuing Professional Development/Training.
Incorporate the use of IT and efficiencies into work practices.
Deputise for the Senior Planner or other senior grades when required.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
An ability to demonstrate competence in the following areas:
Planning legislation and procedures across the areas of forward planning, development management and enforcement in particular.
Current and future planning issues facing County Wicklow and its wider region.
Administration, report writing and putting across well-researched and reasoned recommendations.
Project management.
Leading multidisciplinary teams or demonstrate an ability to do so.
Awareness of and management of Health, Safety and Welfare in the workplace.
Operating ICT systems, in particular word processing, presentation and GIS systems.
Prioritising work effectively.
Acting on own initiative.
Dealing effectively with conflicting demands.
Working under pressure to tight deadlines.
DESIRABLE SKILLS
The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services and shall demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of:
Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships.
Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate.
Key policies guiding the local government sector.
Current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector, particularly in relation to planning policy and practice.
National, Regional and Local planning issues.
Line management and quality control of recommendations across all areas of planning.
Fostering and maintaining wide ranging productive working relationship both internally and externally to the organisation.
Implementing change.
Public service values.
PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
A panel may be formed from which future Temporary Senior Executive Planner positions may be filled.
The position will be full-time and pensionable.
The successful candidate(s) may be assigned as required to any of the Municipal Districts/Directorates under the Chief Executive’s control or to any premises/location in use by the Council now or in the future.
Duties
The duties of the office are to give to the local authority and:
(a) to such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 – 2014, is Chief Executive, and
(b) to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph.
Under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officer as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate professional/technical and ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory or executive nature as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body.
The holder of the office will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.
Probation
Where persons who are not already permanent officers of a Local Authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply:
(a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such persons shall hold office on probation.
(b) Such period shall be nine months; this period may be extended at the Chief Executive's discretion.
(c) Such persons shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.
Salary:
€80,680.00 - €100,692.00 per annum includes 2nd LSI EL 04/2026.
The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time in line with national policy.
The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.
Starting pay shall be determined in accordance with appropriate Departmental Circular letters.
New Entrants will be placed on the minimum of salary scale.
Hours of Work
The person appointed will be required to work a 35-hour week Monday to Friday, which equates to a 7-hour day to be accounted for within attendance hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with one hour lunch between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.
There may be a requirement to work additional hours from time to time for which Time in Lieu will apply.
No overtime applies to this post.
A flexi system is also in operation.
Garda Vetting
Candidates may be subject to Garda Vetting.
Appointment(s) will be considered having regard to receipt of satisfactory Garda Vetting, particularly to determine suitability to work with children/vulnerable adults.
Citizenship
Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:
(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or
(e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or
(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.
Work Permit
All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract.
The work permit must allow you to work full-time for Wicklow County Council.
It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure that you have a valid work permit.
If at any stage during your contract you cease to hold a valid work permit you must immediately advise Wicklow County Council and your employment will cease with immediate effect.
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