Assistant Planner

The Role

The role of Assistant Planner may involve working in some or all of the following key service areas:

• Forward Planning and Strategic Development
• Development Management
• Planning Enforcement
• Project Development and Delivery

Working under the supervision of an Executive Planner, Senior Executive Planner or Senior Planner, or other supervisor as identified, the successful candidate must demonstrate knowledge, skills and competencies in the following areas:

• Assist in the preparation, amendments, implementation and monitoring of the development plan, area plans, urban frameworks and other planning schemes, studies and reports, and assisting in the preparation of reports on these matters for the Chief Executive and appropriate Committees of Council;
• Assess and make recommendations on planning applications in line with all relevant national, regional and local plans and policies and in accordance with appropriate legislation and guidelines;
• An ability to engage a wide and varied planning application caseload of both urban and hinterland developments;
• Conduct pre-application consultations and provide planning advice to members of the public, planning agents, internal departments and elected members;
• Assist with the Council’s work on Active Land Management;
• Assist with the planning delivery of projects, including Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund (previously Urban Regeneration and Development Fund) initiatives;
• Undertake site inspections related to planning applications, condition compliance planning enforcement, strategic plan development, active land management etc as required;
• Provide reports on enforcement cases, derelict sites, and vacant sites, as required;
• Assist in the analysis of spatial and demographic information to discern trends in population, land-use employment etc., to inform policy development;
• Assist in the procurement and management of consultants;
• Develop and implement measures to promote regeneration of the city:
• Input to inter-disciplinary projects dealing with land-use, transport, environment etc;
• Represent the Council at meetings with staff, Elected Members, community/general interest groups, businesses and residents, as required;
• Build and maintain cooperative working relationships as required;
• Any other associated duties as may be assigned from time to time.

The above specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Qualifications for the Post

• Character
  Each candidate must be of good character.

• Health
  Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

• Driving Licence:
  Driving Licence Holders of the office may be required to drive a car in the course of their duties and therefore are required to hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles free from disqualifications.

• Desirable Skills:
  • Good working knowledge of planning legislation and the principles, practices and techniques of planning;
  • Good knowledge, or the ability to quickly acquire same of local government functions, services and activities particularly in relation to planning and development;
  • An ability to demonstrate competence in the following areas – Delivering Quality Outcomes and Ensuring Compliance, Identifying Problem and Contributing to Solutions and Communicating Effectively.
  • An ability to work positively as part of a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Good planning, operation and project management skills;
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills;
  • An ability to work under pressure and maintain a solution-oriented mindset in dealing with a wide range of issues;
  • Good report writing, presentation and IT skills (including GIS skills);
  • An ability to achieve delivery of competing demands within prescribed timeframes and deadlines.
  • Membership of the Irish Planning Institute or Royal Town Planning Institute is desirable or be eligible for membership of either professional Institute.

• Education, Training, Experience, etc: Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms –

         i) Candidates shall hold a qualification in Planning (at least level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications);
         ii) Have at least two years’ satisfactory relevant experience of planning work;
         iii) Possess a high standard of technical training and expertise;
         iv) Possess a high degree of administrative experience.

---