Executive Planner

Clare County Council/ Comhairle Contae an Chláir is the authority responsible for Local Government in County Clare. The corporate headquarters are located at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis and there are four Municipal Districts (Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe, and West Clare) supported through area offices in Ennis, Scarriff, Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush. The Council employs approximately 990 staff and operates on an annual budget of €204 million (2026).

Job Description

An Executive Planner is responsible for implementing programmes of work in the Planning Department and for providing a multiplicity of planning and related services. The Executive Planner will work closely with the Senior Executive Planner and/or Senior Planner to deliver the full range of services and implement local policy decisions, and will report to the Senior Executive Planner or the Director of Services.

Key Service Areas

• Development Management
• Planning Enforcement
• Economic Development
• Forward Planning and Sustainable Development
• Community Development, Heritage & Town Renewal

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience of analysing and responding to new and emerging national and/or regulatory legislation, policies and guidelines in a planning context.
• Experience of assessing planning applications and pre application proposals in the context of applicable planning legislation, policies and regulations.
• Knowledge of all planning legislation, guidelines, practices and key relevant European Directives.
• Knowledge of planning issues relevant to County Clare and its wider region.
• Ability to work positively as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Planning, operational and project management skills.
• Knowledge of local government structure and services, particularly in relation to planning and development.
• Time management and organisational skills - ability to deliver competing demands within prescribed timelines.
• Good knowledge and awareness of statutory obligations of Health and Safety Legislation.
• Good analytical and IT skills.
• Evidence of planning and organising skills.
• Report writing and presentation skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with others.
• Evidence of self sufficiency, evaluating proposals, identifying improvements proactively and adapting readily to change.
• Ability to manage deadlines and handle multiple tasks effectively.
• Capability of working in close consultation with key stakeholders and seeking co operation and consensus with a range of bodies and representative groups.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• Experience of providing information on the pattern of demand and activity, and the skills to schedule/program the carrying out of work.
• A focus on the customer and on service improvement, including taking ownership and resolving issues arising.
• A proven ability of Analysis & Decision Making and Delivery of Results.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Good planning, operation and project management skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good knowledge of local government functions, services and activities, particularly in relation to planning and development.
• Good working knowledge of planning legislation, guidelines and the principles, practices and techniques of planning.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain a solution oriented mindset.
• Good report writing and IT skills (GIS skills desirable).
• 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.
• Hold a current full Class B driving licence free from endorsements; a vehicle may be required for duties.

Duties

• Engage a wide and varied planning application caseload of both urban and rural developments.
• 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.
• Conduct pre application consultations and provide planning advice to members of the public, internal departments and elected members.
• Undertake site visits related to planning applications, condition compliance, planning enforcement, derelict sites, and vacant sites as required.
• Provide reports on enforcement cases, derelict sites and vacant sites.
• Prepare Development Plans, Local Area Plans and other planning policy reports and studies.
• Analyse spatial and demographic information to discern trends in population, land use, employment etc., to inform policy development.
• 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.
• Build and maintain cooperative working relationships and supervise staff as required.
• Any other associated duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications for the Post

1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

Each candidate must be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

• (a) Hold an honours degree (at least Level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in Planning.
• (b) Have at least 5 years satisfactory experience of planning work.
• (c) Possess a high standard of technical training and experience.
• (d) Possess a high standard of administrative experience.

Failure to provide proof of essential educational qualifications in the application will deem the candidate ineligible for this competition.

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.