Senior Executive Planner

3pm, Thursday, 19th March 2026

Fingal is a highly attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. It comprises a geographical area of 450 stretching from Balbriggan in the north, to Blanchardstown in the west and to Howth in the east. The area is defined by the diversity of its landscape and settlement patterns with rural, urban and suburban locations all rolled into one county. There is 88kms of coastline, three large, protected estuaries and salt marsh habitats and 13 major beaches. Fingal County Council is one of the county’s major local employers and currently employs approximately 1,600 staff. The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of the provision of physical and social infrastructure, housing, economic and tourism development, community development, recreation and amenity services and the management of the planning and environmental regulatory framework. The role of the County Council as provided for in law is to represent, lead and serve the communities of Fingal.

This post is for a full-time position in the Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department of Fingal County Council.

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Senior Executive Planner. This position is a senior position within the Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department reporting to the Senior Planner and/or other employee nominated by the Chief Executive. The Senior Executive Planner is responsible for managing elements of the Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department and providing a multiplicity of services to Local Authorities. The role of Senior Executive Planner in a local authority is an excellent opportunity to engage with the active delivery of strategic policy across Development Management, Forward Planning and Project Delivery and contribute to a multi-disciplinary approach to Climate Action and Sustainable Transport.

The Senior Executive Planner will be required to work closely with the Senior Management Team and Elected Members to deliver the full range of services, implement local policy decisions and deliver on strategic corporate objectives and in accordance with the general policy direction of the elected council.

The ideal candidate shall have the following Skills and Experience:

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• Possess a current unendorsed full driving licence (Category B) and/or have access to a vehicle as they may be required to travel in the course of their duties;
  
• Excellent communication/presentation, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
  

It would be desirable if the successful candidate had the following Skills and Experience:

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• Have significant management experience in a town planning context.
  
• Have experience of analysing and considering new and emerging national and/or regulatory policies and guidelines in a town planning context with a view to assessing the implications of such developments and responding to same.
  
• Have experience of preparation or assessment of planning applications and preapplication proposals in the context of applicable planning policies and regulations.
  
• Have experience of managing and leading multi-disciplinary and cross functional teams and have the ability to motivate, empower, encourage and achieve maximum efficiency and value for money from the personnel and processes under their control.
  
• Have experience of maintaining sound employee relations and conflict resolution.
  
• Have a track record of delivering results.
  
• Have an understanding of Local Authority services and structures in Ireland, particularly as they relate to the planning function, or have the ability to quickly acquire same.
  
• Be capable of working in close consultation with key stakeholders and in seeking cooperation and consensus with a whole range of bodies and representative groups.
  
• Be experienced in meeting regularly with stakeholders, providing updates, presentations and reports, taking customer feedback and ensuring any learning from same is used to enhance the operations of the organisation.
  
• Be experienced in contributing to the operational and strategic planning processes and in the implementation of the agreed aims of same.
  
• Have good knowledge and awareness of statutory obligations of Health and Safety Legislation the implications for the organization and the employee, and their application in the workplace.
  
• Have excellent report writing and strong ICT skills.
  
• Have a focus on the customer and on service improvement including taking ownership and resolving issues arising. xcfaprz
  
• The holder of the post will be required to have a good knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and employee, and their application in the workplace.
  

The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 19th of March at 3pm.

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.