Senior Executive Planner

publicjobs; Kilkenny; On-site; EUR 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Kilkenny County Council is seeking a Senior Executive Planner for the Planning Department in Kilkenny. This senior role reports to the Senior Planner and oversees elements of planning services, contributing to development management, forward planning, and climate action delivery.

The post requires delivering policy, coordinating with management and elected members, and driving capital projects and planning investigations.

Qualifications

• Significant management experience in a town planning context.
• Experience analysing national/regulatory planning policies and implications.
• Experience preparing or assessing planning applications and pre-application proposals.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary and cross-functional teams and motivate staff.
• Strong report writing and ICT skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and implement development plan documents and report to Committees.
• Assess implications of national planning policy and respond accordingly.
• Interact with planning authorities on development plans and variations.
• Liaise with constituent planning authorities and other public bodies on implementation.
• Monitor and report on implementation progress and plan reviews.
• Establish milestones, targets and indicators for projects.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external agencies per policy.
• Engage with Regional Assemblies on regional planning matters.
• Assist in regional planning matters for stakeholders and groups.
• Provide regular reports on regional planning issues.
• Assess planning applications and pre-application proposals against policies; offer policy recommendations.
• Assist in capital projects delivery and Part 8 processes.
• Perform other duties and work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies (H&S, HR, Data Protection).
• Promote good governance and act in the public interest at all times.

Skills

Town planning

Management

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Communication

ICT skills

Job description

Job title: Senior Executive Planner

Employer: Kilkenny County Council

Location: Kilkenny

Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 1st October 2026

Starting Salary: €80,680

About the Employer:

County Kilkenny has a population of c104,000 persons (2022 Census). This represents an actual increase of 4,928 or 5% since the last census in 2016. Approximately 63% of the population of the county lives in rural areas and 37% lives in the larger urban areas including Kilkenny City, Ferrybank, Callan, Thomastown and Castlecomer.

Kilkenny shares its border with five other counties and has a total land area of 2,073 km2. Kilkenny extends southward from Laois to the valley of the Suir and eastward from the Munster – Leinster border to the River Barrow. The River Nore bisects the county and the River Barrow and River Suir are natural boundaries to the east and south of the county. Kilkenny is the 12th largest of the Republic of Ireland’s 26 counties and is the 20th largest Local authority area in terms of population.

The local government structure in Kilkenny comprises Kilkenny County Council and four Municipal Districts of Piltown, Callan Thomastown, Castlecomer and Kilkenny City. Kilkenny County Council has its administrative headquarters in Kilkenny City. The Elected Council currently consists of 24 Members who are democratically elected for a period of 5 years.

The Council is mandated to deliver a diverse range of functions and services which can be broadly described under the headings of economic development, community development, the provision of physical and social infrastructure, recreation and amenity services, and the enforcement 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 County Kilkenny.

About the Role:

This post is for a full-time position in the Planning Department of Kilkenny 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 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 Department and providing a multiplicity of services to the Council. 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 to contribute to a multi-disciplinary approach to Climate Action and Sustainable Transport in the County. 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 Senior Executive Planner duties include but are not limited to the following:

• To prepare and implement development plan documents and prepare reports on these matters for the appropriate Committees of the Council.
• To consider new and emerging national planning policy and development plans being prepared by adjoining local authorities, assess implications for the Council and respond to these proposals as required.
• Interacting with Planning Authorities in matters related to preparation of Development Plans, Variations, etc.
• Liaising and working with constituent planning authorities and other public authorities on all aspects of implementation.
• Monitoring and reporting on implementation progress.
• Monitoring and assisting with development plan preparation/reviews.
• Establishing agreed milestones and timescales, setting achievable targets and indicators.
• To develop and maintain relationships with external agencies in accordance with policy and participate in the delivery of work programmes.
• Interaction with Regional Assemblies on all regional planning matters.
• Assist individuals, groups, etc. on regional planning matters as requested.
• Report regularly and as required on regional planning issues.
• To assess planning applications and pre-application proposals against the Council’s policies and provide recommendations and policy responses to these as required.
• Assist in the development and delivery of capital projects, including regeneration projects, and assist in and advise on associated Part 8 processes.
• Any other associated duties which may be assigned from time to time.
• To work effectively with colleagues to deliver services, often as part of cross-sectoral teams or multi-disciplinary teams.
• To ensure compliance with corporate policies (Health and Safety, HR, Data Protection, Child Safeguarding etc.)
• To ensure good governance and acting in the public interest at all times.

About You:

The ideal candidate shall have the following Skills and Experience:

• 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 excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
• 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.
• 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.

Further information including details on how the Capability Framework for this position is available on www.publicjobs.ie.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday, 1st October, 2026.

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