Senior Planner - Donegal County Council

Donegal Co; Donegal; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Job summary

Donegal County Council is seeking a Senior Planner to lead the Planning, Communities and Culture Directorate. You will guide strategic planning policy, drive governance, and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, customer-focused planning services.

This leadership role offers an opportunity to influence county-wide development while upholding statutory requirements and the Council's Corporate Plan. Hours are 35 per week, with 30 days annual leave.

Responsibilities

• To understand, interpret and implement planning legislation and the principles, practices and techniques of planning and sustainable development.
• To understand, interpret and implement the legislative provisions, policy context and operational environment within which the statutory functions and operating requirements of the local authority are delivered.
• To provide strategic leadership in the delivery of the Council’s Planning Service, ensuring high standards of governance, professional practice, customer service and statutory compliance.

Job description

The closing date for this vacancy is 29/10/2026, 15:00

Job summary

The Senior Planner will report to the Director of Service and will provide strategic leadership across the Planning Service. The successful candidate will be responsible for the effective management, direction and continuous development of the Planning Department, ensuring the delivery of high quality, customer-focused planning services in accordance with the Council’s Corporate Plan and strategic objectives.

A full Job Summary/Description is available in the Information Booklet.

Main Duties of the Job

To understand, interpret and implement planning legislation and the principles, practices and techniques of planning and sustainable development.

To understand, interpret and implement the legislative provisions, policy context and operational environment within which the statutory functions and operating requirements of the local authority are delivered.

To provide strategic leadership in the delivery of the Council’s Planning Service, ensuring high standards of governance, professional practice, customer service and statutory compliance.

A full list of main duties is available in the Information Booklet.

Information about the organisation

Donegal County Council serves a unique and diverse county with a population of over 170,000 people across an extensive rural, coastal and urban landscape. As Ireland’s most northerly county, Donegal shares over 90% of its land boundary with Northern Ireland and occupies a strategically important position within the North West City Region. The Council works closely with neighbouring local authorities, regional bodies and government departments across both jurisdictions to support coordinated spatial planning, infrastructure investment, economic development and sustainable growth throughout the wider North West region.

Donegal County Council provides a diverse range of services across a large geographic area, including planning, housing, roads, economic development, tourism, community development, culture, emergency services and environmental protection. The Council is committed to delivering high quality public services, strong governance and continuous organisational improvement in partnership with local communities and stakeholders.

An opportunity now exists to join Donegal County Council as Senior Planner within the Planning, Communities and Culture Directorate. This is a significant leadership role, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to influence strategic planning policy, lead multidisciplinary teams, drive organisational change and contribute to the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of one of Ireland’s most distinctive and strategically important counties.

An opportunity now exists in Donegal County Council for the position of Senior Planner.

Salary Scale effective from 1st June 2026:

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours gross per week.

The annual leave allowance for the position of Senior Planner is 30 days.

Selection Process Details

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Local authorities are committed equal opportunities employers.