The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of the Strategic Planning section within the National Transport Authority.
As the Head of Strategic Planning, you will be responsible for the NTA's statutory functions as they relate to the land use planning process and in formulating NTA strategies, plans, policies and programmes.
It includes plan-making, policy and guidance development, environmental and equality assessment, spatial data and analysis, drafting of planning submissions on statutory frameworks, strategies and plans and programme monitoring.
The position requires strong leadership, excellent judgement, and the ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and partners to deliver high-quality outputs on time and within budget in a complex and dynamic statutory and policy environment.
Core Competencies
Leadership — Contributes to organisational strategies and policies; sets clear team plans; builds and sustains high performance; delegates effectively; develops capability through coaching; harnesses innovative delivery channels.
Judgement, Analysis & Decision-Making — Researches thoroughly; interprets complex quantitative/qualitative evidence; integrates diverse inputs; makes timely, well-grounded decisions mindful of wider implications.
Management & Delivery of Results — Owns challenging deliverables; plans and reprioritises; drives continuous improvement; maintains controls and performance measures; manages multiple projects effectively.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills — Communicates clearly in writing and verbally; fosters teamwork across sections; maintains constructive stakeholder relationships; influences with poise.
Specialist Knowledge, Expertise & Self-Development — Deep understanding of transport/land-use planning and the Irish planning system; appreciates Government priorities; recognised subject-matter expertise; commitment to ongoing learning.
Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values — Self-motivated; citizen-focused; acts with integrity and the highest ethical standards.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the preparation and review of Greater Dublin Area and Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies, and City Centre Plans.
Oversee the Local Transport Plans (LTPs) programme in partnership with local authorities.
Scope and deliver Regional Freight Strategies and Freight Pilots Projects.
Support the preparation of Sustainable Urban Logistics Plans.
Oversee the preparation of NTA submissions on statutory land use plans, strategies and frameworks and planning applications, ensuring consistency with NTA objectives and statutory remit and as expressed in transport strategies.
Oversee the management of environmental services within the National Transport Authority.
B. Monitoring and Reporting
Establish an integrated monitoring framework and produce Strategy Monitoring Reports with agreed indicators.
Coordinate monitoring of major schemes (e.g., BusConnects, Metrolink, DART+, Cork Commuter Rail, Luas extensions, key metropolitan road schemes) as they relate to the NTA plans and strategies.
Oversee environmental (SEA/AA/EIA) and equality (EqIA) monitoring and statutory reports.
Lead land-use/transport monitoring including national land use forecasting data, canal cordon counts, Census/POWSCAR analyses, and network supply/usage dashboards.
Implement monitoring of planning decisions for consistency with NTA recommendations.
Develop submission analytics for quarterly and annual reporting.
C. Policy Development and Guidance
Direct the development, revision and publication of NTA planning policy and guidance (e.g., Area-Based Transport Assessment/evolution of plan-making toolkits; Equality Guidance; Environmental Guidance; Biodiversity Strategy; Climate Action roadmaps).
Oversee development and application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) spatial analysis tools: Accessibility to Opportunities and Services (ATOS) updates, Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL), connectivity & catchment analysis, dashboards and map viewers.
Champion research, professional development, and communications to disseminate Strategic Planning outputs.
Champion research, professional development and communication to disseminate environmental outputs as they relate to transport.
D. Strategic Planning Services
Lead the NTA's advisory and interdependent relationship with government departments & agencies, regional assemblies and local authorities on all matters relating to the strategic planning of transport and its integration with land use planning.
Provide authoritative internal planning advice on major infrastructure and services, ensuring alignment with strategy and statutory frameworks.
Lead Environmental & Equality Advisory Services; manage delivery of SEA/AA/EIA/EqIA for NTA plans/projects in line with legislation and best practice.
Oversee spatial data management and data requests; align with NTA Data Services/BI; ensure accessible outputs.
E. Section Governance, Finance & Administration
Manage the section work programme, risk register, and performance reporting, chair weekly programme reviews and thematic meetings.
Oversee planning database administration, regular updates to the Office of the Planning Regulator, board reports, and the tracking of major applications.
Manage finances, procurement, frameworks and consultant contracts; provide monthly budget updates and quarterly forecasts; ensure compliance with public financial procedures.
Lead responses to PQs, FOI/AIE, CRM queries; coordinate publications and internal communications.
F. People Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead and develop a high-performing multi-disciplinary team (resource planning, recruitment/PMDS, coaching, wellbeing).
Coordinate engagement with key stakeholders including: the Regional Assemblies; local authorities; Office of Planning Regulator and Government Departments relevant to land-use/transport integration.
Represent the Authority at senior forums, briefings and public consultations; maintain a strong external network to support delivery.
Note
: The functions and responsibilities initially assigned to the position are based on the current organisational requirements and may be changed from time to time.
The person appointed requires the flexibility to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar level within the Authority.
Please note: In order to satisfy the shortlisting panel that you meet these criteria you must explicitly reference how you meet same in your application.
Failure to demonstrate these may prevent your application progressing to future shortlisting stages.
Each candidate must meet the following requirements at the time of the competition closing:
Hold a minimum of an NFQ Level 7 degree in Town/Spatial Planning, Transport Planning, Civil/Transport Engineering, Geography, Urban Policy, Environmental Planning or a closely related field;
Have a minimum of 9 years' experience in transport and land-use planning, including at least 5 years leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver complex plans/programmes;
Expert knowledge of the Irish planning system and legislation (Environment, Planning and Development legislation), SEA/EIA/Habitats requirements and equality legislation;
Demonstrated delivery of major strategies and plans and monitoring outputs in the area of transport planning or land use planning; strong programme/project management, budgeting and procurement skills;
Advanced stakeholder management and communication (written/oral) across central/local government and agencies; and
Strong analytical capability; familiarity with GIS/spatial analysis and evidence-led decision-making.
Please note: Should further shortlisting be required after essential criteria above, a selection of the following may be assessed.
The ideal candidate will also have:
An NFQ Level 9 qualification in Town/Spatial Planning, Transport Planning, Civil/Transport Engineering, Geography, Urban Policy, Environmental Planning or a closely related field;
Professional membership/chartership (e.g., IPI/MRTPI/ICE/CIHT or equivalent);
Experience overseeing SEA/AA/EIA/EqIA for plans/programmes and major infrastructure projects;
Experience with transport planning tools (e.g., PTAL, connectivity analysis, dashboards, ATOS updates); and
Experience operating in an Irish public-sector context.
Remuneration
Salary Grade: Senior Advisor
Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) rate.
This salary is payable to an individual who is required to make a personal pension contribution (PPC) to their main pension (in general those persons whose initial appointment to the Public Service is on or after 6th April ****).
Non Personal Pension Contribution (non-PPC) rate.
This salary is payable to an individual who is not required to make a personal pension contribution (PPC) to their main pension scheme.
Annual Leave:
30 days per annum.
This leave is on the basis of a five day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.
Note:
entry will be at point 1 of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation;
different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment the appointee is already a serving Civil Servant or Public Servant;
the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.
Contract:
Permanent Contract
Probation:
There is a 6 month probationary period which may at the discretion of the CEO be extended to 10 months.
Selection Process
Prior to completing your application please read the Important Candidate Information Booklet on our careers page here:
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