Assistant Director/Senior Planner
Employer: Northern & Western Regional Assembly
County: Roscommon
Closing Date: Thursday, 27th November 2025 at 3pm
About the Employer
Established in 2015, the Northern & Western Regional Assembly is one of three Regional Assemblies and is part of the regional tier of government in Ireland. It covers the local authorities of Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Mayo & Galway City & County with 25 Assembly Members representing the 9 local authorities at regional level.
The Regional Assembly has statutory responsibility for Regional, Spatial and Economic policy and forges links between the European Union (EU), and national and local levels through regional spatial and economic planning for the benefit of the Northern & Western Region. It plays an important role in promoting and supporting balanced and effective regional development and is tasked to co‑ordinate, promote and support strategic planning and sustainable development, and to promote effectiveness in Local Government and public services.
The overarching objective of the Assembly is the physical, cultural, social and environmental development of the region, whilst supporting quality of life, economic development as well as transitional measures in respect of Climate Action and a Low Carbon Region.
Key functions include:
Prepare, adopt and implement the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Northern & Western Region (RSES)
Managing Authority for ERDF co‑funded Regional Programmes and active participants in EU funded Projects
Advocating on behalf of the Region, particularly in relation to Strategic policy & investment decisions
Oversight and assessment of Local Authority Policies in Planning & Economic Development
Promote coordinated public services
About the Role
The Assistant Director / Senior Planner position is part of the senior management team and has particular responsibility for sustainable spatial planning and economic development across the Northern and Western region. The post provides effective leadership and delivery of proposed new strategies and drives the delivery of the Assembly’s wider regional planning and economic development functions.
The postholder will work under the direction of the Regional Assembly Director, in close contact with the Elected Members of the Assembly, the Designated Chief Executive for the Assembly, other Local Authority Chief Executives, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, other senior public servants, staff of the other Regional Assembly’s, third level institutions, and wider non‑governmental and community interests.
Reporting to the Director of NWRA, the Assistant Director / Senior Planner is charged with the efficient management, direction and development of the Planning and Economic Development Department. The role requires leadership on policy development and implementation, service delivery and change management in a dynamic and goal driven environment. Stakeholder and external relations are a key area of the role.
About You
The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:
An ability to work within and lead multi‑disciplinary teams
Experience of managing and leading multi‑disciplinary and cross‑functional teams and motivating, empowering, encouraging and achieving maximum efficiency and value for money
Strong planning, operational, project and programme management skills
Excellent working knowledge of planning legislation and the principles, practices and techniques of planning and construction
Excellent knowledge, or the ability to quickly acquire the same, of national, regional and local government functions, services and activities, particularly in relation to planning, project management, EU funding/budget management and development
Experience of analysing new and emerging national policies and guidelines to assess implications for the region
Proven ability to work under pressure and think laterally maintaining a solution orientated mindset in dealing with a wide range of issues
Ability to achieve delivery of competing demands within prescribed timelines and deadlines
Experience of maintaining sound employee relations and conflict resolution
Track record of delivering results
Understanding of Local Authority and Regional Assembly services and structures in Ireland, particularly as they relate to the planning function
Capability to work in close consultation with key stakeholders and seek co‑operation and consensus with a range of bodies and representative groups
Experience in meeting with stakeholders, providing updates, presentations and reports, taking customer feedback and using it to enhance organisational operations
Experience in contributing to operational and strategic planning processes and implementing agreed aims
Excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills
Experience, knowledge and values to mentor planning staff and promote the NWRA as a place of work
Good knowledge and awareness of statutory obligations of Health and Safety Legislation and their application in the workplace
Experience of managing finance and budgets and ensuring value for money
Experience of providing information on the pattern of demand and activity and scheduling/programme work
Good general ICT skills
Customer focus and a commitment to service improvement including taking ownership and resolving issues
Employer Promise
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.
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