Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerLongford County Council is one of Local Authorities in the Republic of Ireland. TheCouncil has responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of services which arenecessary to the physical, economic, social and cultural life of County Longford, with afocus on making Longford an attractive place to live, work and invest.The following comprise the areas of service delivery in Longford County Council:• Economic & Community Development • Fire & Emergency Services• Local Enterprise • Environment• Planning • Finance• Cultural & Recreational Services • Information Services• Infrastructure • Corporate Services• Water Services • Human ResourcesHousingThis is an opportunity to gain employment in the role of Executive Planner withLongford County Council. Longford County Council is committed to a policy of open and fairrecruitment, in line with good practice, recruitment & selection standards,employment legislation and relevant circulars from the Department ofHousing, Local Government & Heritage.This Candidate Information Booklet is intended to provide information on thepost of Executive Planner and the selection process and candidates areadvised to familiarise themselves with the detailed information in advance ofsubmitting their application.Candidates should satisfy themselves that they are eligible under theQualifications to apply for the post of Executive Planner.Where a candidate provides false or misleading information or hasdeliberately omitted relevant information on their application form this mayresult in their disqualification from the competition.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerEXECUTIVE PLANNERTHE ROLEThis is a senior position within the Planning Department reporting to the Senior Plannerand/or another employee nominated by the Chief Executive. The Executive Planner isresponsible for managing elements of the Planning Department and providing a multiplicityof services to Local Authorities.Reporting to the appropriate line manager, the Executive Planner will be responsible for theefficient management of their prescribed work area within the planning or related function.This is a management role. Managers at this level work within defined parameters relevantto the position, in accordance with the Local Authority's vision and objectives. The ExecutivePlanner will be required to work closely with elected Councillors to deliver the full range ofservices and implement local policy decisions.In the current economic climate, managers are charged with service delivery and changemanagement in an environment of limited resource availability, both human and financial.Delivery of efficient services and value for money is crucial.DUTIESThe duties of the office are to give the local authority and;(a) Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive Officer, for thepurposes acts is Manager, and;(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by thelocal authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (a)or this paragraph under the direction and supervision of the appropriate officer, suchplanning or ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory or executive nature as maybe required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exerciseand performance of any of its powers, functions and duties including the duty ofassisting the Senior Planner, or other appropriate professional officer, in thesupervision of the planning or ancillary services of any of the forgoing localauthorities or bodies, and when required to do so, to perform the duty of acting forthe appropriate professional officer of higher rank during the absence of such officerof higher rank.Executive Planners are responsible for implementing programmes of work in the PlanningDepartment and for providing a multiplicity of planning services and related services.Executive Planner positions are multi-faceted and may include some or all of the followingkey service areas:Development Management;Planning Enforcement;Economic Development;Forward Planning and Sustainable Development;Community Development.Climate Adaption and Just TransitionVacant Sites Levy, Zoned Land Tax, Derelict sites and housing estates/ taking incharge of residential developmentsCandidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerThe duties of an Executive Planner may include the following: (this list is not exhaustive andmay be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require):Assess planning applications, pre-application proposals, enforcement cases againstthe Councils policies and provide recommendations and policy responses to these asrequired;Assist individuals, groups etc., on planning related issues;Prepare and implement development plan, local area plan and forward planningdocuments and prepare reports on these matters for the appropriate Committees ofthe Council;Liaising and working with constituent planning authorities and other publicauthorities on all aspects of implementation;Plan monitoring and reporting on implementation progress;Monitoring and assisting with development plan and local area planpreparation/reviews;Developing planning and regeneration projects, sourcing funding and implementingactions;Supervise and manage staff in their functional area;Participate & take part in the duties as required as part of the Organisationalresponse to Climate Action and Just Transition to promote & ensure capacitybuilding, empowering change and delivering actionAny other associated duties as may be assigned from time to time.The Successful candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge of Irish Planninglegislation, the key relevant European Directives and associated procedures, and anunderstanding of the particular planning issues relevant to County Longford and its widerregion.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerCOMPETENCIESKey competencies for the post of Executive Planner are given in the table below. Candidateswill be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of theircompetence under each of these headings. Please take particular note of the competencieslisted as any shortlisting or interview processes will be based on the information providedby the candidate in their completed application form.Strategic AbilityThinks and acts strategically. Translates strategy into operational plans and outputs.Demonstrates innovation and creativity to secure successful strategic outcomes.Political AwarenessMANAGEMENT & Has a clear understanding of the political reality and context of the organisation andCHANGE develops and maintains positive, productive, and beneficial working relationships withall stakeholders.Bringing About ChangeEffectively manage the introduction of change and demonstrate flexibility andopenness to change. Influences others and fosters commitment to change.Problem Solving and Decision MakingMake timely, informed and effective decisions and show good judgement and balancein making decisions or recommendations.Operational PlanningContributes to operational plans and develops team plans in line with priorities andactions for their area of operations. Delegates, tracks and monitors activity. EstablishesDELIVERING high quality service and customer care standards.RESULTS • Managing ResourcesManages the allocation, use and evaluation of resources to ensure they are usedeffectively to deliver on operational plans.Delivering Quality OutcomesPromotes the achievement of quality outcomes in delivering services. Organises thedelivery of services to meet and/or exceed required standards. Evaluates outcomesachieved, identifies learning and implementsLeading and MotivatingMotivates others individually and in teams to deliver high quality work and customerfocused outcomes. Leads by example in terms of commitment, flexibility and a strongcustomer service ethos.PERFORMANCE • Managing PerformanceEffectively manages performance including underperformance or conflict. EmpowersTHROUGH PEOPLEand encourages people to deliver their part of the operational planCommunicating EffectivelyRecognises the value of communicating effectively with all employees. Actively listensto others. Has High effective verbal and written communication skills.Relevant KnowledgeKeeps up to date with current developments, trends and best practice in their area ofresponsibility. Demonstrates the required specialist knowledge and understandingrequired for the role.Resilience and Personal Well BeingDemonstrates appropriate and positive self–confidence. Remains calm under pressureand operates effectively in an environment with significant complexity and pace.• IntegrityPERSONALBehaves in an honest, trustworthy and respectful manner and is transparent, fair andEFFECTIVENESS consistent in dealing with others.Personal Motivation, Initiative & AchievementIs enthusiastic about the role and sets challenging goals to achieve high qualityoutcomes. Is self-motivated and persistent when faced with difficulties. Engages inregular critical reflection in order to identify how own performance and can beimproved.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerExecutive PlannerQUALIFICATIONS. Character Candidates shall be of good character.. Health Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect ofability to render regular and efficient service.. CitizenshipCandidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the MemberStates of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU andSwitzerland on the free movement of persons; or(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen andhas a stamp visa: or(e) A person awarded international protection under the International ProtectionAct or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result offamily reunification and has a stamp visa or(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, andresident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp visa. Education, Training and Experience etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:(a) hold a qualification in Planning (at least level in the National Framework ofQualifications)(b) have at least five years satisfactory experience of planning work;(c) possess a high standard of technical training and expertise: and(d) a high degree of administrative experienceCandidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerPARTICULARS OF EMPLOYMENT. The Post The post is wholetime (i.e., hours per week) and appointment may be permanent ortemporary.. Location Longford County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to anypremises in use by the Council, now or in the future.The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own meansof transport and at their own expense.. CommencementLongford County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to takeup such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take upthe appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in itsabsolute discretion may determine, Longford County Council shall not appoint them.. Working Hours The current working hours are hours per week, Monday to Friday. Longford CountyCouncil reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time in line withGovernment Circulars.All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of theOrganisation of Working Time Act,, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations,. Longford County Council requires employees to record their hours using a Clockingsystem.. Reporting Arrangements Executive Planners report directly to the appropriate supervisor in the Section or to anyother employee of Longford County Council as the Director of Services or other appropriateemployee may designate for this purpose.A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involvediscussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance andconduct.. Probationary Period of Employment There shall be a period after appointment during which the appointee will hold the positionon probation. The period of probation will be prescribed by the Chief Executive.Employment may be terminated during the probationary period should service be deemedby the Chief Executive to be unsatisfactory. Employment may be terminated at the end ofthe probationary period unless the Chief Executive has certified that the employee hadsatisfactory service. Tenure of employment following probation will be subject tosatisfactory service.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive Planner. Remuneration The current salary scale for the post of Executive Planner is €, - €, (LSI ) grossper annum (Circular EL /), the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time totime in line with Government Circulars.On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the point of thesalary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidatesemployed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history.Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees nominated bankaccount. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I. Increments arepaid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and nationalagreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct arenot satisfactory.. Superannuation & Retirement A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required inrespect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme asamended or the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act or thePublic Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act will apply asappropriate on appointment.Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, withdue consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which theybelong.For appointees who are deemed not to be "new entrants" as defined in the Public ServiceSuperannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, retirement is compulsory on reachingyears of age.The minimum retirement age for "new entrants" to the public service as defined in thePublic Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act is. There is nomandatory retirement age.Effective from st January,, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-timenew entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to thepublic service after a break of more than weeks:Retirement age is set, initially, at years; this will rise in step with statutorychanges in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to years in and years in.Compulsory retirement age will be .. Annual Leave The current annual leave entitlement for Executive Planner is days per annum, inaccordance with the Council's Annual Leave Policy.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerThe Chief Executive of Longford County Council retains autonomy with regard to officeclosures, (e.g., Christmas Office Closure), any days arising from such closure will be reservedfrom the employee's annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will bereviewed and advised to all employees each year.. Driver's Licence & Insurance Longford County Council employees may on occasion be required to use their car on officialbusiness. In such situations the employee must hold a current clean driver's licence andhave available adequate means of transport.It is the responsibility of the employee to arrange the appropriate car insurance cover forbusiness use and to indemnify Longford County Council with the indemnity specified onyour insurance certificate under the heading "Persons or classes of person who arecovered". Documentation to confirm the appropriate insurance cover will be required to besupplied to the Council on an annual basis.. Code of Conduct/Organisation Policies Employees are required to adhere to all current and future Longford County Council codesof practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisationalpolicies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection,Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment.. TrainingEmployees are required to attend and participate fully in training programmes as may bedecided by the Council from time to time and to apply their learning in the course of theirdaily working activities.. Health and Safety Regulations Longford County Council as an Employer is obliged to ensure, so far as it is reasonablypracticable the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work of all of its employees. Under the Safety,Health and Welfare at Work Act, the County Council has a legal duty to exercise all duecare and take all protective and preventative measures to protect the Safety, Health andWelfare of its employees.All employees also have a legal obligation under Safety and Health legislation to co-operatewith management and not engage in any improper conduct or behaviour or do anything,which would place themselves or others at risk. Employees must not be under the influenceof an intoxicant at the place of work.Employees must comply with all Safety and Health rules and regulations and attend allrequired Safety and Health Training.Important NoticeThe above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be thecomprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which will be set out in theemployment contract to be agreed with the successful candidate.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerSELECTION PROCESS. How to Apply Only fully completed application forms will be accepted.Please ensure that:. your application is made on the official application form only and sent via email inpdf format to – do not attach or include your CVNOTE: your CV will not be accepted as an application or as part of your application.. you fully complete all sections of the application form and include all relevant,detailed and accurate information.NOTE: any offer of employment is subject to the information given on yourapplication form being true. False/misleading information or deliberate omissionsmay result in termination of employment.. you include a copy of your educational certificates as part of one pdf application.. you submit your application on or before :pm, Friday th September .Forward your completed application form via email to :Applications submitted after the closing date will not be acceptedApplication forms must be submitted by email in pdf formatApplications submitted by hand, post or fax will not be acceptedClaims in relation to the late receipt of application forms will not be entertained.Admission to this competition, or an invitation to take tests or to attend for interviewdoes not infer that you fulfil all the requirements for appointment.If you do not receive an "acknowledgement-of-receipt" of your application within sevenworking days of application - please contact Longford County Council's HR departmentby phone: () / or by email: Longford County Council may need to contact you during the competition's selectionprocess. It is important that the contact details (i.e. your postal address, email addressand phone number) given on your application form are correct and accessible by you.Longford County Council will not accept responsibility for communication not accessedor received by you. It is the responsibility of each applicant to provide accurate contactdetails on their Application Form. Correspondance in relation to all aspects of thiscompetition will be primarily via email.Changes to your contact details that occur during this recruitment campaign should benotified by email to Candidate Information Booklet – Executive Planner. Selection Process Stage – Submission of Application Form via email Candidates interested in applying for the position of Executive Planner should submit theircompleted application with supporting documentation form via email in PDF format toEach completed application must include a copy of all educational qualifications declared inthe application form.Failure to submit a completed application form, with all required supportingdocumentation, by the specified deadline will result in the application being deemed invalidand it will not be permitted to proceed any further in the selection process.Stage – Initial Screening All completed application forms received by the stated closing date & time will be screenedto ensure that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position of ExecutivePlanner in accordance with the declared Qualifications (as given on page of this booklet).Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the required eligibility criteria, theirapplication will progress to Step of the selection process.Candidates who fail to demonstrate that they meet the minimum eligibility criteria required,their application will be deemed invalid and will not progress any further in the selectionprocess.Stage – Shortlisting Longford County Council reserves the right to shortlist applications, it is very importanttherefore, that candidates provide accurate, clear and comprehensive information in theircompleted application forms.Shortlisting may take the form of:. a desktop-shortlisting process, where a board will be assigned to examine theinformation provided by the candidate and assess it against criteria required for theposition, and/or. an online shortlisting interview.Candidates who are shortlisted may have their application scored and ranked in order ofmerit. Based on the score awarded their application may progress to Step of the selectionprocess.For candidates who are not shortlisted, their application will not progress any further in theselection process.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive PlannerStage – Interview On completion of Stage of the selection process, successfully shortlisted candidates maybe invited in batches, to attend for interview.An independent interview board will be established by the Chief Executive of LongfordCounty Council. The board will comprise a Chairperson and two other members, who willhave expert knowledge in the relevant field. The objective of the board is to establish theapplicant's suitability for the post and to rank the successful candidates in order of meritfor appointment.The interview will be the candidate's opportunity to demonstrate that they possess therequired competencies, knowledge, skills, and experience. The objective of the board is toassess the candidate's responses against agreed criteria and to identify the candidates whobest meet the competencies required.Longford County Council will issue advance notice of the date and time of the interview. It isthe responsibility of the candidate to make themselves available for interview on the dateand time notified and to ensure that they are able to successfully connect to the onlineinterview if required.Requests to reschedule notified interview dates or times cannot be accommodated.Candidates who do not attend/connect for their interview at the time and on the dateadvised will be deemed to have withdrawn their application from the competition and theirapplication will receive no further consideration.Expenses incurred by candidates in attending for interview will be the responsibility of thecandidate.Candidates who are successful in the online interview process will be qualified forappointment in order of merit and placed on a panel. This panel may be used to fill bothpermanent and temporary Executive Planner vacancies that may arise during the life of thepanel.It should be noted that placement on a panel may not necessarily lead to a job offer. Theselection process is not concluded until sought references are received and all otherclearance checks, e.g. Garda Vetting, occupational health, verification of educationqualifications, etc, have been carried out to the satisfaction of the Council.Candidates on the Executive Planner panel who satisfy all the requirements for the postmay be offered employment subject to:. Their place, in order of merit, on the panel. The requirements of Longford County Council.Should a candidate decline an offer of employment or having accepted an offer ofemployment relinquish it prior to commencing in the post, they will be deemed to havewithdrawn their application from the competition.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive Planner. Feedback Candidates shall be notified of the outcome of each stage of the selection process as soon aspossible.If, following the interview, a candidate is placed on a panel they shall be informed of theirposition on the panel. Details of marks attained in the interview process will be providedupon receipt of written request.. Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn Candidates who do not attend for testing and/or interview when and where required byLongford County Council and/or the Testing Company, or who do not, when requested,furnish such evidence as required by Longford County Council within the specifiedtimeframe, regarding any matter relevant to their candidature, will be deemed to havewithdrawn their application from the competition.. References Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they arewell known but not related.In advance of any offer of employment, Longford County Council reserves the right to seekboth written and verbal references from current and previous employers, educationalinstitutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated.Longford County Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness andrelevance of such references and referees. Information sought from referees shall bestructured around the requirements of the job and the job description, person specificationand/or competency profile provided.. Verification of Education Qualifications Prior to appointment, the candidate will be required to present the original parchment oftheir certificate, diploma and/or degree and any other supporting documentation requiredby the Council*, to the Human Resources department in order to verify their qualifications.Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality andQualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the IrishNational Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also beaccompanied by a translation document.. Pre-Employment Medical Prior to appointment the candidate will be required to complete a Health Declaration andto undergo a medical examination, at their own expense, by a qualified medicalpractitioner nominated by the Council. On taking up employment the expense of thismedical examination will be refunded.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive Planner. Garda Clearance Garda Vetting will be sought in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children andVulnerable Persons) Acts to and the applicant will be required to fully cooperatewith this process.. Canvassing Any attempt by a candidate, or by any person(s) acting at the candidate's instigation,directly or indirectly, by means of written communication or otherwise influence in thecandidate's favour, any member or employee of the Council or person nominated by theCounty Council to interview or examine applicants, will automatically disqualify thecandidate for the position being sought.. Confidentiality Longford County Council, in its recruitment and selection procedures, has appropriatemeasures in place to protect the confidentiality of all applicants. All enquiries, applicationsand other aspects that form part of the recruitment formalities are treated as confidentialand are not disclosed to anyone, outside of those directly involved in the recruitmentprocess - subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts, -.Records created, maintained and stored by Longford County Council as part of the recruitmentand selection process are subject to a range of legislation, including Freedom of Informationand Data Protection. Longford County Council shall comply with the National RecordsRetention Policy () and any other relevant records retention policies.Candidate Information Booklet – Executive Planner. Who can I contact if I have a query in relation the Recruitment Campaign for ExecutivePlanner?The Candidate Information Booklet provides comprehensive information relating to the selectionprocess for this recruitment campaign. However, if after reading this information booklet yourequire any additional/further information - please forward your query by email to:. I have submitted my application form. What happens next?Longford County Council will carry out an eligibility check on all application forms to ensure that theymeet the minimum eligibility criteria for the post as set out by the Department of Housing, LocalGovernment & Heritage. If you do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the post, basedon the information given in your application form, you will not be invited to interview.Depending on the number of candidates remaining at this stage of the competition it may benecessary to hold a shortlisting process. The shortlisting process may take the form of either adesktop exercise (based on the information contained in the application forms) or a shortlistinginterview.. What happens on completion of the shortlisting process?Longford County Council will contact all applicants advising them of the results of the shortlistingprocess. Candidates who are shortlisted at this stage will be invited to attend for interview. It is yourresponsibility to attend for interview on the date and time notified. An alternative dates and timescannot be facilitated.. What happens after undertaking the final interview?Candidates who are successful in the interview process will be placed on a panel and ranked in orderof merit. This panel may be used to fill both permanent and temporary vacancies for the post ofExecutive Planner, that may arise during the life of the panel.Please note that being placed on a panel is not a guarantee that you will be appointed to theposition of Executive Planner.. If I am offered employment where will I be based?The management of Longford County Council reserve the right to assign employees to any premisesor business section as required in accordance with the business needs of the organisation.. How will Longford County Council communicate with me throughout the Recruitment andSelection Campaign?Longford County Council may contact you by phone, email or post at various stages throughout theselection process. Any change to the contact details provided that occur during this recruitmentcampaign should be notified by email to