Job title: Senior Planner
Employer:
Kerry County Council
Location:
Kerry
Closing Date:
3pm, Thursday, 6th November 2025
Salary:
Starting at €91,851
About the Employer:
The Local Government sector in Ireland is made up of 31 Local Authorities and 3 Regional Assemblies. Local Authorities are the closest and most accessible form of Government to citizens. They have responsibility for the delivery of a wide range of services in their local area with a focus on making cities, towns and the countryside areas attractive places to live, work and invest. These services generally include housing; transportation; planning; infrastructure; environmental protection; recreation and amenity provision and community development. Local Authorities also play a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise promotion at local level.
Kerry County Council is the Authority responsible for Local Government in County Kerry. The Council headquarters are located at Áras an Chontae, Rathass, Tralee County Kerry and there are five Municipal Districts [Municipal District of Tralee, Municipal District of Killarney, Municipal District of Listowel, Municipal District of Kenmare and Municipal District of Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne]. Kerry County Council has 33 elected members and approximately 1500 staff.
About the Role:
Reporting to a Director of Service, the Senior Planner is charged with the efficient management, direction and development of the Land Activation and Planning Department. This is a senior management role and managers at this level work within defined parameters relevant to the position, in accordance with the local authority's vision and objectives as set out in its Corporate Plan. Delivery of efficient services and value for money is crucial.
The Senior 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 at both full Council and Municipal District level.
The appointee will work in a dynamic and progressive local authority which provides a multiplicity of services as outlined above to the inhabitants of County Kerry and the significant numbers of visitors to the County.
Local authorities serve as vibrant and innovative Planning Authorities at the heart of delivering Project Ireland 2040. The role of Senior Planner is an excellent opportunity to engage with the active delivery of strategic policy across Forward Planning, Land Activation, Project Delivery, Development Management and Enforcement and contribute to a multi-disciplinary approach to Climate Action and Sustainable Transport.
The Senior Planner will oversee the provision of a strategic framework for the Sustainable Planning & Development of the County. To achieve this they will lead the Forward Planning Policy and Land Activation strategy including the programme for the Development of Infrastructure in the County by developing a long-term strategic plan for the County through "Kerry 2040" and completing the review of the County Development Plan and the associated Variations to replace the existing Municipal District Local Area plans all of which are to be informed by the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy and the National Planning Framework.
About You:
The ideal candidate shall have the following Skills and Experience:
• An ability to work within and lead multi-disciplinary teams;
• The ability to motivate, empower and encourage personnel under their control to achieve maximum performance;
• Strong planning, operational and project management skills;
• Excellent communication/presentation, facilitation and interpersonal skills;
• Strong leadership and people management skills;
• Excellent knowledge, or the ability to quickly acquire same, of local government functions, services and activities particularly in relation to planning and development;
• Excellent working knowledge of planning legislation and the principles, practices and techniques of planning and construction;
• A solution orientated approach and the ability to work in close consultation with the County/ City Council; Strategic Policy Committees, Municipal Districts; Public Participation Network, etc. and to seek co-operation and consensus with a whole range of bodies, business organisations and key stakeholders;
• A proven ability to work under pressure and to think laterally maintaining a solution orientated mindset in dealing with a wide range of issues;
• Excellent report writing skills and strong IT skills;
• An ability to achieve delivery of competing demands within prescribed timelines and deadlines;
• 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.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday, 6th November, 2025.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.