Senior Planner – Environment & Planning

at  TOBIN Consulting Engineers

TOBIN, a large multi-disciplinary (engineering, environmental, planning) consultancy practice operating in Ireland since 1952, is currently looking to recruit a Senior Planner to join our busy and growing team in our Dublin Office.
The position of Senior Planner within TOBIN requires a minimum Level 8 Honours Degree qualification in BSc Planning (e.g. BSc. in Spatial Planning & Environmental Management from TUD; MSc Spatial Planning from TUD; BSc in City Planning & Environmental Policy and MRUP Accelerated from UCD; Master of Regional and Urban Planning (MRUP) from UCD; Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development) (or equivalent qualification appropriate to the tasks assigned).
At this stage in their careers planners at this level should be a Chartered Planner and Member of the Irish Planning Institute and/or the Royal Town Planning Institute.

THE SKILLS REQUIRED OF A SENIOR PLANNER:

• 5-8 years’ experience in a similar role
• Excellent written and verbal (English)
• Excellent interpersonal communication
• Strong analytical and spatial
• Ability to take initiative and make decisions where necessary
• Effective mediators and facilitators in environmental/planning conflicts with a view to building consensus about preferred ways forward.
• Skilled at working alongside clients, using good planning principles, to ensure that sustainable projects are successfully guided through the planning process.
• Ability to work closely with our Engineers and Scientists to realise economical, buildable and sustainable projects.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Teams, Microsoft Project other similar and relevant packages needed to fulfil their day to day tasks.
• Proficient in GIS software packages such as ArcGIS, ArcCollector and MapInfo and other similar and relevant packages.
• Ability to identify, record, manage and advise of planning risk associated with a
  Note: The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and may vary as necessitated by your evolving role and the overall business objectives of the company. The post-holder will be required to maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills, and aptitudes necessary to respond to a changing environment.

As a member of a team within a TOBIN department, the Senior Planner will be required to undertake the following duties:

• Providing strategic planning leadership and direction to clients (internal and external) on sectoral and project specific planning issues.
• Actively demonstrating a knowledge of planning legislation, policy and guidance as and providing solution based planning risk management.
• Where directed by the Project Manager, liaise and meet with Clients to ensure delivery the required planning advice, reports and associated outputs.
• Work closely with client legal teams to assist with document preparation for planning court proceedings such as judicial review
• Review reports, figures and drawings prepared by Graduate Planners, Planners and other Senior Planners, or Engineers or Scientists as part of an overall team.
• Preparation and review of planning reports and planning
• Carry out an internal validation and sign off on the content of planning applications including planning applications forms, newspaper and site notices and planning
• Liaising with planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála including attendance at preapplication consultation meetings as the senior client representative/planner.
• Liaising with other stakeholders including members of the public and statutory consultees (Government Departments, NPWS, IFI, TII etc.).
• Preparation and review of relevant chapters of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIARs) and Planning & Environmental Consideration Reports (PECRs).
• Direct liaison with peer reviewers, legal reviewers, clients to agree and finalise deliverables to the requisite standard.
• Preparation for and attendance at Oral Hearings as an Expert
• Preparation and attendance at Open Days/Evenings and Public Consultation Events
• Preparation and review of tender responses including pricing
• Understand project programme objectives
• Manage project and project staff to ensure the timely delivery of project deliverables within specified timeframes and within budget.
• Provide mentoring and guidance to more junior staff
• Maintain CPD Plan and Register
• Meet agreed Performance Appraisal Goals
• Attending Business Development meetings to market the planning expertise available within the company.
• Develop and maintain client relationships
• Keep up to date with legislative changes and new case law
• Keep up to date with industry development, innovations and the technology utilised by other planning firms.
• Compliance with and further development of the company’s quality assurance procedures and plans.
• Proactively market and develop TOBIN Consulting Engineers planning services and contribute to the growth of the company.