Executive Technician (Planning)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Offaly County Council’s Planning Department is responsible for managing the location, amount, and type of development within the county. The Department is subdivided into Development Management, Forward Planning and Enforcement divisions. It has strong cross – departmental dealings, and operates in a manner of consultation and participation with the general public, government bodies and other stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST

An Executive Technician is the third tier within the five grade Local Authority Technician grouping, which ranges from the entry grade of Technician Grade 2 up to the post of Chief Technician. Technicians work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within one of the previously outlined Local Authority Directorates to deliver a wide variety of key local authority services. These include social housing; transportation infrastructure; environmental protection; water, wastewater, & solid waste, recreation and amenity provision and community development.  Local Authorities also play a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise promotion at local level. The Council employs several different disciplines of Technicians including civil/structural, environmental and architectural/building.

Technicians can be based in various locations throughout the organisation including the Head Quarters in Tullamore or Municipal District offices situated in strategic locations through the county. An Executive Technician will from time to time be required to deputise for more senior personnel and must be willing to take on this challenge. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated person, with a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services and shall demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of:

• Current planning regulations related to validating planning applications.
• Managing your work, and the work of those reporting to you, to achieve agreed objectives to a high standard of design of drawings and documentation and technical quality and professional practice, to agreed timeframes;
• Ensuring that all work is carried out in compliance with all relevant professional practice and industry standards and relevant public and Council policies;
• Have a satisfactory knowledge of public administration in Ireland and have general administrative experience.
• Current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of the sector
• Fostering and maintaining wide ranging productive working relationship both internally and externally to the organisation
• Public service values
• Submissions to the Department and dealing with related queries
• Provide general assistance to planning administration with queries

The ideal candidate should also have a good technical knowledge base and experience of the following:

• Preparation of maps using GIS Pro.
• Knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace; construction projects & the role of designer, PSDP and PSCS
• Operating ICT systems
• Prioritising of work effectively
• Acting on own initiative
• Dealing effectively with conflicting demands
• Working under pressure to tight deadlines

COMPETENCIES FOR THE POST

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of the following specific areas:

Technical Experience & Practice:

Experience of the practical application of:

• Competent knowledge /understanding and ability to use GIS pro technical software packaging to digitize maps relating to local area plans, development plans and other plan and strategies.
• Calculation of areas of zoning in towns and villages
• Prepare material for presentation, meetings, publication and exhibition;

Knowledge, appreciation and understanding of:

• Planning
• Validating planning applications
• Registering and mapping planning applications
• Calculate planning fees
• Appropriate bodies to whom planning applications should be referred to.
• Assist the public in locating sites or planning applications on the GIS system at the public counter.
• Health and Safety Legislation and Regulations

Delivering Results:

• Problem solving and decision making
• Thinking creatively
• Organising, planning, co-ordinating and prioritising work programmes
• Managing Resources and achieving efficiencies
• Delivering quality outcomes
• Co-operating with decisions and implementing solutions.
• Effective care and use of council resources and equipment.
• Complying with all council rules and relevant legislation.
• Delivering quality architectural work

Interpersonal Communications:

• Negotiating, influencing and liaising with others
• Team-working
• Communicating effectively
• Establishing and maintaining key internal and stakeholder relationships

Personal Effectiveness:

• Resilience and personal well-being
• Integrity & Public Service values
• Personal motivation and initiative
• Understanding the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates
• Political awareness

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Character:

Candidates shall be of good character

2. Health:

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

3. Education, experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms –

(a)   have satisfactory experience, in a technician post at Grade II or higher level or in an analogous post in a local authority or health board in the state

(b)  have at least five years satisfactory relevent experience having attained qualification as a technician

(c)   have a wide knowledge of all the technical aspects of local authority work and also a deeper knowledge of at least one section of the work

(d)  possess adequate training and experience relating to dealings with other departments within their own organisations and with other bodies and

4. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, hold a full valid driving licence for Class B vehicles.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

The Post:

The post is whole time and pensionable. A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel will be used to fill both permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

Salary:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time.  Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department circular.   Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale.  Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale, and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale.  The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

The current salary scale applicable to the post is €48,280 - €57,809 (LSI 2)

Duties:

You shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to you in relation to your employment and as may be appropriate to any particular function of any local authority for which the Chief Executive is responsible and carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of your duties. You shall, if required, act for an employee of a higher level. You may be required to work outside your normal job description from time to time.

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require:

Under the direction and supervision of the appropriate line manager, the position involves the provision of such architectural or ancillary services of an advisory, supervisory, or executive nature as may be required by the Council in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties.

Work Base:

Offaly County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Working Hours:

The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty-five hours working week, hours may vary from time to time.

The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including evening and weekends, as necessary. No additional remuneration will be paid in respect of such activities.

The provisions of Offaly County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time. A flexible working hours system is in operation subject to the terms and conditions of the Time and Attendance Policy.

Annual Leave:

The current annual leave entitlement is 30 days. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (as amended)

Sick Leave:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Probation:

Appointees will be on probation for the first year of employment. The terms of the Offaly County Council Probation Policy will apply.

Superannuation:

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012:

New members joining the Public Sector on or after 1st January, 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. The Single Scheme applies to all pensionable first-time entrants to the Public Service as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks. A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5%, of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme. Pension and retirement lump sum based on career-average pay, pensions will be co-ordinated with the State Pension Contributory (SPC).

For persons who commenced public sector employment prior to 1st January 2013: Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (ie. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

All persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority will be required in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Childrens Contributory Pension) Scheme to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

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