Title : Senior Executive Planner
Employer: Galway County Council
County: Galway
Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 10th September 2026
Starting Salary: €80,680
About The Employer:
Galway County Council is responsible for the administrative area of County Galway, excluding Galway City. The Council is responsible for the planning, design and construction of roads, drainage facilities, housing, fire stations, libraries and burial grounds. Galway County Council is the custodian of the environment and through its planning and environment policies seeks to enhance the county while protecting its unique character and atmosphere. It also plays an active role in the development of the county’s industrial, economic, business, social, arts, heritage and cultural affairs. In accordance with the Irish system of local government, which encompasses both democratic representation and public administration, Galway County Council as a local authority performs both a representational and operational role. The representational role of Galway County Council is performed directly by the elected members of the Council. In accordance with the Local Government Reform Act 2014, a new system of Municipal Districts came into effect from 1 June 2014, following the local elections on 23rd May 2014 which increased the number of Councillors from thirty to thirty-nine and these were elected for the five local Electoral Areas
County Galway is the second largest County in Ireland having an area of almost 6,149 square kilometres, with a coastline stretching to almost 2,000 kilometres. County Galway has the largest Gaeltacht population in Ireland. The population of the Gaeltacht area in Galway County has the largest proportion of daily Irish speakers at 29 per cent.
The county borders five other counties and has a rich and diverse built, natural and cultural heritage. It also has four main inhabited islands, Inis Móir, Inis Óirr, Inis Meáin and Inisbofin. Galway County Council is the local authority for the County of Galway serving a population of 192,995 (based on Census 2022). The population of the towns and villages within the county are diverse and varied. The geographical spread and extent of the county extends to Clifden on the west coast, acting as an important commercial, tourism, economic and retail centre for the County and Ballinasloe acts as an economic engine in the east of the county. Tuam is the largest town to the North of the county and Portumna and Gort are located to the south, all serve as catalyst for development within their areas.
With the geographical spread of the county, the framing of the Draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) has taken this into account, the towns of Ballinasloe and Tuam are identified as Key Towns. Ballinasloe and Tuam perform an important strategic role particularly as commercial /industrial centres. Other towns including Oranmore, Baile Chláir and Bearna are included in a new Metropolitan Area Strategic Plan (MASP). This designation will prioritise these towns for growth and development including the wider rural hinterland of the county. Loughrea, Athenry and Gort with their population size and catchment provide an important function within the county. The recently completed motorways (M6 and M17/M18) are strategically located allowing these towns to develop further and thereby accommodate the future residential and employment uses. The remaining towns and villages in the county all play an important role in terms of service provision including retail, community, health and education services.
The rural countryside from the West to the East provide residential accommodation, farming enterprises, tourism attractions and rural enterprises that are all catered for in a sustainable and co-ordinated manner.
About The Role:
This is a great opportunity to work in Galway County Council at a time of transformation and innovation. 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
This position is a senior position within the Council reporting to the Senior Planner and Director and/or other employee nominated by the Chief Executive. The Senior Executive Planner is responsible for managing elements of the Planning Authority and providing a multiplicity of services to Local Authorities.
Local authorities serve as vibrant and innovative Planning Authorities at the heart of delivering Project Ireland 2040. The role of Senior Executive Planner in a local authority is an excellent opportunity to engage with the active delivery of strategic policy across Development Management, Forward Planning and Project Delivery and contribute to a multi-disciplinary approach to Climate Action and Sustainable Transport.
The Senior Executive 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.
The Senior Executive Planner duties include but are not limited to the following:
- Assist in the development and delivery of capital projects, including regeneration projects, and assist in and advise on associated Part 8 processes.
- Manage the delivery of regulatory services or the preparation of a policy document.
- Have experience of analysing and considering new and emerging national and/or regulatory policies and guidelines in a town planning context with a view to assessing the implications of such developments and responding to same.
- Have experience of preparation or assessment of planning applications and pre-application proposals in the context of applicable planning policies and regulations.
- Have experience of managing and leading multi-disciplinary and cross functional teams and have the ability to motivate, empower, encourage and achieve maximum efficiency and value for money from the personnel and processes under their control.
- Have experience of maintaining sound employee relations and conflict resolution.
- Have an understanding of relevant legislation as it applies to Local Authority activities. in the context of a Coastal Local Authority, including but not limited to Planning, Environmental and Housing regulations.
- Have a track record of delivering results.
- Have an understanding of Local Authority services and structures in Ireland or have the ability to quickly acquire same.
- Be capable of working in close consultation with key stakeholders and in seeking cooperation and consensus with a whole range of bodies and representative groups, including statutory agencies and state bodies.
- Be experienced in meeting regularly with stakeholders (including elected representatives), providing updates, preparing presentations and reports, taking customer feedback and ensuring any learning from same is used to enhance the operations of the organisation.
- Be experienced in contributing to the operational and strategic planning processes and in the implementation of the agreed aims of same.
- Have excellent interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
- Experience of providing information on the pattern of demand and activity and the skills to schedule/programme the carrying out of work.
- Have an understanding of the role and duties of managers in safety management in the workplace.
- Have good ICT skills.
- Have a focus on the customer and on service improvement including taking ownership and resolving issues arising.
- Any other associated duties as may be assigned from time to time.
Full details of the role, including specific eligibility requirements, is available on www.publicjobs.ie.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm, Thursday, 10th September 2026
