Senior Project Planner

  • Full-time
  • Enivronment and Planning
  • Dublin

About the Role:

TOBIN is seeking an ambitious and motivated Senior Project Planner to join our growing Planning team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to work on a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, energy, environmental, residential, commercial, and public sector projects across Ireland.


This role can be based in any of our 5 office locations - Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Sligo or Castlebar.


As a Senior Project Planner, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality planning services, managing planning workstreams on multidisciplinary projects, and supporting the development of junior team members. You will work closely with clients, project managers, engineers, environmental specialists, and key stakeholders to successfully guide projects through the planning process.


To note, following TOBIN's recent acquisition by AtkinsRéalis, TOBIN now operates as TOBIN, an AtkinsRéalis Company. Candidates applying for this position will become part of the wider AtkinsRéalis group, a world-leading engineering and project management company.

About You:

You will hold a relevant Level 8 Honours Degree in Planning or a related discipline, along with significant professional planning experience. You will be a Corporate Member of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and/or the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or actively progressing toward Chartered Planner status.


Typically, candidates will have 3 to 7 years' experience, although applications from professionals with equivalent expertise and demonstrated project management capability are welcomed.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning & Project Delivery:


  • Lead planning workstreams on projects of varying scale and complexity.
  • Provide expert planning advice to clients and internal project teams.
  • Prepare, review and coordinate planning applications and supporting documentation.
  • Manage project programmes and ensure planning deliverables are completed on time and within budget.
  • Review planning reports, drawings, figures and technical documentation.
  • Undertake quality assurance reviews prior to submission of applications and reports.
  • Liaise with planning authorities, An Bord Pleanála, statutory consultees and other stakeholders.
  • Represent projects at pre-planning consultations, progress meetings, public consultations and stakeholder engagement events.
  • Support project teams during oral hearings and planning appeals processes.
  • Prepare and review planning sections of EIARs, PECRs and related environmental documentation.
  • Assist with tender submissions, fee proposals and business development activities.

Team Leadership & Mentoring:


  • Coordinate planning inputs across multidisciplinary project teams.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Graduate Planners and Planners.
  • Support the onboarding and development of new team members.
  • Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across disciplines.
  • Contribute to maintaining high standards of project delivery and client service.


Professional Development & Industry Leadership:


  • Stay up to date with planning legislation, policy changes, case law and industry best practice.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of quality assurance systems, templates and workflows.
  • Participate in industry events, networking opportunities and activities that promote TOBIN's planning services.
  • Maintain ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).


Requirements:

  • Level 8 Honours Degree in Planning or a closely related discipline.
  • Corporate Membership of the Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and/or Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or progression towards Chartered Planner status.
  • Strong knowledge of Irish planning legislation, policy and development management processes.
  • Experience preparing and managing planning applications and associated reports.
  • Excellent project management, organisational and time-management skills.
  • Strong report writing, communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
  • Experience working as part of multidisciplinary project teams.
  • Ability to identify and manage planning risks and provide practical solutions.
  • Full proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable Skills:

  • Experience working on infrastructure, utility, renewable energy or environmental projects.
  • Knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment processes.
  • Proficiency in GIS software including ArcGIS, ArcCollector, MapInfo or similar platforms.
  • Experience mentoring junior staff and reviewing technical work.