Officer IV (Planning) (Assistant Planning Technician)

Job Description
Planning Authority in Malta is looking to recruit an Officer IV (Planning) (Assistant Planning Technician) to join their team on a full-time basis. 

Duties and areas of responsibilities:
The job incumbent is expected to undertake the following duties amongst others:

• Assist in the receipt of applications for development permission, and in checking for completeness and calculating or checking Building Levy due, referring back incomplete applications indicating discrepancies with established check-list and Building Levy required, and inputting data in Information System.
• Assist in maintaining a public interface, including, where appropriate, discussing planning issues with the general public and architects over the counter; giving advice on development proposals and on current applications in relation to statutory development plans and/or policy documents; and dealing with general correspondence and answering written queries.
• Assist in the processing of applications for development permission allocated by a senior officer, including, where appropriate, the carrying out of consultations with statutory bodies; making site visits, assessing applications in relation to the SPED, relevant Local Plan and other policies/standards, and preparing development permission application reports with specific recommendations for endorsement by a Planning Officer, the Team Manager / Executive II or supervisor as appropriate.
• Assisting senior staff in preparing and implementing plans, policies, reports, and documents on matters relating to strategic and local planning policy including the formulation of development briefs; monitoring and review of the SPED; preparation of Local Plans; and evaluation of policies, plans, etc; and the setting up and maintenance of the necessary databases and carrying out the necessary surveys and data collection and analysis.
• Assisting in the monitoring and review of policies and statistical information and carrying out or assisting in the carrying out of surveys of land use, development, environmental, demographic, socio-economic, and other relevant issues, and trends.
• Assisting in the preparation and implementation of planning studies, plans, policies, reports, documents, information, and advice relating to any planning issue or matter concerned with the functions of the Unit.
• Assists in interpreting building/road alignments on large-scale surveys as well as Setting Out plans for Surveyors.
• Assisting in or contributing to the process of dealing with requests for disposal of Government-owned land and reviewing applications for changes to building/road alignments.
• Making use of information technology tools to formulate reports, present data, input data, plot data on digital maps, and communicate internally with other officers through IT.
• May be required to carry out ancillary job-related duties to the above-mentioned main responsibilities, within the scope of normal flexibility.

Successful candidates must be in possession of the following:
Qualifications:
Good general level education with at least 4 O level passes including Maltese, English, Maths, and a technical subject. Has preferably undergone a recognized training course in a related subject (MCAST/University of Malta). Other qualifications related to either architecture or planning will also be considered. A general understanding of the planning process, Structure Plan, and Development Planning Act would be an asset.
Skills:
Computer literate (Windows and ACAD), ECDL, interpersonal, report writing, communication, data collection, and analytical skills. The ability to work with professionals in a planning/architecture/design environment.

*Candidates are to present scanned copies of all qualifications with their application together with any local equivalence evaluation, which documentation is issued by the National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) in case of foreign certificates (excluding Ordinary and Advanced Levels) and certificates which are not issued by MCAST or the University of Malta, by the closing date for submissions.

*The position carries a starting annual salary and allowances of €19,995 a performance bonus and other benefits.

*Jobsplus Permit No. 310/2021

Planning Authority:
The Planning Authority (PA) is the national agency responsible for implementing a holistic integrated planning system that ensures the sustainable management of land and sea resources together with the protection of the environment and our cultural heritage. The Authority offers a diverse range of career opportunities within a large organisation and provides exciting possibilities for the right candidates to give a valid contribution toward the future growth of the country.