Assistant Professional Officer (Planning)

The duties and responsibilities of the position are:-

• To assist in the preparation and monitoring of statutory planning documents and other related work covering the use of land and marine space. Assisting in preparing and implementing plans, policies, regulations, reports and documents on matters related to Forward Planning and setting up and maintaining the required databases and carrying out the necessary surveys and data col-lection and analysis.
• Contribute to the formulation and presentation of the Planning Directorate’s work and recom-mendations to the Executive Council and other forums concerning policy development and im-plementation at national and international level.
• Assist in the various tasks associated with heritage planning including those related to schedulin-gand funding of restoration schemes.
• Assist in and contribute to the periodic reporting on the implementation of the European Union legislation and other international legislation related specifically to the functions of the Planning Authority, especially Maritime Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Stra-tegic Environment Assessment.
• Assist in the provision of policy interpretation and evaluation in relation to the Planning Direc-torate’s role, in the permitting process including Planning Control, Planning Applications, Minor Amendments and Development Notifications.
• Periodic consultations with supervisors providing feedback on the latest developments in the as-signed tasks.
• To assist in the carrying out consultations and discussions with stakeholders, with respect to policy making, planning.
• Maintaining good public relations with all stakeholders. To assist in carrying out consultations, discussions and negotiations with the general public, media, government departments and agen-cies, statutory bodies and the community organisations.
• To assist in carrying out various subsidiary tasks relevant to the effective working in the job within the scope of normal flexibility and as instructed by management.
• As necessary, attending meetings of the Authority, committees, public meetings, exhibitions or other functions in support of or representing the Director of Planning.
• Preparing reports, taking photographs and compiling site history including maintaining, up-to-date procedural and statistical information.
• Liaise closely with legal counsel on court procedures and give evidence in court or other similar fora.

By the closing date of this advert, applicants must be:

• citizens of Malta; or
• citizens of other Member States of the European Union who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters of employment by virtue of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or
• citizens of any other country who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment by virtue of the application to that country of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or
• any other persons who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment in terms of the law or the above-mentioned EU legislation and treaty provisions, on account of their family relationship with persons mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or
• third country nationals who have been granted long-term resident status in Malta under regulation 4 of the “Status of Long-Term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations, 2006” or who have been granted a residence permit under regulation 18(3) thereof, together with family members of such third country nationals who have been granted a residence permit under the “Family Reunification Regulations, 2007”; or
• in possession of a residence document issued in terms of the “Residence Status of United Kingdom Nationals and their Family Members in Malta in accordance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community Regulations”.

The advice of the Citizenship Unit within Community Malta Agency and the Expatriates Unit within Identita` should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation. Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue.

AND

By the closing date of this vacancy, applicants must be in possession of:

• Graduate preferably in land use planning, architecture, geography, natural resource management, public policy, GIS or comparable qualifications as recognized by MQRIC.
• Applicants who have not yet formally obtained any of the qualifications required will be considered, subject to the submission of evidence that they have been approved for the award of the qualification in question.

AND

• Outstanding communicator (verbal and written). Computer/word-process literate. An ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy. Skills in research and information analysis, communication and interpersonal skills, creative skills in identifying solutions to planning issues. Time management, quality control and monitoring. Report Writing Skills including ability to deal with pressure and act with tact and firmness in challenging situations. Proficient use of ACAD and GIS is considered an asset. Fluency in English is required.