<p>POSITION DESCRIPTION</p><p>Position: Planning Officer Division: Planning & Development Location: Queenstown Reports to: Team Leader, Resource Consenting Date: August 2017</p><p>BACKGROUND</p><p>The Queenstown Lakes District continues to be one of the fastest growing districts in New Zealand. It has a relatively small number of resident ratepayers (approximately 34,000) and experiences high visitor numbers throughout the year. </p><p>The Queenstown Lakes District Council has a significant role to play in delivering a high quality experience to residents and visitors alike – ensuring the provision of good quality local infrastructure, public services and regulatory functions at the least possible cost to households and businesses. </p><p>QLDC has a 10-year plan for the period through to 2022 which sets out its goals and how it might achieve them in an affordable manner. QLDC’s overarching outcome is the achievement of sustainable growth management. Its other key outcomes include:</p><p> An enabling forward-looking financial strategy that is sustainable in the long term;</p><p> A balanced growth strategy that promotes employment and business opportunities and supports a strong and diverse community; </p><p> A resilient and participating community that celebrates success, has pride in the district and its heritage and has thriving arts, cultural and sporting groups; </p><p> Councillors and Council staff are respected for their approach, attitude, service delivery and governance; and</p><p> A natural built environment that makes Queenstown Lakes District a place of choice to live, work and visit. </p><p>These outcomes and goals in turn inform QLDC’s activities and priorities. </p><p>QLDC comprises around 350 staff operating throughout the district. </p><p>PURPOSE</p><p>The Planning Officer role undertakes the role of enquiries planner, processes planning information checks for building consent applications and processes resource consent and other applications under the Resource Management Act (RMA), in accordance with the requirements of the RMA and the District Plan. KEY TASKS</p><p>Operational Excellence</p><p> Undertake the role of Enquiries Planner as required. </p><p> Process planning information checks for building consent applications.</p><p> Administration of the QLDC District Plan including the processing of RMA applications, drafting of decisions.</p><p> Ensure that accurate and up to date records are maintained in relation to responsibilities. </p><p> Ensure a high standard of customer interface in responding to counter, telephone, e- mail and mail enquiries. </p><p> Implement and continually improve service delivery policies, processes and systems in order to provide effective, efficient and seamless resource consenting activities.</p><p>Relationship Management</p><p> Establish ongoing dialogues with the customers and is proactive in building strategic alliances consistent with QLDC’s vision.</p><p> Cultivate a professional and positive image for QLDC with the community. </p><p>Corporate Responsibilities</p><p> Build commitment to QLDC’s vision, values and services. </p><p> Willingly undertake any duty required within the context of the position.</p><p> Ensure compliance with all legal/statutory and QLDC requirements for health and safety of all staff, visitors and users of QLDC recreation and leisure facilities.</p><p> Manage own personal health and safety and takes appropriate action to deal with workplace hazards, accidents and incidents. </p><p> Comply with all legislative requirements.  Adhere to QLDC’s Code of Conduct.</p><p>KEY RELATIONSHIPS</p><p>Internal:  General Manager, Planning & Development</p><p> Manager, Resource Consenting </p><p> Team Leader, Resource Consenting</p><p> Wider Resource Consenting team</p><p> Building Control team</p><p> Engineering team</p><p> Policy Planners</p><p> Legal advisors</p><p> Other staff</p><p>External:  Residents and customers</p><p> Contractors & Consultants</p><p>ACCOUNTABILITIES AND DELEGATIONS</p><p>No financial delegations held. </p><p>No staff management responsibilities.</p><p>PERSON SPECIFICATION</p><p> Tertiary qualification in planning, resource management or environmental management. </p><p> Eligibility for membership of the New Zealand Planning Institute. </p><p> Excellent oral and written communication skills.</p><p> Highly motivated, achievement-oriented and innovative professional </p><p>COMPETENCIES</p><p>Integrity and trust are core competencies for all employees of QLDC Competencies specific to the role:</p><p>Relationship Management Relates well to all kinds of people, up, down, sideways, inside and outside of the organisation; Builds appropriate rapport quickly; Builds constructive and effective relationships; Uses diplomacy and tact; Can defuse high tension situations comfortably; is easy to approach and talk to; puts others at ease; is a good listener; is sensitive and patient. Customer focus Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; Acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect. Drive for results Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; steadfastly pushes self for results. Problem Solving Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answers.</p>