Community Development Director

Community Development Director

Join Colusa County as our next Community Development Director and lead, innovate, and build a stronger future for our communities! We are seeking a visionary leader to guide community and economic development initiatives while fostering responsible growth and exceptional public service. As the County's new Community Development Director, you will be responsible for continuing the transformation of the County's separate building and planning functions into a full-service, one-stop development services department including the major functions of building, planning, and environmental health.

In order to be successful in this effort, you must have the ability to apply common sense solutions to complex issues that, at times, don't make very much sense. Step into the role of Community Development Director, where your vision will shape the future of our County, turning complex challenges into smart, sustainable solutions, and where every day is an opportunity to build a brighter, more vibrant community together.

This recruitment is intended to attract both experienced community development professionals seeking an opportunity to lead a dynamic public service organization and emerging leaders who are prepared to take the next step in their careers. Colusa County recognizes that effective leadership can come from a variety of planning, building, environmental health, engineering, economic development, and public administration backgrounds and values candidates who demonstrate integrity, sound judgment, innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to exceptional public service.

For experienced leaders, this position offers the opportunity to shape the future of community development in a close-knit county where strategic vision, responsible growth, and strong partnerships can have a lasting impact. The Community Development Director will lead initiatives involving land use planning, development services, environmental health, economic development, process improvement, and organizational excellence while serving as a trusted advisor to County leadership, community stakeholders, and development partners.

For professionals pursuing their first department head opportunity, Colusa County offers a collaborative and supportive environment with engaged leadership, experienced staff, and opportunities to work closely with elected officials, county departments, community organizations, businesses, and regional partners. The County is committed to fostering professional growth, encouraging innovation, and providing the resources needed for long-term success.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of Colusa County as our next Community Development Director. To learn more about this position, please check out the job description pages HERE.

This recruitment is open until filled. It is to your advantage to submit an application as soon as possible, as the recruitment may close at any time following application review on August 31, 2026. Selection Procedure – The following is a tentative schedule of events that will occur as part of the selection process:

• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. All relevant work experience, training, and education must be included to determine eligibility.
• Screening for minimum qualifications:
  August 31, 2026.
• Successful applicants will be notified of the dates for first interviews and executive-level interviews once they have been scheduled.

The selection process steps may change with or without notice.

As the County's Community Development Director, you will have the opportunity to lead and set performance expectations with a hands-on approach to all aspects of departmental responsibilities. At the same time, you will find a staff that is eager to accept challenges and push themselves out of their comfort zones to accomplish great things. You will also find a Board of Supervisors that supports innovation, common sense over bureaucracy, and will provide great latitude in allowing you to impart your personality on the Department to continue its unmatched level of customer service in the delivery of development services.

The Department's team works tirelessly to ensure that the public's perception of the Department is that of a partner in the development process and not that of the stereotypical government bureaucratic obstacle. Of course, there are times when despite our best efforts to help a customer move forward with their project, we must nevertheless have to say "No". However, what is important is that the customer knows that they were listened to, that we do care about them and their project, and that we utilized all of the Department's considerable expertise to suggest viable options to help their project to move forward.

Embracing the Colusa County Work Culture At Colusa County, the Community Development Department plays an important role in shaping the future of a rural community where collaboration, thoughtful planning, and strong partnerships…