Assistant Director of Planning

BACKGROUND:

If you enjoy working with others to reach a common vision, then the City of Cleveland Heights has an opportunity for you! The City of Cleveland Heights Department of Planning & Development is currently seeking an Assistant Director of Planning to lead a small, but creative staff within the Planning Division.

Cleveland Heights is an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with a population of just under 45,000 people. Cleveland Heights is a dynamic city with a legacy of intentional economic, racial, and cultural diversity and inclusion. With a strong local economy, diverse mix of cultures, walkable neighborhoods and business districts, and adjacency to University Circle, the City is undergoing rebirth and revitalization.

The Planning & Development Department and the Planning Division in particular is front and center in allowing that revitalization to be realized as a collaborative team of creative thinkers dedicated to building effective planning processes for our communities through equitable land use & zoning, economic development, energy efficiency & resiliency, community development, racial justice, and environmental health.

Working under the general direction of the Director of Planning & Development, the Assistant Director of Planning is a high-profile, hand-on leadership position that develops, directs, administers, and coordinates planning activities for the City. The Assistant Director shoulders primary responsibility for a plurality of the Planning Division projects, including park planning, site plan reviews, zoning updates, and will play a significant role in updating and ensuring compliance of the City’s Master Plan.

This position oversees the staffing of the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Landmark Commission, and provides advice and assistance to the Director of Planning & Development, Mayor, City Council, various City department directors, community and civic leaders, and the general public. The position involves supervising professional level personnel engaged in program activities and ensuring program compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

The list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive listing of all the duties and responsibilities performed.

• Assist the Director of Planning & Development on all planning matters
• Reviews applications and detailed site plans for new development; coordinates with developers for required and recommended modifications to ensure compliance with City ordinances and planning documents
• Provides technical assistance on planning and development issues and staff support to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Landmark Commission
• Reviews and provides analysis on applications for zoning map. Prepares text amendments and map amendments
• Prepare development data and produces reports summarizing and analyzing such data (i.e., demographics)
• Oversees and establishes methodologies for data collection, analysis, and complex studies related to land use, demographics, and environmental impacts
• Assists the Director with preparation of staff reports
• Supports the Director in working with the Mayor and City Council on public policy issues and planning procedures
• Manage consultants and project teams involved in planning initiatives
• Prepare and present reports to various City boards and commissions including City Council and the Planning Commission
• Lead special studies related to neighborhood and community planning
• Work closely with the Assistant Directors of Economic Development and Community Development on housing initiatives, providing similar duties as listed above
• Represent the Department at conferences and work-related meetings as required; represent Department at meetings and events in the absence of the Director
• Uphold the City’s mission to be diverse, equitable, and inclusive as part of all planning activities
• Supervise the junior planning positions
• Perform other duties of a similar nature or level
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality

Exercises supervision of the personnel within the Planning Division.…