Deputy Director, Planning & Sustainability Long Range Planning

Position: Deputy Director, Planning & Sustainability - Current & Long Range Planning

Deputy Director, Planning & Sustainability - Current & Long Range Planning

Join to apply for the Deputy Director, Planning & Sustainability - Current & Long Range Planning role at DeKalb County Government.

Salary Range: $140,000+
Job Code: 51005 Pay Grade: 28 FLSA Status: Exempt

General Summary

The Deputy Director of Long Range & Current Planning is a senior leadership role within the Department of Planning & Sustainability. This position provides strategic, managerial, and technical direction over the County’s long‑range planning initiatives and current planning operations, ensuring alignment with DeKalb’s Comprehensive Plan, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), sustainability goals, and community development priorities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Strategic Leadership

• Provides leadership and direction for Long Range Planning, Current Planning, and Zoning divisions.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and updates of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, Small Area Plans, Corridor Studies, and other long‑range policy initiatives.
• Ensures planning activities integrate land use, transportation, housing, economic development, sustainability and environmental justice principles.
• Advises County leadership and elected officials on planning trends, emerging issues, and policy impacts.

Current Planning & Development Review Oversight

• Manages daily operations for current planning, including zoning analysis, land‑use amendments, variances, special land‑use permits, and development review cases.
• Ensures staff reports, recommendations and presentations to the Planning Commission, Board of Commissioners and other bodies are accurate, timely and professionally prepared.
• Oversees development review for consistency with the UDO, Comprehensive Plan and applicable County codes and policies.

Policy Development & Ordinance Management

• Leads the drafting, analysis and updating of zoning regulations, land‑use policies and planning‑related ordinances.
• Coordinates research and benchmarking on best practices in smart growth, environmental sustainability, mobility, equitable development and housing policy.
• Ensures code updates and planning policies reflect community values and strategic direction.

Community Engagement & Public Communication

• Designs and leads inclusive, accessible community engagement processes for comprehensive planning and zoning initiatives.
• Serves as a public spokesperson for major planning efforts, public meetings and outreach events.
• Builds strategic partnerships with neighborhoods, civic groups, business leaders, regional agencies (ARC, GDOT, MARTA) and other stakeholders.

Data, Research & Performance

• Oversees demographic forecasting, GIS analysis, land‑use inventories, housing studies and other research needed for long‑range planning.
• Implements performance metrics to evaluate division effectiveness, responsiveness and customer service outcomes.
• Ensures planning documents meet federal, state and regional requirements for compliance and certification.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Supervises managers, senior planners, planning analysts, zoning staff and administrative personnel.
• Leads recruitment, training, coaching and performance evaluation of planning staff.
• Promotes a culture of equity, innovation, collaboration, customer service and continuous improvement.

Interagency & Board Coordination

• Coordinates planning‑related agenda items for the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Board of Commissioners and other advisory boards.
• Ensures smooth operations and communication between Long Range Planning, Current Planning, Development Services, Code Enforcement, Transportation and other County departments.

Budget & Administration

• Assists in preparing the division’s budget and staffing plan.
• Manages consultant contracts, planning grants and procurement activities.
• Oversees resource allocation to support strategic planning priorities and high‑quality service delivery.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of land use planning, zoning, urban design, environmental planning, mobility planning and sustainability.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build consensus and…