Director of Planning & Zoning

Director Of Planning & Zoning

The Town of Front Royal is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking professional to serve as its Director of Planning & Zoning. The Director provides leadership and direction for the Town's planning, zoning, land development, code enforcement, and community development activities and plays a key role in shaping the Town's long-term growth and development. The Director oversees the Planning & Zoning Department and serves as a trusted professional advisor to the Town Manager, Town Council, Planning Commission, and other boards, commissions, and department heads on matters involving land use, development, zoning, comprehensive planning, and community development.

Responsibilities include coordinating the Town's comprehensive and subsidiary plans; overseeing development review and zoning administration; guiding the interpretation and enforcement of applicable ordinances and codes; managing departmental staff and resources; and fostering productive relationships with residents, businesses, developers, consultants, community organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The Director is expected to bring sound professional judgment, strong leadership, and a service-oriented approach to complex planning and development issues.

The position offers an opportunity to work directly with Town leadership and the community to promote responsible growth, effective planning, and thoughtful development while helping shape the future of Front Royal. The Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable law.

An employee in this position may be called upon to perform any or all of the following essential duties:

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the Planning & Zoning Department's activities, programs, services, and staff.
• Leads the preparation, administration, implementation, and periodic review of the Town's comprehensive plan and subsidiary plans supporting the Town's long-range development.
• Conducts analyses of development trends, demographic and economic conditions, land use patterns, and potential impacts to support strategic and long-range planning decisions.
• Develops plans and recommendations that establish clear connections among proposed activities, community needs, customer value, and the Town's strategic goals.
• Coordinates with consultants, Town departments, property owners, developers, community organizations, and other stakeholders on planning and development projects and programs.
• Serves as a liaison to community groups and conducts public outreach and engagement regarding planning initiatives, development activities, and Town programs.
• Represents the Town before local, regional, state, and federal agencies, governmental entities, civic organizations, professional organizations, and other public and private groups.
• Develops and maintains strong, productive working relationships with partner agencies and organizations at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
• Prepares and manages the Planning & Zoning Department's operating budget and monitors expenditures and financial performance.
• Provides staff leadership, supervision, goal setting, performance management, program oversight, and professional development for department employees.
• Provides direction and guidance to the Town's Geographic Information System (GIS) functions related to addressing, mapping, data management, and planning applications.
• Oversees the development, interpretation, administration, and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance and related environmental, land development, property maintenance, and code compliance requirements.
• Oversees code compliance and permitting functions and provides direction to appropriate departmental personnel.
• Drafts policy recommendations, analyses, plans, ordinances, amendments, and other legislative or regulatory documents related to zoning, subdivision, land development, and community planning.
• Prepares correspondence, staff reports, presentations, and other materials and provides professional staff support to the Town Council, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Architectural Review, Advisory Commission for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), Local Building Code Board of Appeals, and other boards and commissions as assigned.
• Attends meetings and serves on the Board of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Planning Commission as directed by the Town Council.
• Provides policy guidance, direction, and work oversight to departmental employees and assigned personnel.
• Provides oversight to the Deputy Zoning Administrator, Property Maintenance Official, and Code Enforcement Officer regarding code enforcement activities, including enforcement of applicable provisions of Town Code Chapters 175, 148, 170, and other…