Development Services Director

Hiring range is negotiable between $ - $ depending on a candidate's qualifications and experience.

Performs difficult professional and administrative work planning, organizing, and directing the Development Services Department, which encompasses three divisions:
Planning Services (Current and Long-Range Planning, Land Use, Zoning, and Development Permitting, Site Plan Review, Environmental Code Enforcement, Brownfields Program, and Historic Preservation), Inspection Services (Building Code Enforcement, Building Trades Permitting, and Building Plan Review), and Community Development & Relations (Minimum Housing, HUD Grants Management, Neighborhood Development & Revitalization, and Community Relations). The Director establishes a strategic vision and works through division managers to ensure well-planned orderly growth, regulatory compliance, and neighborhood revitalization while making efficient use of the City's land and resources.

A critical responsibility of this role is establishing and maintaining a positive departmental culture defined by high performance, exceptional customer service, teamwork, and communication.

Considerable tact and courtesy must be exercised in frequent personal contact with City, municipal, state and federal officials and citizens. Work requires managerial, expert professional and technical knowledge as well as the ability to formulate strategic plans and direct progress. Work requires significant independent judgment and initiative in complex issues that must meet professional standards as well as state and local regulations.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Manager’s Office and is evaluated through periodic conferences and reports in terms of overall results achieved.

The essential functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Develops a broad-based vision with strategic goals for the Department; creates, develops and administers policies and procedures to meet goals; prepares and reviews comprehensive planning elements relating to a broad spectrum of social, economic, physical and community facility concerns including land use, infrastructure, zoning, and environmental impact.
• Serves as technical advisor to, and directs staff support for, the City Manager, City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Commission on Community Relations & Development, Historic District Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and other advisory boards; prepares reports, makes presentations, and researches projects.
• Implements direction and directives from the City Manager's Office and serves as a departmental liaison by communicating and providing recommendations to the City Manager's Office.
• Assists professional staff with review of complex plans and projects to ensure compliance with regulations; monitors ordinances to ensure needed revisions are done in a timely manner.
• Guides department through development and implementation of new programs and services to improve customer service; recommends changes in equipment, policies and procedures.
• Responds to complaints and inquiries about planning, inspections, community development, and permitting; investigates and follows up as needed.
• Develops, coordinates and directs a variety of special and continuing plans related to the growth, development, HUD grant management, neighborhood revitalization, and redevelopment of the City; ensures strict compliance with all HUD requirements and reporting deadlines; addresses neighborhood blight through the proactive enforcement of the minimum housing code; balances concerns for current and…