Director of Development Services

Summary

Under the general direction of the County Administrator, the Director of Development Services provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and professional engineering guidance for all divisions within the Development Services Department, including Subdivision Review, Development Regulations, Environmental Health, On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSF), Floodplain Management, and related regulatory programs. This position ensures consistent and lawful application of the Hays County Development Regulations, oversees long‑range land use and subdivision planning initiatives, and directs staff in delivering effective, customer‑focused services to residents, developers, and partner agencies.

The Director is responsible for managing department operations, budget development, personnel administration, policy implementation, and interagency coordination. The position supervises professional and technical staff—including the Drainage Engineer—and provides high‑level review and approval of engineering analyses, development proposals, and regulatory compliance matters. The Director serves as the primary advisor to the County Administrator and Commissioners Court on issues related to land development, environmental regulations, and growth management, ensuring that development activity aligns with county goals, statutory requirements, and sound engineering practices.

• Provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the Development Services Department, including Subdivision/Development Review, Environmental Health, Floodplain/Drainage, and related regulatory programs.
• Develops and implements the department’s annual budget; monitors expenditures, staffing levels, and workloads to ensure operations remain within approved resources.
• Recruits, selects, trains, evaluates, and disciplines department staff; establishes performance expectations and professional development plans for managers, sanitarians, engineers, and administrative staff.
• Develops and maintains up-to-date job descriptions, organizational structure, and succession planning for key roles within the department.

• Oversees the review and processing of subdivision plats, development applications, and associated construction documents for compliance with Hays County Development Regulations and applicable State laws.
• Coordinates and monitors the application and approval process among applicants, consultants, County departments, and Commissioners Court; ensures timelines, public notice requirements, and documentation standards are met.
• Advices developers, engineers, surveyors, property owners, and the general public on subdivision regulations, development standards, and administrative procedures; proposes practical solutions or alternatives to address development issues while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Prepares and presents subdivision and development‑related items to Commissioners Court, including staff recommendations, technical findings, and summaries of compliance with County regulations.

• Provides administrative and technical oversight of the Drainage Engineer, Floodplain Administration program, and Environmental Health functions, ensuring alignment with County policies and State and Federal regulations (e.g., floodplain, OSSF, nuisance, and public health standards).
• Oversees site evaluation and inspection processes related to on‑site sewage facilities (OSSF), subdivision infrastructure, food establishment sanitation, and junkyard or nuisance conditions to ensure development complies with applicable codes and orders.
• Reviews and recommends updates to County floodplain, subdivision, environmental health, and development regulations in coordination with the Drainage Engineer, Floodplain Administrator, and sanitarians.
• Works with staff to ensure consistent interpretation and application of technical and regulatory requirements on individual sites and development proposals.

• Develops, updates, and implements departmental policies, procedures, and forms to…