Compliance Director

Overview

Are you looking for a leadership role where collaboration, community impact, and compliance come together?
The City is establishing a new Compliance Department and is seeking an inaugural Compliance Director to lead department-wide efforts in partnership with City departments, external agencies, and the community to ensure compliance with adopted codes and ordinances through effective permitting and enforcement.

This role also serves as the City’s Zoning Administrator, carrying out all duties delegated under the City’s Land Development Code (LDC). Reporting directly to the Assistant City Manager for Community Excellence, the Compliance Director is a key member of the City’s Executive Management Team, providing high-level leadership and strategic direction. The position supports the City Manager in implementing policy, supervising assigned staff, overseeing complex programs, managing daily operations, and guiding division managers.

Note: This position will remain open until filled. First application review will take place two weeks after the posting date.

• Provides executive leadership for departmental operations by overseeing implementation of the business plan; establishing goals, policies, procedures, and performance standards; ensuring customer service excellence in permitting and compliance functions; coordinating permit reviews; and addressing resident complaints.

• Develops, administers, and oversees the department’s operating budget; reviews financial statements; monitors and approves expenditures; and ensures fiscal accountability and regulatory compliance.

• Serves as the City’s senior code compliance official by providing authoritative interpretations of LDC requirements and city code ordinances; issuing findings and orders when assigned as a Hearing Officer for Minimum Housing and Nonresidential structures; making final determinations in enforcement cases; defending such determinations in quasi-judicial proceedings; and advising the City Manager regarding penalties and enforcement actions.

• Represents the department and collaborates with City leadership, elected officials, partner agencies, and the community on policy initiatives and code updates; serves as staff liaison to Council committees or task forces; and prepares and presents reports and recommendations to the City Council, City Manager, and other stakeholders.

• Leads workforce management activities including recruitment, employee development, performance evaluation, grievance resolution, and other human-resources-related functions to promote productivity, accountability, and morale.

• Directs organizational analysis, data review, trend monitoring, special studies, and peer-city research; prepares executive-level reports; and communicates strategic insights to the Assistant City Manager to inform decision-making and operational improvements.

• Coordinates departmental damage-assessment activities following emergency events.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in urban and regional planning, public administration, or a closely related field and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in zoning or regulatory administration to include at least four (4) years in a supervisory or leadership capacity

• OR a bachelor’s degree in one of the above-listed fields and ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least five (5) years in zoning or regulatory administration and supervisory responsibility.

• OR any combination of relevant education and experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position may be considered.

• Valid US Driver's License

• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification or Certified Zoning Official (North Carolina)

• Complete required NIMS/ICS courses (100, 200, 700, 800) and any additional Incident Management Team–specific training within six months of hire.

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a new department, establish operational systems and processes, strengthen cross-departmental collaboration, and…