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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Community Development Director City of Port Townsend Job Description Planning and Community Development Director Classification title: Planning and Community Development Director Working title: Planning and Community Development Director Department: Planning and Community Development Union: No FLSA status: Exempt Wage Classification: 629 Hours: Full time Effective date: Feb. 2022; May 2026 Reports to: City Manager Civil Service: No IDEAL CANDIDATE A strategic, collaborative, empathetic and visionary leader with deep and broad planning and community development expertise who is passionate for public and stakeholder engagement and dedicated to stewarding and shaping Port Townsend’s unique identity far into the future. JOB SUMMARY Under general direction of the City Manager, leads and delivers quality, efficient and customer-facing planning, permitting, building inspection, code compliance and development activities for the City of Port Townsend to enable a thriving community for all. Plays a crucial role as an engaged, inspiring and collaborative community leader who galvanizes strategic partnerships and meaningful community engagement to steward and shape the unique identity of Port Townsend. With decision-making authority on high-visibility projects and complex initiatives and frequent engagement with City Council and boards and commissions, initiates innovative changes to policy, planning and processes to take significant and meaningful steps forward on housing affordability, quality and availability. Integrates and works collaboratively across disciplines and departments, organizations and agencies. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Plan, direct and administer a comprehensive and integrated department program for all community development matters, including preparation and monitoring of the City’s comprehensive planning document and periodic updates. • Conduct or supervise all land use planning activities, including but not limited to those relating to comprehensive planning, shoreline master planning and environmentally sensitive areas regulation. Act as the City’s SEPA official. • Establish productive relationships with the development community, housing providers and associated local, state and federal agencies to ensure collective delivery of the City’s long-term plans, priorities and goals. • Accurately apply laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures. • Conduct research and prepare reports concerning land use development projects and priority projects and issues identified by the City Manager. • Review and analyze development applications, monitor potential external impacts to the City’s Urban Growth Area and administer land use and environmental regulations such as the zoning code, International Building Code and other related standards. Planning and Community Development Director • Provide professional planning and community development advice and assistance to the City Manager, City Council, Planning Commission and other City boards and commissions. • Coordinate project, program, contractual, and planning activities related to long-range planning and community development issues with other public agencies. • Establish direction, goals, objectives and priorities for the department. • Prepare department budget recommendations and monitor expenditures. • Actively seek, secure and administer external (state/federal) funding for priority planning projects. • Create a positive work environment emphasizing teamwork, training, and collaboration. Direct and supervise functions of assigned management staff. Supervise, select for hiring, train, and conduct performance assessments for department staff. Ensure staff compliance with City policies and procedures. Responsible for and/or oversee and provide guidance to staff responsible for various committees and advisory board and reports to City Council. • Assist in preparation of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, covenants and other legal documents related to planning, community development and administration and enforcement of City ordinances. • Stay regularly active in regional, state and national professional bodies and networks to ensure the steady flow of current best practice to the team, organization and community. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES • Knowledge of laws, regulations and codes related to all elements of planning and community development, ideally within a Washington State context • Knowledge of best practice principles, methods and techniques for community development, zoning and land-use planning including developing, adopting, enforcing and reviewing them • Knowledge of funding approaches and mechanisms, especially those available in Washington State, and related to municipal funding and budgeting processes • Knowledge of and experience deploying creative engagement tools for community visioning processes like design competitions and public-private partnerships • Exemplary communications and public engagement skills • Excellent ability to express ideas clearly and compellingly in oral and written communications, as well as ability to lead high-profile initiatives and complex dialogue on behalf of the City • Outstanding partnership-building abilities, including convening of diverse viewpoints, management across a range of agencies and stakeholder types, ability to work collaboratively through complexity to find common ground and willingness to lead and motivate at all levels • Excellent analytical skills with an eye for detail but a mind for the big picture • High level of political acumen and discretion, including effective engagement with elected officials and organizational leadership • Thoughtful, active listener who can make well-considered, courageous and decisive recommendations and decisions • Care, empathy, a positive attitude and a real drive to make lasting change • Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with diverse groups of people • Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, such as shifting priorities, unexpected challenges, or variations in the workload, while maintaining composure and effectiveness • Ability to maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, peers, elected officials, community groups, other agencies, volunteers, customers, and the general public Planning and Community Development Director • Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with team members, the general public, and other departments, both verbally and in writing, using tact, patience and courtesy to convey instructions, provide feedback, receive feedback, and resolve issues • Ability to hire, inspire, lead and manage an effective team and contractors, including all elements of supervision, professional development, performance management and evaluation; exceptional emotional intelligence, confidence and willingness to take on challenging conversations to nurture a great, trusting working environment and to get the best out of staff • Ability to deliver, delegate and prioritize a complex workload effectively under pressure • Ability to respond to staff, colleague, partner and community requests while communicating, engaging and building shared expectations with clarity, confidence and professionalism QUALIFICATIONS Required • Bachelor’s degree in planning, urban design, public administration or related field • Five years of increasingly responsible professional public sector experience in related fields, including three years in a supervisory capacity or an equivalent combination of education and experience • Valid Washington State driver’s license and ability to maintain a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurance carrier Preferred • Master’s Degree in a related field • Professional certification (AICP) • State of Washington GMA experience The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly based on job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors. All employees must comply with all City policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.