Community Development Director

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To support the vision, mission and guiding principles of the City.
• While performing any procedure, all associates and contract personnel must observe applicable Safety, Health, and Environmental rules and guidelines. The use of appropriate personal protective equipment is required.
• Attend and participate in training opportunities and seminars relevant to this position.
• Adhere to appropriate City operating procedures, benefit rules, employment, and safety policies/practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, directs, and supervises City Planning & Zoning employees engaged in the day-to-day zoning code implementation, long-term plan activities, permit issuances and regulation, and buildings and structure inspections
• Schedules, assigns, inspects, and evaluates work; Instructs and trains in correct methods and procedures; Monitors work on a daily basis; Reviews and evaluates employee performance; Interprets and explains codified ordinances to personnel; Provides professional development and facilitates positive morale and high productivity of department staff
• Coordinates and facilitates public and private efforts to retain and expand existing business; Assists in enticing and recruiting development and business projects to the City; Assists in the development and implementation of economic revitalization strategies; Cultivates working relationships with federal, state, and other local and nonprofit agencies offering economic development programs;
• Develops effective solutions that expand economic opportunity, diversifies housing options, and strengthens connection to place; Develops and implements a marketing strategy for the City for the retention, expansion, and recruitment of business and industry;
• Serves as liaison in providing assistance to prospects for industrial, commercial, and business development; May serve as medium for providing information to prospects; Maintains contact with prospects, arranges meetings; and performs tasks necessary to facilitate prospects’ decisions; Develops promotional literature, data sheets, inventories of available industrial land and buildings, and other data for dissemination to businesses interested in developing or relocating in the City
• Monitors developments related to planning, building, land use, grant and bond programs and redevelopment matters; evaluates the impact of each upon City operations and recommends policy changes
• Establishes policies and procedures for the administration of zoning, building and site inspection; Reviews all site plans and zoning requests;
• Develops and makes recommendations for amending the zoning ordinance and regulations, the land use plan, related maps and building codes
• Implements the City’s Comprehensive Plan through the preparation or revision of development regulations
• Makes recommendations and presentations to Mayor and Council regarding planning and zoning and all departmental matters; Identifies issues and alternatives for policy makers; Identifies code and planning issues of communitywide socio-economic significance and the impact of these issues in the community; Develops reports based on analysis of legislation on the short-and long range community development issues
• Provides information, policy recommendations and staff support for varied appointed commissions and committees concerned with land use, community development, housing, congestion management, economic development, and related planning matters
• Confers with and provides professional assistance to City departments on departmental matters such as planning and redevelopment.
• Consults with citizens and other officials of municipal, county, state, and federal governments in order to coordinate all phases of community development; Attends meetings to review area-wide plans and programs and gather information important to the continued function of certain department projects
• Prepares grant proposals and applications, contracts and other documents as may be necessary for the department
• Prepares work programs and budgets for the department and is responsible for adherence to approved budgets

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Any other duties as assigned.

JOB SCOPE

Job has assigned areas of responsibility and work content involves high levels of discretion.  The need for accuracy and effective utilization of resources is exceptionally high.  Errors in judgment will waste resources and severely impact Company performance.  Incumbent operates independently and under general supervision.

Supervisory Controls:  This person works in the department of Community Development under the direct supervision of the City Administrator.

Guidelines:  Guidelines include land use laws, planning principles, state and federal laws, real estate law, City codes, construction codes, fire codes, and the federal ADA.  These guidelines require judgment, selection and interpretation in application.  

COMMUNICATIONS/CUSTOMER CONTACT

Contacts are across the entire City community and in a leadership capacity.  Community contact is a critical component of success in developing good will and support of City programs and initiatives.

COMPETENCIES/SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING PREFERRED:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required in Urban Planning, Public Administration or related field
• American Institute of Certified Planners Certification preferred
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, zoning and development review

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a citizen of the United States or legally qualified to work in the United States
• Must possess valid State of Georgia driver’s license; equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of principles, practices, techniques of urban planning, economic development, and redevelopment
• Knowledge of comprehensive and current planning principles, procedures, techniques, and their implications;
• Knowledge of applicable city, county, state and federal laws, codes, ordinances, and development regulations concerning land use and environmental matters;
• Knowledge of the operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive economic development program including business retention and recruitment
• Knowledge of basic building, grant and alternative funding principles, practices, and methods
• Knowledge of environmental issues as related to planning and development review process
• Knowledge of principles and practices of engineering and physical design as related to city planning;
• Knowledge of principles and practices of Public Administration;
• Knowledge of current literature trends and developments in the field of land use, urban planning, and community development
• Knowledge of socio-economic and demographic research techniques;
• Knowledge of supervisory and management principles and practices;
• Skill in dealing with the public;
• Skill in oral and written communication;
• Skill in selecting, training, and motivating staff;
• Ability to learn the existing inventory of available building and business and residential development sites within the community.  This will include both public and private buildings and land areas
• Ability to prepare clear concise and competent reports, correspondence, and other written materials
• Ability to provide outstanding customer satisfaction
• Ability to prepare reports, plans, and studies and to accurately interpret ordinances and codes;
• Ability to write reports clearly and in an interesting manner while conveying technical information to the general public;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental personnel, City personnel, developers, and the public;
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the public;
• Ability to operate City vehicles.

Equipment and Applications

• Computers and peripheral equipment
• Designated software applications
• Telephones, copiers and other office equipment

JOB CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job the associate is:

• Frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear
• Occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• While performing the duties of this job, the associate may be occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low