Community Development Director

Department: Community Development

Rate of Pay: $122,096.00 - $148,428.00

Position Type: Full time

See full job description and apply

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Working under the direction of the City Manager, the Community Development Director plans, organizes, directs and evaluates the delivery of public services and administration of code compliance. Plans, directs and administers all activities related to current and long range planning programs of the City for the development, administration and enforcement of Federal, State, Regional and Local land use regulations and policies. Responsible for overseeing building permit process services, project management, and construction inspection in conjunction with the designated Building Official. Determines compliance and directs enforcement of City codes and ordinances, and livability code compliance program. Provides oversight and direction of tourism and economic development programs, including activities related to the City’s urban redevelopment agency as assigned.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

General

Manage the activities of department personnel directly, conducting various supervisory activities. Directly supervise assigned Planning staff. May directly supervise or have general supervision of Building Inspectors, Permit Technicians, Code Compliance Officers, Tourism and Economic Development staff and administrative support staff.  (40%)

• Direct the activities of Department personnel, manage and develop staff, and conduct quarterly and/or annual performance reviews.Ensure appropriate training is conducted.Recommend hiring, promotion, disciplinary, termination, and other personnel actions to the City Human Resources Department.
• Evaluate, develop and implement programs, policies and procedures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department. Manage certain planning or capital projects by selecting consultants/contractors involved in carrying out departmental programs, and by preparing scopes of work and budgets, coordinating with affected parties, making contract awards, and inspecting results.
• Respond to inquiries and resolve complaints regarding department activities in person, over the telephone and through written correspondence from citizens, developers, consultants, contractors, and other governmental agencies. Attend various community group, professional and civic organizational meetings to communicate City planning programs and policies.
• Attend City Council, Planning Commission, Advisory Committees and various other meetings, providing input and receiving direction or other information. Prepare resolutions, ordinances and reports for action by Council, Planning Commission and other advisory committees as needed. Prepare reports and related materials for review and recommendation by various standing committees of the City.
• Develop the Department’s annual budget and monitor expenditures to approved budget, including general funds related to planning, code compliance, and tourism/economic development and code specialties funds related to building, electrical, and plumbing activities.
• Safely operate City vehicles for permit purposes and other authorized City purposes, travel is required by the position; must possess a valid, state issued Oregon or Washington driver’s license.
• Maintain consistent and regular attendance and adherence to working hours.
• Follow all safety rules and procedures established for work areas.
• Respond on-site to a critical condition or unexpected situation related to municipal infrastructure, facilities or services that, which in the City’s determination, demands immediate attention.
• Must develop and maintain positive working relationships with supervisors, co-workers and customers.
• Maintain consistent and regular job attendance and adherence to working hours.
• Effectively and clearly communicates to others verbally and in both electronic and physical written forms.

Planning

Performs and oversees professional level land use planning work on major land use development projects and the development of new land use regulations.  (25%)

• Direct and participate in the development and modification of the comprehensive City land use plan and community development programs.
• Present written and verbal reports and recommendations on future development, land use, subdivision design and related community development projects.
• Receive, review and oversee requests for annexation, conditional use permits, amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.
• Conduct necessary studies and analyses, and prepare related reports.
• Develop recommendations and communicate information to the City Manager, Planning Commission, City Council and other advisory committees and the public as needed.
• Designs, implements, and leads planning, community development, and related projects and programs.

Building Code Compliance

Oversees effective Building Program administration of construction permit processing, and inspection activities.  (10%)

• Directs staff, in conjunction with the Building Official, to ensure permitting and inspection activities for residential, commercial and industrial buildings and structures construction or alteration complies with legal requirements and in accordance with approved plans.
• Ensures that plan review and inspection activities are effectively communicated to other departments or agencies as necessary and provides written comments on certain land use applications and business license applications as required.
• Ensures compliance with and annual reporting of Building Inspection Operating Program to State Building Codes Division in accordance with State requirements.

Livability Code Compliance

Oversees effective Community Liability Code Compliance Program activities.  (10%)

• Monitors Code Compliance Officer investigations of complaints concerning violations of the City municipal and development codes, as well as county, state, and federal regulations.
• Provides as needed interpterion of City municipal and development codes to support resolution in a courteous, professional and diplomatic manner.
• Supervises compliance schedules to ensure that code compliance issues have been corrected; issues courtesy notices, violations notices, summons, subpoenas, abatement notices, and citations if necessary.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of applicable codes, regulations are ordinances, preparing amendments to the codes if necessary.
• Ensures communication with other City personnel and various outside agencies regarding code enforcement activities.
• Provides written or oral testimony in the event of a court summons or as requested by the City’s prosecuting attorney.

Tourism and Economic Development

Oversees tourism promotion, branding, and City marketing programs which actively promote and advocate business engagement, tourism promotion, community branding, destination marketing, visitor center coordination, and community events. Ensures that City's response to site proposal requests generated from public agencies and site selection specialists and site visits with prospective companies and local, regional and State partners are well communicated, and advises partners and City departments on any key issues or concerns that may be addressed by the State, region or City and oversees formal responses. Provides expertise and project management of select activities related to required activities or efforts of the Urban Renewal Agency at the direction of the City Manager.  (10%)

AUXILIARY JOB FUNCTIONS

• Maintain technical proficiency by attending conferences, seminars, and meetings; reviewing technical reports; reading professional journals; and meeting with others in the community development field.
• Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly manner.
• Review business license and other applications and forward for final approval.
• Carry out special assignments as delegated from time to time by the City Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of: 

• Planning, community development and public administration methods and procedures.
• Federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Oregon Land Use Planning System.
• State of Oregon structural, mechanical, electrical, and/or plumbing specialty codes; ANSI standards, and other applicable standards and codes.
• National Flood Insurance Program standards related to floodplain regulations and program standards.
• Personnel management and collective bargaining procedures.
• Public contracting requirements and limitations, and local budget law.
• Modern municipal management methods and procedures, organizations and functions.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail.
• Provide leadership and direction for assigned personnel.
• Proactively identify issues, analyze complex problems, and involve others in making effective decisions.
• Interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, assess consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations.
• Communicate effectively with developers, builders, contractors, and the general public in written and oral form.
• Advocate on behalf of the City in public settings and forums in support of local projects or initiatives related to community development.
• Plan, implement, oversee, and manage projects
• Prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and files
• Work collaboratively with peers, employees, other departments and other agencies, and the public to accomplish Department goals.
• Exercise discretion in confidential and sensitive matters.
• Be a “people” person with a demonstrated ability to lead a team, displaying excellent character, and valuing honesty and frankness.
• Improve staff morale and trust through effective communication and leadership.
• Express thoughts and ideas clearly, and willing to work with disagreement to achieve a great result.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); Microsoft Publisher or similar design software; Adobe Acrobat and ArcGIS.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

A bachelor’s degree in public administration, planning or related field. Minimum five years of experience in a professional office dealing with land use planning and community development which includes supervisory responsibilities, or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities above.

Preferred:  A master’s degree in planning. Prior municipal government experience in the Oregon Land Use Planning System. Previous experience in urban renewal efforts. Previous experience in floodplain management.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/LICENSES

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain and retain, an Oregon or Washington driver license with an acceptable driving record by the time of appointment, or otherwise have immediate point-to-point transportation available.
• Preferred:  Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) desired.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF POSITION

Duties require adequate physical condition necessary to perform light lifting, bending, stooping, climbing, walking and standing for prolonged periods of time and the operation of motorized vehicles. Maintain sustained concentration on computer screens and us keyboards and a variety of peripheral devices.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Approximately 5% of the work period is spent in the field at construction and other sites. Position requires attendance at several evening meetings per month.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Exercises direct supervision over assigned staff including supervision of the Planners, Code Compliance Officer, Permit Technicians, and department administrative staff. Also provides general supervision duties of Building Safety Inspectors in coordination with the Building Official. Schedules work and staff assignments providing direction and monitoring work and training activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the limited supervision of the City Manager. The Building Official providing much of the technical evaluation and oversight of plan review and inspection activities as required by law. The Floodplain Manager providing direction of the city’s floodplain management program and standards.

Disclaimer

THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION COVERS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DUTIES PERFORMED BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL DUTIES THAT MAY BE PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE IN THIS CLASSIFICATION.