Description

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.

Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Management

• 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.

Subdivision & Development Review

• 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.
• Advises 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.

Drainage, Floodplain & Environmental Health Oversight

• 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.

Policy, Ordinance, and Procedure Development

• Develops, updates, and implements departmental policies, procedures, and forms to support effective enforcement of County development and environmental regulations.
• Researches best practices, statutory changes, and regulatory trends; recommends revisions to County orders and resolutions to keep development standards current, defensible, and enforceable.
• Regularly prepares and presents planning and regulatory topics to County Administrator & Commissioners Court and relevant committees, providing balanced factual summaries and recommended courses of action.

Program & Staff Oversight (Sanitarians, Floodplain, Drainage, Permitting, Subdivision Planners)

• Directly supervises program managers, sanitarians, and the Drainage Engineer; assigns workloads, reviews complex cases, and provides guidance on regulatory interpretation and enforcement decisions.
• Ensures staff receive required continuing education, training, and technical resources to maintain State licenses (e.g., R.S., OSSF, floodplain certifications, engineering licenses).
• Monitors inspection and review workflows to maintain timely service, consistent documentation, and high-quality customer service to residents, design professionals, and developers.

Customer Service, Compliance & Enforcement

• Responds to inquiries and complaints from citizens, developers, public officials, and other stakeholders regarding subdivision, environmental health, and development regulations; coordinates appropriate follow-up and resolution.
• Oversees enforcement of County development regulations, environmental and nuisance standards, including coordination of warning letters, notices of violation, and recommendations for legal action when necessary.
• Serves as a County-level advocate for community cleanup and environmental compliance initiatives, coordinating with other departments and outside agencies as needed.

Interagency & Regional Coordination

• Works and communicates with outside agencies, community groups, consultants, and other jurisdictions on matters related to subdivision regulation, floodplain management, environmental health, and regional development patterns.
• Represents Hays County on regional planning or regulatory committees relevant to development services; communicates County priorities and regulatory requirements in those forums.

Permitting Systems & Data Management

• Oversees administration and use of the County’s development/permitting software to track applications, inspections, approvals, and enforcement actions.
• Ensures accurate recordkeeping, reporting, and data integrity for all Development Services programs; uses data to identify trends, workload needs, and opportunities for process improvement.
• May provide administrative oversight for projects related to permits, planning, and other related projects.

Privacy, Risk & Compliance Management

• Develops and enforces privacy and data-protection procedures related to environmental health and development records, including any protected health information gathered through inspections or regulatory activities.
• Coordinates with IT and County Administration to ensure appropriate access control, records retention, incident response, and risk management practices are followed within the department.
• Conducts or oversees internal audits and risk assessments of Development Services programs to identify compliance gaps and implement corrective actions.

Commissioners Court & Public Presentations

• Prepares and presents staff reports, technical summaries, and recommendations to Commissioners Court on subdivision, development, regulatory, and program matters under Development Services’ purview.
• Provides presentations to civic groups, professional organizations, and the public regarding County development regulations, environmental standards, and departmental initiatives.

Emergency & Special Assignments

• Coordinates departmental response to emergencies affecting development, drainage, floodplain, or environmental health (e.g., flood events, contamination issues, emergency permitting needs).
• Performs other related duties as assigned by Commissioners Court or County Administration that are reasonably related to the mission and functions of Development Services.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a closely related engineering field required.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in development services, engineering, land development regulation, floodplain management, or a related public-sector field.
• Five (5) years of supervisory or management experience overseeing professional or technical staff.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be used to substitute for the required minimum qualifications.

Other Preferred Qualifications, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid Class C Texas driver's license.
• Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Public Administration, or related field preferred.
• American Institute of Certified Planners certification preferred.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Texas preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification preferred.
• County or public sector government experience preferred.