Description

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK: 
Performs difficult professional and administrative work directing/coordinating the activities of a local government comprehensive planning and zoning department such as preparing and revising Comprehensive Plans, the Water and Sewerage Plan, Solid Waste and Recycling Plan, and Land Preservation and Recreation Plan. The Director also administers programs such as Forestation Conservation, Land Preservation, GIS and school adequacy. The department prepares and administers the amendment process for multiple land use ordinances. Prepares department budget.  The Director is the liaison to the Planning Commission. Supervision is exercised over all department personnel.  

Requirements

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/TYPICAL TASKS: 
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.) 
Plans, organizes, directs and develops short and long-range planning activities, services and programs.   
Hires personnel, administers disciplinary measures, trains, directs and assigns work. Conducts performance evaluations and revises job classifications. Prepares departmental budget and monitors expenditures. 
Participates in review of zoning variances, forest conservation plans, etc. Oversees the administration, development and amendment of the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Adequate Public Facility Ordinance and Planning Commission policies. 
Provides direction and oversight of the administration of land preservation staff and programs. 
Coordinates the development of capital projects as well as private sector development projects with an economic development emphasis. Participates in the development of the Capital Improvement Program. 
Develops, submits and manages various grant applications.  
Represents the County on or before state agencies, municipal governments, civic groups and organizations and various committees, commissions and boards. 
Participates in the development and administration of functional plans including the Water and Sewer Plan, Solid Waste Plan and Recreation and Land Preservation Plan. 
Administrator and liaison to the Planning Commission, Historic District Commission, Heritage Area Advisory Council and other appointed boards as needed.  Develops agenda and participates in Planning Commission and Recreation and Parks Board meetings. Reviews minutes for adoption. 
Often required to attend meetings and presentations beyond normal working hours and evenings. 
Performs related tasks as required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices and objectives of local planning and the interrelationship of social and economic problems and comprehensive plans affecting the resources of the County; thorough knowledge of basic statistical and research principles applied in the collection of various economic and planning data and of the methods and procedures involved in the preparation and submittal of comprehensive reports and recommendations.  Thorough knowledge of the local, state and federal planning programs and procedures; ability to supervise, give direction to, discipline and evaluate the performance of subordinate personnel; ability to interpret and analyze technical and statistical information and to prepare and present technical oral and written reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, government officials, other agencies and the public.  Ability to interpret legislation and determine local effects. Advanced public speaking skills. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in business administration, planning, economics or related field and extensive increasingly responsible experience in planning, land use, capital programming, budgeting and/or zoning administration; required.  Master's Degree in Planning desirable. 
 Seven to ten years "hands-on" increasingly responsible experience in planning, land use, capital programming, budgeting and/or zoning administration. 
A comparable amount of directly related experience may be substituted for the minimum educational requirements. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 
This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects; work requires reaching, standing, walking, and fingering; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual activity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.  The employee is not subject to adverse environmental conditions although some tasks may require development site visits and traversing uncertain terrain. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 
Certified Planner highly desirable; possession of a valid driver's license. 
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.