Portland Permitting & Development Director (Director II)

This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position. It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code.

You can get further details about the nature of this opening, and what is expected from applicants, by reading the below.

Job Appointment : Full time, At-Will

Work Schedule : Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. Work hours will vary to meet business needs.

Work Location : Hybrid, at least 50 percent of work hours to be conducted in-office, and up to (or no more than) 50 percent remote. In-person work to be conducted at 1900 SW 4th Avenue. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington.

Benefits : Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Language Pay Premium : This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Application Material : Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a cover letter, resume, and an equity statement.

ABOUT PORTLAND PERMITTING & DEVELOPMENT :

Portland Permitting & Development promotes safety, livability, and economic vitality through efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes.

Portland Permitting & Development was established on July 1, 2024, with the aim of enhancing customer service in obtaining building, trade, and public works permits. This new bureau integrates permit plan examiners from Water, Environmental Services, Urban Forestry, and Transportation bureaus with former Bureau of Development Services staff, facilitating collaboration across all departments involved in the permitting process to drive meaningful improvements for customers.

ABOUT THE PP&D DIRECTOR POSITION :

The Director will report directly to the Deputy City Administrator for the Community and Economic Development Service Area. The Director will lead a team of 350 professionals and manage a fiscal year 2024-2025 operating budget of nearly $94 million.

The Director will be responsible for the administration of state and local building codes; managing the development review and enforcement processes; budgeting and exercising fiscal responsibility; developing and implementing strategic plans, as well as setting performance goals.

This is a pivotal moment for Portland Permitting & Development, as it navigates a new organizational structure, both internally and within the City’s new government organization. The new director should be a visionary leader who can set a clear, forward-thinking direction for the bureau, inspire staff and stakeholders to embrace transformative goals, and innovate solutions for long-term community impact.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS :

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Centered Leadership : Recognizes the value and importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce, ensuring that these principles are embedded into all aspects of the bureau’s operations.
• Executive Leader : Demonstrated experience managing complex systems, leading diverse teams, and helping managers develop and retain service-oriented staff.
• Change Management Expertise : Must be able to effectively navigate organizational change (both internal to the bureau and within the City), provide a clear vision for the future, implement process improvements, and drive culture change within the bureau.
• Strategic Thinker : Shows dedication to developing, implementing, and leading long-term strategic goals to align with the City’s core values, improve business functions, and support community vitality.
• Budget and Financial Expertise : Demonstrated experience establishing reliable funding models and new sources to ensure adequate resources and support ongoing initiatives and operations.
• Community Engagement : Talented at building strong relationships with the community through accountability, fostering trust, open and transparent communication, and improved outreach and customer service.
• Collaboration : Passionate about building and fostering collaboration between City leadership, various bureaus, external stakeholders, and leveraging internal expertise.
• Regulatory Knowledge : Deep understanding of zoning laws, land-use regulations, environmental regulations, and sustainable development practices and understanding of how to effectively apply this knowledge to programs.

The ideal candidate will be :

City of Portland Core Values : Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility. These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce.

Questions? Please contact :

Jaclyn Snyder, Senior Recruiter, or Amanda Hillebrecht, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Jaclyn.Snyder@portlandoregon.gov, Amanda.Hillebrecht@portlandoregon.gov

Applicants should specifically address and demonstrate in their cover letter and résumé how their education, training, and / or experience meet each of the following minimum qualifications :

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess a working understanding of the following :

Although not required, you may have :

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Business / Public Administration, or closely related field and ten (10) years of increasingly responsible management experience related to economic development, real estate development, community development, or closely related field.

STEP 1 : Apply online between Monday, November 25, 2024 – Monday, January 6, 2025

Required Application Materials :

Details are key! The City uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

In addition to providing a cover letter / resume, please submit a separate equity statement outlining your commitment and track record to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following :

If your experiences are different from those listed and you have a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please explain how you will manifest that commitment in this position.

Equity Commitment : For those applicants who meet the qualifications of this position, in accordance with the adoption of the Charles Jordan Standard and the City of Portland's commitment to equity, the highest qualified minority candidate, highest qualified woman, and highest qualified candidate who identifies as a person with a disability will be included in the final interview process. To be considered under the Charles Jordan Standard, we will be asking applicants who meet the qualifications for this position to include information identifying their status as a minority, woman, and / or identification as an individual with a disability in the required equity statement.

Please see the City's Charles Jordan Standard Portland Resolution No. 37180 for more information.

Optional Application Materials :

Application Tips :

How We Determine Pay : The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

Do not attach materials not requested.

All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.

All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and / or faxed applications will not be accepted.

You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting; instead, use AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.

Step 2 : Minimum Qualification Evaluation : Week of January 6, 2025

Step 3 : Establishment of Eligible List : Week of January 6, 2025

Step 4 : Selection (Interview) : January / February 2025

Step 5 : Offer of Employment : March / April 2025

Step 6 : Start Date : April 2025

Click here for additional information regarding the following :

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