Community Development Deputy Director

Position Summary

The City of Bozeman is now accepting applications for a dynamic Community Development Deputy Director to support our Community Development Team. The Community Development Deputy Director provides leadership and will plan, organize, and direct the operations and activities of one or more divisions with a focus on leading projects, fostering partnerships, and shaping policies that enhance neighborhoods and improve the quality of life.

The City of Bozeman’s Community Development Department houses the Planning and Building Divisions. The major objectives of the department are to plan for the growth and development of the city, promote public health and safety, and provide efficient permit processing through excellent customer service. There are currently 41 full-time authorized positions in the department.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with extensive experience in both conducting and supervising complex development review and/or managing long-range planning projects, consultants, and contracts. Experience working with elected officials and community members in a growing community will be beneficial. This individual must exhibit strong coordination, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills to establish effective working relationships with staff, other departments, advisory boards, community groups, representatives of the media, and the general public. Advanced written and oral communication skills are imperative.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community by joining the City of Bozeman! You will be part of a passionate team driving positive change while enjoying a fantastic benefits package. Full-time City of Bozeman employees receive top-tier benefits including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 holidays, 8 weeks of paid paternal leave, bilingual pay, excellent retirement options, comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, discounted ski tickets and gym memberships, and much more!

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the work of professional and administrative personnel in implementing the expressed goals, policies, and directives of assigned Department divisions;
• Analyzes plans, oversees development review and permit processing functions, and works closely with other departments and agencies to develop joint procedures;
• Develops policies and procedures designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental operations and addresses related processes;
• Consults with the Director and other management staff on work programs, schedules, policies, and program development;
• Manages changes in regulations to meet City goals and solve administrative challenges;
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates the work of assigned staff;
• Prepares and administers the operating budget for one or more divisions;
• Represents the department in working with and responding to other departments, agencies, community groups, and customers; represents the department at meetings;
• Provides status reports to Director on departmental operations, finances, and workload indicators;
• Assists with various aspects of personnel administration within the Department, including hiring, termination, grievance procedures and coordination of employee training;
• Communicates with all related personnel in efforts to encourage, motivate, promote leadership, and encourage teamwork in accomplishing set forth objectives;
• Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations and activities;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relations with the general public, boards, commissions, public officials and other staff;
• Prepares and/or reviews administrative and technical reports and correspondence;
• Performs complex and difficult special assignments and projects;
• Confers with Department management team to track implementation of policies and receive specific recommendations and suggestions on departmental operations;
• Researches special projects or assignments as directed, and oversees project assignments to ensure successful completion;
• Understands and relates to others the goals, concepts, and principles of the department;
• Coordinates functions among divisions and department;
• May act as the director in the absence of the department head;
• Keeps designated personnel and others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems;
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops and training sessions and reviews publications and audiovisual materials to become and remain current on the principles, practices and new developments in assigned work areas;
• Responds to citizen’s questions and comments in a courteous and timely manner;
• Performs other duties consistent with the role and function of this classification.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related field (Master’s Degree preferred); and
• Significant (5-7 years) related experience, with considerable (3-5 years) responsibility in a supervisory capacity; or,
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of planning and zoning activities and relevant ordinances and regulations;
• Thorough knowledge of land use planning including regulatory systems and principles, practices and techniques of development review and land use planning;
• Thorough knowledge of effective management principles and practices in a diverse organization; organizational control and personnel management;
• Knowledge of the principles, goals, and trends of land use administration;
• Knowledge of budgeting principles in a government agency;
• Knowledge of the application of technology in planning operations;
• Some knowledge of or ability to quickly learn the function of services within the public sector, preferably within a municipal government;
• Some knowledge of or ability to quickly learn current practices and procedures involved in City service delivery;
• Some knowledge of modern office procedures, practices, and equipment;
• Some knowledge of modern office filing systems and procedures;
• Some knowledge of good phone etiquette and practices;
• Ability to maintain knowledge of current rules, regulations, and policies established by State and local government pertaining to land use planning and community development;
• Ability to establish and maintain forms and procedures necessary to meet minimum submittal requirements established by the State and City;
• Ability to apply State and local regulations and policies fairly and equitably to specific land use development proposals;
• Ability to provide administrative direction within the Department;
• Ability to supervise, train, evaluate and lead the work of others;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with assigned supervisors, other employees, and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures, and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Integrity, ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks;
• Consistently performs assignments in accordance with the City’s Core Values of Integrity, Leadership, Service and Teamwork.

Required Special Qualifications

• Consideration will be given to members of the American Institute of Certified Planners;
• Possess a valid Driver’s License and obtain a Montana Driver’s License within 60 days of employment;
• Offers for employment are conditional upon satisfactory response to appropriate post-conditional offer process.