Director of Planning & Development Services

The City of Johnson City, Tennessee is accepting online applications for a Director of Planning and Development Services.

The successful candidate performs complex professional and difficult administrative work planning, coordinating and supervising the Department of Planning and Development staff and activities. Manages and directs comprehensive planning functions and ensures adherence to all zoning, building construction, and site development regulations, including issuing documentation supporting the municipal building process, and assuming the role and responsibilities of chief building official. Responsibilities entail accountability based on measurable, cost-effective results for the substance, efficiency, productivity, and quality of activities performed within assigned divisions.

Responsible for the overall leadership, administration, coordination, and evaluation of the activities and programs of the department. Work in this class involves developing staff and coordinating with other departments to efficiently manage municipal planning, permitting, trade inspections, code enforcement, and zoning ordinances. The position reports to the city manager or their designee.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Establish policies and procedures and interpret, administer, and enforce zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, development application procedures, and building code regulations.
• Supervise all full-time/part-time staff and applicable consultants.
• Manage and organize all activities relating to the City's planning and zoning, building permitting and inspections, codes enforcement, and development functions to ensure adherence to adopted ordinances, comprehensive plans, and policies created by the City Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commissions.
• Serve as staff liaison for providing technical and advisory information required by the Board of -Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historic Zoning Commission, Regional Planning Commission, Board of Dwelling Standards and Review, and other municipal officials on matters relating to zoning and periodic amendment of the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, and other land use regulations.
• Prepare staff reports and draft ordinances for planning, zoning, and development matters.
• Review, recommend, and draft revisions to relevant ordinances, agreements, and pertinent resolutions.
• Review petitions for annexation, zoning, preliminary plats, conditional use permits, variances, appeals, and exceptions to be heard by the City Commission, Planning and Zoning Commissions.
• Review and analyze all proposals for private or public development in the City. Review all residential and commercial plans for compliance with the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, comprehensive plan, technical specifications, and other plans, policies, and procedures pertinent within the Planning and Development Department.
• Customer service is paramount. Coordinate meetings with customers to provide professional consultation assistance in explaining, preparing, and processing the City's development applications, procedures, and policies regarding proposed annexations, zoning changes, subdivisions, conditional use permits, variances, and complaints of possible zoning/code violations.
• Coordinate, manage, and facilitate the preparation of the City's Comprehensive Plan and periodic review of all applicable sections of the Comprehensive Plan. Provide research, comments, and recommendations to public participants, Planning and Zoning Commissions, and the City Commission of the City's past, existing, and future growth.
• Report to the city manager or designee regularly regarding the status of all development and construction activities within the city.
• Supervise, manage, and prepare annual performance evaluations of all staff personnel, assuring satisfactory work performance and compliance with all adopted personnel policies and procedures.
• Prepare the Department's annual operating budget and Capital Improvement Program and their implementation upon approval. Effectively performs as a team member in the role of team liaison to other City departments and effectively carries out the City's organizational development plan philosophy. Perform other tasks and duties assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Principles and practices of urban regional planning, public administration, and budgeting.
• Federal and State of Tennessee laws, regulations, and guidelines relating to municipal planning, zoning, and building construction operations.
• City codes, ordinances, regulations, policies, procedures pertaining to municipal operations, and enforcement requirements.
• Principles and practices of effective leadership, including supervision, training, mentoring, coaching, evaluating, and discipline.
• Knowledge of current technological equipment, including personal computer(s) and mobile devices.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and demonstrates and encourages safe working practices.
• Effectively execute department activities, including formulating and implementing policies and programs within established resource and budgetary constraints.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Produce positive and effective results toward goals adopted in various plans such as the City's Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Plan, and various other plans adopted by the City.
• Make difficult computations and supervise complex work projects. Mentally analyze a situation, solve problems, and make decisions under pressure.
• Conduct studies, prepare comprehensive reports, and determine cost-effective ways for conducting the assigned project and maintenance activities.
• Ability to communicate effectively with personnel, supervisors, City Commission, contractors, developers, and the public. Communicate technical advice and assistance through public meetings, reports, and direct inquiry.

Required Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or Design, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Public Administration, or closely related field. Five years related work experience and/or training in planning and development with time spent in a management role. Master's degree may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

ICC Certifications in various building trades are strongly desired. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred.

Pre-employment physical and background check required.

EEO/AA