JOB SUMMARY
The Planning and Zoning Director reports directly to the Chairman/CEO. The position is responsible for coordinating, overseeing, and evaluating various planning/community development functions, activities, programs, and services, including planning studies, the comprehensive plan, land development ordinances, zoning, and building permits/inspections. Serves as an advisor to the Planning Commission, and other county officials, residents, the business community, and the general public on planning-related issues.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Provides leadership and strategic direction for the County’s land use planning and redevelopment processes
- Management of activities related to building permits and inspections
- Reviews and coordinates site plans
- Reviews building permits from a zoning perspective and addresses concerns and questions
- Performs field inspections to gather data relevant to the development review process and/or to verify development projects comply with approved plans and specifications
- Serves as staff for the Walker County Planning and Zoning Commission
- Develops and presents public education materials
- Other duties as assigned. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
COMPETENCIES
- Requires excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to keep records, assemble and organize data, and prepare reports, and have excellent organizational skills and manage time effectively.
- Ability to organize workflows and coordinate activities for short-term and long-term projects
- Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing
- Ability to attend to details while keeping broad goals in mind
- Ability to assign priorities to tasks and to reassign priorities as the situation and circumstances change
- Ability to adapt to changes in work condition
- Ability to analyze, plan and organize work
- Ability to understand and follow quickly and accurately, complex, oral, written, or demonstrated instructions and procedures
- Ability to work with a diverse constituency, business and development community
- Able to type/keyboard 35-40 WPM
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Preferably a Bachelor’s degree in an academic field related to development
- Preferably at least five years experience in professional development that would include experience with building inspection and plan review
- Certifications with the International Code Council (ICC)
- A strong communicator who expresses him or herself well and builds positive working relationships with other staff members, partners, consultants, funder, and community members
- A goal-oriented thinker who has the ability to set clear priorities among multiple tasks and stay focused on project benchmarks and deadlines.
- Comprehensive knowledge of economic and community development issue
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental officials, business and industry representatives
- Competency with Web applications including Microsoft Office, and Google WorkSpace
- Ability to multitask
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Skills in creative problem-solving to gather relevant information
- Ability to process information, applications, and forms requiring accuracy, thoroughness, and attention to detail
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, maps, plats, and site plans
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Must be able to communicate effectively (orally and written), possess excellent presentation skills and ability to lead discussions and meetings.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Basic knowledge of math skills and accounting required. Ability to formulate and evaluate financial proposals and analyze “deals”
REASONING ABILITY: Must be able to analyze data, determine trends and apply the results. Ability to anticipate reactions from the public, elected officials, business community, and governmental agencies in order to manage various situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- A valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance, and maintain a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit and inspect construction sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification, although the job involves standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Position in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Works part of the day in an office environment. Mobility to visit/tour construction sites, facilities, businesses, etc. required. Frequent travel (both local and out of the area) is required.
STANDARDS FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE
- Successful development and implementation of objectives; continuous growth in service provided.
- Effective leadership.
- Appropriate and positive interaction with staff, management, volunteers, community groups, and professional associates.
- The accomplishment of job functions in an effective and timely manner.
- Proficiency in oral and written communication.
- Effectiveness in establishing priorities, working on multiple assignments and concurrent projects.
- Exercise of sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines.
- Demonstrated ability to thoroughly analyze problems; to meet demanding and changing deadlines in spite of interruptions.
- Adherence to established policies and procedures.
- Proper management of the Department Budget
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