POSITION SUMMARY:

Plan, direct, and perform the administrative and technical work of the Community Development Department, including current planning, long-range planning, code enforcement, building, inspection, economic development and permitting. This position requires a high degree of independent judgment, initiative, and discretion and is required to provide expert advice and policy recommendations to the Mayor and City Council. Work as an effective member of the North Bend Management Team. Provide technical and professional support to the Planning, Parks, and Economic Development Commissions. Supervise all Community Development staff including planners, permit technicians, building inspectors and other staff as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS include but are not limited to:

• Manage the operation of the Community Development Department and participate as a member of the City's Management Team.
• Serve as the City's technical advisor and administrator on matters relating to City planning, permitting, land use and development.
• Formulate and recommend comprehensive land use goals to the City Council and assist in developing strategies for dealing with land use, economic development and planning issues.
• Direct and provide staff assistance to Council, Planning Commission, the Hearing Examiner, Building Outreach Meetings and other commissions and community groups, including the supervision in the preparation of reports and presentations.
• Provide forecasts and strategy for long-range planning, economic development and development functions.
• Develop and approve departmental goals, objectives and evaluate accomplishments to ensure the timeliness and acceptability of work throughout the Department.
• Provide managerial leadership and supervision to direct reports, including delivering performance evaluations and developing individual and departmental goals.
• Select competent personnel, train, develop and mentor staff in areas of functional specialization.
• Oversee the function and processing of the City's permitting counter.
• Prepare budget estimates and manage the Community Development Department budget and work program including funds, staff resources, materials, and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the department. Perform cost control activities and monitor all fiscal operations of the department.
• Organize and direct short- and long-range planning programs and projects, including developing, updating and implementing the City's Comprehensive Plan and amendments to the North Bend Municipal Code.
• Oversee the gathering, interpreting, and preparation of data for studies, reports and recommendations regarding transportation, land use management, land economics, capital improvements, and any other related polices.
• Coordinate interdepartmental and inter-jurisdictional participation in development and administration of community plans and policies.
• Assure proper application and enforcement of City zoning ordinances and other code approvals by overseeing building inspection, code violation complaints, plan review, processing of permits, and interpreting appropriate codes and ordinances, and developing new codes.
• Assure compliance with statutory requirements related to the Growth Management Act, zoning, subdivisions, and environmental issues.
• Serve as the responsible official for implementation of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Review environmental impact statements (EIS), technical reports and recommend final action on environmental issues.
• Participate in the planning processing, interpreting and applying development codes and requirements to major plats, binding site plans, subdivisions, rezones and development projects.
• Solicits, negotiates, and manages contracts with consultants for support services associated with the Community Development Department.
• Interact cooperatively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, other employees, community organizations and the general public.

AUXILIARY DUTIES:

An employee in this classification is expected to routinely perform other duties as assigned that would typically be performed by another exempt employee.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, land-use planning, transportation planning, urban planning, engineering, economic development or a closely related field, and
• Ten years of progressively responsible management experience in duties related to the position.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of experience, education and training may be substituted that would provide the desired level of skills, knowledge and ability, required to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• All aspects of state and federal statutes relating to current planning, zoning, land division, State Environmental Policy Act and the Growth Management Act.
• Principles and practices of urban planning and land division.
• Fundamentals of GIS and community trend analysis.
• City organization, operations, policies and objectives.
• Economic development experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of affordable housing incentive zoning and programs preferred.
• Management and supervisory principles and practices including program planning, budgeting, grants, direction, coordination and evaluation.
• Practices and principles of government fiscal management, including budget preparation, expenditure control, grant writing, and record keeping.
• Personnel and programs management principles and practices, including optimum use of human and material resources.
• Business English, composition, spelling and punctuation.
• Modern office procedures and skills.

Ability to:

• Read and interpret plans and maps, including zoning maps, site plans, topographic maps, and soil maps.
• Understand the GMA, SEPA and applicable Washington laws affecting planning and land use decision making.
• Successfully and productively supervise, lead and develop staff in a positive manner.
• Communicate in a clear, concise, professional and courteous manner, utilizing effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Establish and maintain accurate records using a variety of record and filing systems.
• Tactfully handle sensitive or confidential materials.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Maintain an office routine that will allow for regular hours.
• Attend and facilitate evening meetings.
• Read and interpret the City's Municipal Code and other applicable codes and regulations.
• Work independently and under pressure with frequent interruptions and effectively handle multiple and conflicting tasks simultaneously.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, other employees, contractors, developers, property owners, advisory boards and commissions, and the general public.
• Use a city issued computer and related software applications, including Microsoft Office, and other programs as required by the job for data analysis, project tracking, permit tracking, and viewing and/or reading, producing and working with GIS data.
• Maintain a sense of humor and positive attitude.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Washington State Driver's License or ability to obtain upon employment.
• Must have a driving history acceptable to the City and maintain an insurable driving record.

SUPERVISION:

Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Administrator. Latitude for independent action and decisions will be commensurate with demonstrated ability. This position has supervisory authority over Community Development Department staff.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Knowledge and use of applicable tools, instruments, calculators, computers, Microsoft Office applications, phones, copiers, printers, fax machines, other general office equipment, and automobiles.