Proposed 2025 pay scale (pending council approval): $145,106 - $176,377

Are you a dedicated leader with a passion for community development and building strong relationships? The City of Gig Harbor is seeking a Community Development Director to join our city's executive team. This role offers the opportunity to lead the planning, development, and regulatory functions of our community while fostering collaboration across departments and ensuring exceptional public service. If you are an experienced professional who excels in managing people, driving strategic initiatives, and creating positive partnerships, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of our community.

The community development director is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the functions of the community development department including current planning, long range planning, development review, environmental (SEPA) review, shoreline management, construction, and fire inspection, building and fire code administration and enforcement, code compliance, land-use, zoning and permitting. This position establishes and maintains effective working relationships with contractors, government agency personnel, elected and appointed officials, city employees, and the general public.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages and supervises community development personnel including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints, grievances, and disputes; resolving problems; appraising performance; recommending promotions and disciplinary actions; implementing organizational changes; approving and schedule leave time; and recommending terminations as appropriate.
• Participates actively on the city's leadership and executive teams and collaborates with the department staff in setting and fulfilling the city's strategic plans and objectives.
• Leads community development operations in a manner that results in high customer service satisfaction levels, leveraging of resources, and continuous improvement.
• Plans, assigns, and directs the work of the department through division supervisors and conducts department leadership team meetings for alignment of work efforts.
• Manages staff in a way that fosters a collaborative, team-oriented environment both within and across departments.
• Acts as the economic development officer.
• Prepares, submits, and administers an approved departmental budget including the controls necessary to ensure budgetary compliance and ongoing evaluation of programs, services, and projects for building, planning, fire safety and code enforcement.
• Leads the development and implementation of strategic plans and master plans, including the development of an annual work plan consistent with the city council's strategic priorities.
• Leads and directs the ongoing facilitation of the city's planning commission meetings in a proactive and timely manner, ensuring the statutory implementation of development entitlements.
• Serves as a city representative in presenting, explaining, and discussing the views, interests, and policies of the city to the city council, planning commission, other city boards and commissions, targeted community groups, and other interested parties inside and outside the community.
• Prepares reports and studies for the city administrator, mayor and city council as scheduled or requested.
• Makes customer satisfaction a department priority; obtains formal and informal customer feedback confirming the delivery of services meet customers' needs and wants.
• Provides professional planning and development advice and assistance to the city administrator, mayor, city council, planning commission and other city boards and commissions.
• Coordinates project, program, contractual and planning activities related to long-range planning and community development issues with other public agencies.
• Assists in the preparation of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, covenants, and other legal documents relating to planning, community development and administration and enforcement of city ordinances.
• Seeks grants and donations in support of the priority planning projects selected by the city council.
• Coordinates activities related to the city's publicly owned land and buildings, including acquisition, leases, sales, maintenance, and improvements processes, under the direction of the mayor and/or city administrator.
• Supports and promotes the city's strategic and operational goals.
• Maintains punctual and reliable attendance.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of:

• Business English, including proper spelling and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with other employees and the public, individually and in groups, verbally in-person and by phone, and in writing.
• Exercise interpersonal skills including tact, diplomacy, patience, respect, courtesy, and discretion in work, including confidential matters.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, residents, members of boards and commissions, elected and appointed officials, representatives of other agencies, businesses, and community groups.
• Effectively present plans, programs, and recommendations to the mayor and city administrator, the city council, and the public.
• Employ excellent conflict resolution skills to manage and resolve controversial situations.
• Coordinate and monitor a variety of activities simultaneously and work effectively under pressure with frequent interruptions.
• Effectively establish, administer, demonstrate, and maintain sound management principles, practices, and methods.
• Accurately interpret and apply laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Use analytical skills and critical thinking to solve problems, make sound decisions, and drive innovation.
• Act in an ethical and conscientious manner on behalf of the city.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, training and experience that indicates the individual can successfully perform the job may be considered.

• Bachelor's degree in City and Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Community and Environmental Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Public Administration, or closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in professional municipal planning, building, engineering, or community development experience.
• Two (2) years of experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Relevant knowledge and experience in: development and implementation of planning, zoning, and community development goals; administration, interpretation and updating of municipal zoning ordinances, land use plans, shoreline plans; building, construction and development activities and processes, application review and development, plan review, permitting and inspections services; code enforcement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

The following certifications and licenses are required for the position (or must be obtained within the timeframe stated) and must be maintained for the duration of employment.

• A valid Washington State driver's license (or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire).
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) membership preferred.
• International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM) preferred.
• Economic Development or Housing Development Finance Professional certification preferred.
• Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) preferred.