JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director of Community Planning and Development is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the City's Planning and Economic Development Divisions. This position ensures alignment between long-range planning, land use policy, zoning administration, and economic growth strategies to support the City's Comprehensive Plan and overall community vision. The Director provides strategic oversight, leadership, and coordination across both functions — balancing regulatory planning and proactive business development to foster a thriving, well-planned community.

The Director serves as the principal advisor to the Deputy City Manager, City Manager, and City Council on planning, development, and economic vitality initiatives, ensuring that all programs promote sustainable growth, quality of life, and fiscal responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and management to the Planning Division (Planning Manager, City Planner II) and the Economic Development Division (Economic Development Manager, Economic Development Specialist).
• Develop, implement, and evaluate strategies, policies, and programs that integrate community planning, land use, and economic development goals.
• Direct and oversee all current and long-range planning activities, including zoning, subdivision review, annexations, and updates to the Comprehensive Plan.
• Lead City efforts in economic growth, redevelopment, and business attraction/retention, ensuring coordination with regional partners, the Fountain Urban Renewal Authority, and other agencies.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing plans, and work programs to ensure fiscal accountability and operational excellence.
• Serve as the City's liaison to developers, business leaders, public officials, and citizens to encourage responsible investment and development.
• Oversee the creation and administration of incentive programs, redevelopment agreements, and strategic projects that stimulate private investment and job creation.
• Prepare and present recommendations on development policies, ordinances, and economic initiatives to the Planning Commission, City Council, and other governing bodies.
• Represent the City at public meetings, community events, interagency collaborations, and regional committees related to planning, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development.
• Oversee and support the preparation of grant applications, RFPs/RFQs, and funding mechanisms (e.g., DOLA, CDBG, OEDIT, and other state or federal programs).
• Promote effective communication, collaboration, and professional development within the department.
• Demonstrate a respectful, collaborative, and team-oriented attitude in all work environments; foster positive, professional relationships with coworkers, leadership, elected officials, community members, and external partners.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and service consistent with the City's mission and values.
• Perform other duties and special projects as required.

Supervisor Duties

This position has direct supervisory responsibility for all staff within the Community Planning and Development Department, including the Planning Division and the Economic Development Division. The Director is responsible for leadership, direction, discipline, hiring, development, and separation of employees within the department, as well as departmental budgets, expenditures, and resource management.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a professional office setting with frequent attendance at evening meetings, public hearings, and off-site events. The position requires regular use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment, as well as occasional field visits to development sites or City infrastructure locations. The role may involve managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines and interacting with the public, developers, contractors, and elected officials in sometimes challenging or emotionally charged situations. Occasional travel within the region may be required for intergovernmental coordination or professional development. The work environment requires adaptability, professionalism, and the ability to lead in both structured and dynamic settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a closely related field is required.
• Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration, or a related discipline is highly valued.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, community development, or public infrastructure management is required.
• Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or senior leadership role, with demonstrated responsibility for managing personnel, budgets, and interdepartmental coordination is required.
• Valid Colorado Driver's License is required (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• AICP Certification (American Institute of Certified Planners) is desired.
• Completion of ICMA or APA leadership development programs is highly valued.
• Required to obtain the following ICS Certifications: IS100, 200, 700, & 800 within 12 months of hire.

Required Capabilities

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• To perform the essential job functions and to ensure the safety of themselves, their coworkers, and the public, employees must have the ability to regulate attention; to plan; to understand, remember, and apply information; to effectively interact with others; to concentrate and maintain pace; and to adapt or regulate one's behavior.
• Ability to proficiently read, speak, and understand English. Proficiency in non-English languages is highly valued.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, statistical and mathematical abilities and interpersonal skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write complex reports and distill information for many audiences.
• This position requires close, distance and peripheral vision.
• Ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using one or both ears, at a distance of six (6) feet. Ability to hear sounds and signals indicating work and safety necessities.
• This position requires standing, walking and sitting for periods of time. Utilization of hands and fingers to operate office computer keyboard and equipment required. Must be able to reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch if needed.
• Must be able to lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds as needed and frequently lift up to ten (10) pounds.
• This position requires effective proficiency in the use of computer software and applications, office equipment, and professional telephone use. The ability to adequately type quickly with few to no errors is also very important. This position will often require multi-tasking in the use of computer, phone, and office equipment while interacting with clients. Candidates for this position may be required to take and pass technology proficiency assessments prior to employment.