| Under general supervision: - Effectively leads a core Planning Division of approximately 50 employees and several interdisciplinary teams that perform difficult professional planning work, involving considerable responsibility, complexity, and variety.
- The work may include oversight for all development review functions and will provide direction, organization, and coordination of planning recommendations and decisions for the Planning Board and County Council’s consideration.
- Interpretation of County planning policy to develop and administer plans, and supervising development review functions including: Subdivision, Urban Design, and Zoning.
- The ideal candidate will effectively serve as the Planning Department’s expert in development review, oversee work standards and work assignments, review major projects, and will regularly appear before the Planning Board and the County Council sitting as the District Council.
- Plans and manages Development Review Division operations and programs. Interprets and implements County planning policy established by the Planning Director, Planning Board and elected officials. Defines goals and objectives. Develops programs. Sets standards. Develops internal policies and procedures. Provides technical direction to staff on methodologies, issues, approaches, designs and recommendations. Reviews and provides guidance/ direction on the processing of staff reports. Plans weekly agenda items for Planning Board. Coordinates and negotiates plans with other Commission units and government agencies.
- Supervises and coordinates activities of Division personnel. Selects, trains, and mentors staff. Plans, schedules, delegates, assigns and evaluates work of a diverse team of professional staff. Conducts performance reviews, provides on-going guidance to staff, promotes career development training and professional/technical skills enhancement for individuals/team. Manages human resource needs of the division. Resolves staff conflict and investigates employee disputes and grievances.
- Resolves and synthesizes separate and divergent professional opinions and issues among or between staff, divisions, teams, citizens, elected officials and members of the development community.
- Manages and coordinates special projects (e.g., proposals designed to produce new legislation for innovative development techniques and a variety of other subjects).
- Prepares annual budget request for the Development Review Division. Controls expenditures in accord with approved budget.
- Facilitates and ensures high-quality analysis for development review applications such as, but not limited to, Preliminary Plans of Subdivision, Detailed Site Plans, Zoning Map Amendments, Conservation Plans, and Special Exceptions.
- Represents the Planning Board and department as liaison with citizens, community groups, business groups, County Council, County Executive and other government agencies (e.g., MWCOG, WSSC, Metro). Receives information, seeks cooperation, presents plans, answers questions, responds to requests and resolves complaints pertaining to Division/Area operations regarding planning laws, policies and procedures.
- Meets with community groups and the public to explain the Development Review Process.
- Meets with or assigns staff to meet with Director, Policy Makers and/or Planning Division staff to identify needs, establish policies and procedures and make decisions regarding planning projects and associated with administrative matters (e.g., budget, personnel, facilities) within Department.
- Maintains records on production of staff reports, including the coordination of inter-divisional referrals. Writes periodic administrative reports.
WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING:
The ideal candidate will be highly organized, have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, possess outstanding communication skills, and be proactive. In addition, they must be independently engaged in the work program and highly dependable. The ideal candidate will have: - Proven experience managing and streamlining development review and current planning functions of a planning department across multiple agencies.
- Proven experience in leading a team of professionals to include teambuilding, mentoring, coaching, and professional development.
- Demonstrated experience in building partnerships and developing consensus among diverse communities and populations.
- Experience with efficiently processing high quality staff reports, certification of plans, and processing final plats.
- Experience in monitoring tight deadlines and ensuring they are met.
- Extensive experience and a strong understanding of governmental operations that have effectively streamlined existing development processes.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and allocate resources effectively.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build consensus across various interest groups.
- Comfort in addressing a wide range of groups from elected leaders to community residents.
- Implementing innovative approaches to development review that includes multiple planning disciplines.
- Experience with implementing effective and legal human resource recruitment practices.
- Extensive experience in identifying and proposing innovative approaches to all development review functions, public engagement, human resource management, and procurement processes.
- Experience in drafting land use legislation that has been implemented by a local authority.
- Experience in budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation.
- A desire to serve the public, collaborate with other agencies and departments.
- The ability to cope effectively with change, be flexible, and shift gears comfortably.
- The ability to ensure and maintain the integrity and functionality of a land use process.
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