Planning & Community Development Director

General Definition of Work

The Director of Planning and Community Development serves as the senior executive responsible for the strategic direction, regulatory administration, and organizational leadership of the County’s land use planning, development services, and community development functions. This position carries full accountability for long-range and comprehensive planning, zoning and subdivision administration, and the orderly management of growth across the County’s geographically and economically diverse landscape. The Director provides executive oversight of all planning and development service operations, ensuring that growth management, regulatory compliance, and community development efforts are aligned with the County’s adopted plans, fiscal objectives, and the expectations of the Board of County Commissioners. The position requires a forward-looking leader with demonstrated experience guiding planning and development organizations through periods of sustained, high-volume growth while protecting community character, natural resources, and long-term resilience. The Director exercises broad independent judgment and works in close coordination with the County Manager’s Office, the Board of County Commissioners, appointed boards and commissions, municipal partners, and state and federal agencies.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Emphasizes enterprise-level strategic planning, policy development, and external representation.
• Guides planning and development organizations through periods of significant population and development growth.
• Develops and executes comprehensive plans, land use plans, and growth management strategies.
• Administers complex zoning, subdivision, permitting, and code enforcement programs in environments that balance rapid development with rural and coastal preservation.
• Builds and strengthens organizational capacity through staff development, process improvement, and the modernization of development review systems.

Essential Functions

• Strategic Leadership and Planning:
• Directs the development, adoption, and implementation of the County’s comprehensive plan, land use plans, small-area and corridor plans, and growth management strategies.
• Evaluates development trends, population growth, and service area conditions to anticipate future land use, infrastructure, and community development needs, locally and regionally.
• Advises the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners on planning policy, development regulations, and growth-related investment decisions.
• Leads the periodic review and revision of zoning, subdivision, and other development ordinances to reflect current law, best practices, and community priorities.
• Collaborates with developers, engineers, consultants, and regional planning entities on land use, infrastructure, and intergovernmental service matters.
• Development Services and Regulatory Administration:
• Directs and oversees zoning administration, subdivision review, and development permitting to ensure timely, consistent, and legally defensible application of County regulations.
• Establishes service standards and performance metrics for development review and permitting, continually analyzing processes for opportunities to improve efficiency, predictability, and responsiveness to applicants.
• Determines and ensures project compliance with adopted development regulations, long-range plans, and applicable state law.
• Hazard Mitigation, Resilience, and Floodplain Management:
• Directs the County’s floodplain management programs, ensuring compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program and Coastal Area Management Act requirements.
• Supports the County’s hazard mitigation planning and programs.
• Integrates resilience, flood-risk reduction, and hazard mitigation principles into land use planning, development review, and community development decisions.
• Financial Management and Grants Administration:
• Prepares and administers the department’s operating budget, monitoring expenditures and revenue performance against adopted benchmarks.
• Identifies, secures, and administers federal and state grants supporting planning, hazard mitigation, and community development, including Community Development Block Grant and others.
• Ensures sound stewardship of department resources and compliance with applicable financial, procurement, and grant requirements.
• Organizational Leadership and Administration:
• Hires, supervises, develops, and evaluates department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professional growth, and public service excellence.
• Hires, supervises, develops, and evaluates department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professional growth, and public service excellence.
• Hires, supervises, develops, and evaluates department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professional growth, and public service excellence.
• Hires, supervises, develops, and evaluates department staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professional growth, and public service excellence.
• External Relations and Intergovernmental Coordination:
• Serves as the primary public representative of the department, communicating clearly and professionally with elected and appointed officials, County employees, officials of other jurisdictions, citizens, property and business owners, builders, contractors, trade groups, developers, and the media.
• Prepares and presents reports, analyses, and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners, appointed boards and commissions, civic organizations, and the public, occasionally after normal business hours.
• Provides staff and technical resource support to various boards and commissions, including the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.
• Represents the County in intergovernmental and regional planning efforts and maintains productive relationships with municipal partners, the metropolitan planning organization, and state and federal agencies.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education & Experience

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of urban and regional planning, building inspections and permitting, and public administration as applied to natural resources, population, cultural features and other economic development and social matters.
• Comprehensive knowledge of zoning policies, procedures and regulations including methods of devising and revising zoning and subdivision ordinances and in obtaining compliance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of state laws pertaining to urban and regional planning and building inspections and permitting.
• General knowledge of management techniques.
• Ability to write professional and technical planning and personnel reports and papers.
• Ability to identify, write and administer federal and state grants.
• Ability to plan and direct a comprehensive planning program.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of subordinates.
• Ability to deal tactfully and effectively with public officials, community leaders and professional groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in planning, geography, or related field and considerable experience in municipal planning including supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Possession of or ability to obtain AICP designation within one year of employment.
• Possession of CZO and CFM designation preferred.
• Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, optional life and disability insurance plans, flexible spending account, retirement program, 401(k) program, deferred compensation program, credit union membership and an employee assistance program.