Planning Manager

Salary: $111,341.74 - $165,287.09 Annually

Location: Goodyear, AZ | Full-Time Regular

About the Role

The Planning Manager is primarily responsible for the overall performance, outcomes, and continuous improvement of short- and long-range planning functions within the Planning and Zoning Division. Leads division operations to support consistent, accurate, and timely case review and to connect near-term planning activities with long-range goals. Establishes strategic direction, defines performance expectations, and ensures alignment between current planning activities and the City’s General Plan and development policies.

The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated, respectful, high-performing individual who possesses a bachelor’s degree in Planning (or a closely related field) and at least five years of experience in a municipal planning environment or equivalent, including conducting complex planning analysis, managing planning and zoning cases, preparing professional staff reports, and presenting to planning commissions, councils, and community audiences.

As Goodyear continues to experience rapid growth, the Development Services Department is committed to continuously improving processes, service delivery, and planning outcomes to meet the city’s long-term vision with excellence. The ideal candidate will demonstrate advanced leadership abilities, including the capacity to oversee long-range and current planning programs, guide teams through major initiatives, lead strategic decision-making, develop policy, and mentor and coach staff at all levels.

The candidate will also bring strong operational and organizational leadership skills, such as evaluating and improving division processes, coordinating planning activities across teams and departments, establishing clear service and quality standards, supporting data-driven workload management, and fostering seamless collaboration with the Planning Supervisor to ensure efficient and consistent execution of planning and zoning responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will exhibit the values of empathy, optimism, integrity, innovation, adaptability, and initiative, while modeling professionalism and accountability in all interactions with staff, applicants, development partners, and the public. A master’s degree in Planning or a related field and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and holds accountability for division performance outcomes, ensuring planning services are delivered consistently, accurately, and aligned with long-range goals.
• Establishes performance expectations, coaching systems, and talent development strategies; evaluates leadership effectiveness through supervisors.
• Interprets and administers City policies and codes by applying the General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, and Design Guidelines to guide defensible development decisions.
• Provides policy-level interpretation and guidance on complex, sensitive, or precedent-setting planning issues.
• Collaborates with departments, agencies, applicants, and stakeholders to evaluate review processes, resolve cross-discipline issues, and maintain transparent communication systems.
• Manages resources and budgets by aligning workloads, monitoring operations, and directing consultant efforts to support division objectives.
• Prepares and presents staff reports and recommendations to leadership, commissions, and elected officials, linking research findings to adopted policy frameworks.
• Leads continuous improvement of division systems, policies, and performance metrics to improve service delivery and development outcomes.
• Champions long-range planning and policy updates by evaluating emerging trends, recommending amendments, and integrating community input to improve development outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning or a closely related field (required).
• Minimum five years of experience in a municipal planning environment or equivalent, including conducting complex planning analysis, managing planning and zoning cases, preparing professional staff reports, and presenting to planning commissions, councils, and community audiences.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Ability to read technical information, general plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision codes, Engineering Design Guidelines, state statutes, municipal policies and regulations, staff reports, and trade journals at a college level.
• Ability to perform general math calculations, college-level algebra, and statistical calculations.
• Ability to write staff reports, letters, and memorandums at a college level.
• Experience supervising and monitoring performance for a regular group of employees, including providing input on hiring/disciplinary actions and work objectives/effectiveness, performance evaluations, and realigning work as needed.
• Moderate budget responsibility, including overseeing budget preparation of a program budget, reviewing and approving expenditures, or preparing recommendations for city-wide budget expenditures.
• Significant policy/decision-making authority, managing projects and daily work with little oversight, though special assignments and significant work products may be reviewed upon completion.
• Advanced technical skills and knowledge in approaches and systems affecting the design and implementation of major programs, solutions for highly complex issues, and/or processes organization-wide.
• High-level interpersonal/human relations skills, including interactions resulting in recommendations regarding policy development, changes in policy, and implementation of policies.

12-Month Objectives

First 3 Months

• Evaluate the pre-application process to ensure Quality at the Source and Excellence in Customer Service.
• Fully reassign planner-level casework and realign calendar to the Planning Manager role expectations.
• Establish baseline metrics for workload distribution, review timelines, staff capacity, and long-range initiative status.
• Launch a clear communication cadence: weekly planning huddle, weekly DSD manager huddle, and weekly management team meeting.
• Evaluate all major division processes (case intake, assignment, routing, report development, staff report preparation).
• Strengthen workflow alignment with the Planning Supervisor to ensure seamless coordination of current planning activities and long-range efforts.

First 6 Months

• Develop a process for the Annual Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments update.
• Develop a complete draft of the 2026 Goodyear General Plan Trends Report.
• Implement initial process improvements with staff and the Planning Supervisor.
• Strengthen staff understanding of development services’ customer service expectations and regulatory purpose.
• Conduct formal and informal timely quarterly check-ins, performance conversations, and coaching sessions with all division staff.

First 12 Months

• Establish quarterly progress checkpoints for major strategic initiatives involving the Plan Review Management team.
• Demonstrate improved trust and partnership with development stakeholders, supported by feedback, reduced friction points, or improved timeliness metrics.
• Deliver measurable progress on General Plan, Design Guidelines, and Zoning Ordinance efforts.
• Implement at least three operational improvements that increase transparency, consistency, and timeliness.

Benefits

• Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity. Enhanced vacation benefit recognizes total years of service under all Arizona public retirement systems for accruing vacation.
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January.
• Flexible Holiday: 24 hours per calendar year (prorated based on hire date).
• Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate.
• Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate.
• Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available.
• Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage.
• Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage.
• Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employee's cost.
• Longevity Pay: Beginning at year six.
• Tuition Assistance: $5,250 per calendar year.
• Employee Assistance Program: Available.
• Onsite Wellness Center/Clinic: Access provided.