Deputy Planning Director

INTRODUCTION
The Planning, Design and Development Department is a public planning agency established in 1954 as a joint City-County Department to provide integrated planning service to the City of Charlotte and unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County. In 2003 the City and County amended their Inter-local Cooperative Agreement to make the Planning Department a City Department while still providing planning services to both jurisdictions. The Department is responsible for managing the following divisions: Land Development, Long Range Planning, Entitlement Services, Design and Preservation, Community Tree Canopy Preservation, and Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. The Department also oversees the CLT Development Center, which is a collaborative effort of seven city departments to streamline the land development permitting process. Additionally, the planning department works with a 14-member appointed planning commission that advises on planning and zoning issues. To ensure the entire community is well-prepared for the future, Department staff also work with the Charlotte City Council, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board, neighborhood and business groups, and other advisory boards including the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Historic District Commission and the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization.

OVERVIEW
The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

SUMMARY
The City of Charlotte is recruiting for a Deputy Director for the Planning, Design and Development Department with a verifiable and highly successful track record of leadership success in fast-paced, high growth, and progressive urban environments. The successful candidate will have a wide background and extensive experience in the planning, design and development process including long range planning, regulations, zoning, permitting, and community development with a public or private agency. This senior level executive will be results-driven, with well-grounded and ethical decision-making abilities, and superior interpersonal and communication skills. Strong leadership and planning expertise to carry out the Planning Department’s vision, mission, plans, and programs is required. This position serves as the back-up to the Planning Director in their absence.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Key responsibilities may include:

• Provides leadership and direction to staff in the formulation and evaluation of planning programs and initiatives.
• Serves as a technical advisor to the Planning Director, City Council, City Manager, and Planning Commission on a broad range of planning projects and issues; prepares and submits reports and recommendations for management consideration.
• Works with the Director and the Business and Executive Services Division Manager to develop administrative policies and operating procedures to develop and implement department goals and work plan
• Responsible for more in-depth knowledge of specific projects assigned to them and assisting the Director in coordinating the management of contracts and deliverables, directing responses to media requests, managing department divisions, managing the department budget including user fees, ensuring deadlines are being met on high-profile projects, mentoring senior leadership team members and addressing human resource needs
• Builds and maintains respectful, positive working relationships with staff, supervisors, outside agencies and the public using principles of good customer service; provides effective conflict resolution, as needed.
• At the discretion of the Director may also be required to provide supervision to other divisions of the department.
• Assists the Director in public activities or meetings and oversees coordination of other service areas as directed. Performs other job related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Four-Year degree in Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related degree, with a strong preference that it be supplemented by a Master’s Degree in above fields of study.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible planning experience in multiple planning areas with five (5) years of supervisory experience in the planning field preferred
• Strong leadership skills with ability to plan, prioritize and organize work in a team environment.
• Considerable knowledge of the theory, principles and techniques of the planning profession and development process
• Extensive experience in the entire planning process that includes long range planning, developing regulations, and permitting
• Knowledge of real estate terminology, laws, practices, principles, and regulations
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups both internal and external including other city departments, neighborhood groups, community members, and the development industry
• Considerable knowledge and experience in developing a budget that includes assessing fees
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the editing, oversight or preparation of technical reports, and the presentation of information to government entities and various committees
• Ability to understand and manage high-profile, sensitive or controversial political situations
• Highly collaborative management style with demonstrated emotional intelligence and strong people skills
• Considerable experience in employee supervision and mentoring
• AICP or other certifications (AIA, GISP, LEED, PE, etc.) preferred

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Four-Year degree in Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related degree, with a strong preference that it be supplemented by a Master’s Degree in above fields of study.

Ten (10) years of progressively responsible planning experience in multiple planning areas with five (5) years of supervisory experience in the planning field preferred