DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Serves as a champion of change and advocate for best practice programs and services in the Planning, Building, Community Standards, Housing and Economic Development divisions. The Community Development Director is a proactive, creative leader who understands the issues and challenges of division administration as well as the impact of our processes and services in our community. Largo has just recently been awarded the Pinellas Family Friendly Business Award – Gold in recognition of our family friendly environment and policies!

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, overseas enterprise wide continuous improvement efforts by promoting leadership, empowerment and communication at all levels of the organization. Position reports to the City Manager.

All employees share components of leadership, management, technical, and team skills to assist in making the City of Largo the community of choice in Tampa Bay.

Leadership

• Intuitively leads using characteristics of High Performance Organizations (HPO)
• Inspires, motivates and builds trust with employees at all levels of the organization
• Mentors employees to provide job skill development and opportunities for professional growth
• Ensures thoughtful risk-taking and a focus on achieving results
• Facilitates alignment of departmental operations with the strategic direction of the organization
• Inspires, motivate others and communicates a compelling departmental vision and core purpose
• Possesses intellectual curiosity and passion for the work
• Broadly shares both responsibility and accountability, and trusts team members to perform.

Management 

• Oversees Community Development operations, systems and staff and provides direction, guidance and staff development
• Recommends and implements innovative organizational long range and short range strategic plans to achieve the mission, vision and values of the City
• Ensures smooth delivery and operation of services by monitoring service and performance goals
• Sets clear direction and empowers department team members at all levels to make decisions and recommendations about organizational improvement and innovations
• Remains current in emerging trends, technologies and best practices

Technical

• Develops operating and capital department budgets and monitors expenditures to ensure proper budgetary control
• Sets achievable goals and objectives for department, monitors performance and capacity of team members and ensures compliance with city rules, regulations, safety policies and standards while providing timely, direct, and actionable feedback to others
• Works (both independently and collaboratively) in teams across departmental lines to help facilitate innovative problem solving for the needs of the community
• Serves as staff director to the City’s Planning Board, Code Enforcement Board, Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Community Development Advisory Board. Represents the City at meetings with public and private groups
• Responsible for the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME and SHIP programs
• Oversees formulation of comprehensive plans, land development regulations, special area plans, capital improvement programs, affordable housing policies and strategies, economic development programs and incentives, and annexation initiatives

Team Skills

• Works (both independently and collaboratively) in teams across departmental lines to help facilitate innovative problem solving for the needs of the community
• Openly exhibits a positive attitude, in word and action, and encourages others to do the same

Performs related work as required.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATUS: As a condition of employment, City of Largo employees will be required to work as directed during an undeclared and/or a declared emergency. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the official job description.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Planning / Urban Planning, Architecture, Business or Public Administration, or a directly related field
• At least ten years progressively responsible experience in leading organizational change of assigned divisions
• A minimum of two years supervisory and managerial experience (including coaching and development of division leaders and senior level team members)
• Track record of continued professional development and planning and overseeing staff development
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred
• Valid Florida Driver’s License *or* valid license from another state for transfer within 30 days.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Working knowledge of best practice in organizational structure and services in Planning, Building, Community Standards, Housing and Economic Development
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills to
  • effectively create and facilitate presentations to Commission and community groups
  • present complex and technical information in an easy to understand way to those less knowledgeable on a topic
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • develop and maintain effective working relationships with staff, officials, department directors, the general public
  • consider all feedback and be open, flexible and forward thinking regarding problem or issue resolution
  • lead and bring people together to achieve common operational and organization goals