Director of Planning and Redevelopment

JOB TITLE: Director of Planning and Redevelopment Services

THE OPPORTUNITY: The City of Brownsville is in a transformative period driven by significant public and private investments such as the expansion of the Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport Terminal, creation of a New Space City, the Port of Brownsville, Downtown Revitalization, and quality of life enhancements.

Ideal candidate for Director of Planning and Redevelopment Services aspires to be a model of innovation, inclusion and empowerment who enables bold people and ideas to thrive.  The Director will be a participatory leader: a results-oriented, relationship-building, self-aware team player who also possesses high integrity, and politeness, and who fosters trust by building relationships with tolerance, patience and support in order to provide the best value in service of the citizens of Brownsville.

The Development Services Director plans, supervises, and directs the services administered by the Planning and Building divisions.  This position works cooperatively with supervisors in the Building, Code Enforcement, Main Street, and Planning and Redevelopment Department to administer building regulations, the City Ordinances, permit guidelines, inspections, the unified development code, and City growth plan.  Our ideal candidate is someone who can work hard, have fun, while dreaming big. Confident, self-aware team player, open to receiving/providing feedback. That also possesses high integrity, tact, and welcoming communication style.

COMPETENCIES:

• Ethical Practice
• Customer Service
• Relationship Management
• Change Management

   KEY FUNCTIONS:

• Foster a culture that values critical thinking and problem solving, and encourages constructive feedback, engagement, inclusion and diversity at all staff levels.
• Oversees the recruitment, employment, development & training, evaluation, and release of staff and contract personnel.
• Supervises all organization staff, either directly or indirectly through senior staff
• Develops organization-wide or department-wide goals, objectives, policies and procedures
• Prepares division/department/organization operations budget
• Ensures that Leadership Team is kept informed of trends, events, or emerging issues of significance to the City's success.
• Demonstrates competence and character that inspires trust.
• Report events and activities to senior management and elected and appointed officials
• Represents the organization on regional/local boards while establishing positive and productive working relationships.
• Implements the Comprehensive Plan or other current and long range planning projects and planning documents.
• Implements City-initiated Redevelopment Projects and economic development initiatives.
• Reviews all departmental reports and presentations
• Evaluates planning-related legislation and applicability to department projects
• Evaluates proposals to local governments for organization's planning consulting services
• Attends substantial number of evening and weekend meetings
• Knowledge of the theory, principles and techniques of the planning profession and development process
• Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local laws, ordinances and codes pertaining to a wide variety of planning topics
• Considerable knowledge of principles of personnel management, including supervision, training and performance evaluation
• Considerable knowledge of the methods and techniques of research and analysis
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of budgeting and finance
• Knowledge of real estate terminology, laws, practices, principles, and regulations
• Knowledge of computer applications including Microsoft Office, Internet applications, and GIS

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

   MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A Master's degree in urban planning.
• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, geography, environmental sciences, or related field.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible planning experience. Generally, four years of experience must be in a supervisory capacity. AICP Certification is required. Preference may be given to applicants possessing qualifications above the minimum.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:

Performs light work that involves walking or standing most of the time and involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis, or skill, adeptness and speed in the use of fingers, hands or limbs on repetitive operation electronic office machines or tools within moderate tolerances or limits of accuracy.

ADA COMPLIANCE:

The City of Brownsville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

BENEFITS:

The City of Brownsville participates in a generous retirement plan with retirement opportunities available at 5 or 20 years of continuous service.  The City has an exceptional employee and family medical and dental insurance plan.  Employees may also contribute to deferred compensation plans from Nationwide or VALIC or supplemental insurance plans from AFLAC and Colonial Life.  Full time employees have the opportunity to accumulate 10 sick days and 10 annual days per year.  Additionally, the City of Brownsville observes 12 holidays annually.

EEO STATEMENT:

The City of Brownsville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

Nothing in this job description restricts organization’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time in order to develop our employees; This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not prohibit or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; this job description is subject to change at any time.