Community Development Director

MAJOR FUNCTION:

Responsible professional, technical, administrative and supervisory position involving the activities of the Development Department including planning, redevelopment, building inspection, zoning and GIS programs.  This position requires the coordination of assigned revitalization activities with other departments, and to provide highly responsible professional and technical staff assistance to the City Manager.  This position is responsible for developing a long range planning program with goals, objectives, and implementation measures for the County. This position is also responsible for the administration and enforcement of zoning and building codes.  The Development Director reports directly to the City Manager.

• Supervises and manages Development Department staff in the review and approval of all development plans. Oversees the progress of all development plans.
• Provides technical and administrative support to the staff on daily basis for review and approval of projects and building permits.
• Plan, organize, assign, direct, participate and evaluate planning, building, code enforcement, economic development and redevelopment programs and activities.
• Conducts re-development conferences with developers and engineers.
• Approves and signs plans, agendas and other correspondence.
• Provides input to other divisions, departments, and other local and state agencies for alteration and addition of applicable permitting laws and ordinances of land developments.
• Makes recommendations on the establishment, abolition, changes, and consolidation of ordinances, rules, and regulations.
• Supervises the implementation, maintenance of, and work projects associated with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
• Makes recommendations for proposed zoning and land use changes, conditional uses, special exceptions, transfers of development rights, unity of title, certified parcels, etc.
• Assigns time priorities to specific projects in accordance with their necessity and desirability. Establishes the time limits for completion.
• Prepares department budget.
• Research and planning analysis of project proposals to determine consistency with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and land development regulations.
• Prepares amendments to the Land Development Code.
• Serves as a member of the City’s management team; provide information and recommendations regarding operations.
• Performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the major tasks performed within this classification.   It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class.  The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.  Specific tasks on a day to day basis will reflect the overall areas of expertise for this position

• Responds to inquiries from citizens, developers and business owners and other governmental entities.
• Serve as a technical advisor to the Land Development Review Boar, City Council, City Manager and other City departments on planning, zoning enforcement building inspections, and related matters.
• Serve as City’s representative to the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Technical Advisory Committee.
• Prepares agenda items for Development Review Committee, Land Development Review Board and City Council/Community Redevelopment Agency meetings.
• Acts as the Chair of the Development Review Committee, as designated by the City Manager, and issues development orders.
• Prepare and publish legal notices, and notify adjacent property owners, affected agencies, etc. in accordance with State and local regulations.
• Respond to and resolve difficult citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Enforce code violations with the assistance of Code Enforcement Staff.
• Monitor developments related to planning, building, land use economic development, grant programs, code enforcement and redevelopment; evaluate their impact upon City operations and recommend policy and procedural modifications.
• Confer with developers, other agencies and the general public in acquiring information and coordinating planning and zoning matters, building code issues and code enforcement activities.
• Analyze and prepare annual department budgets.
• Select, train, and evaluate personnel; establish and monitor employee performance objectives; prepare and present employee performance reviews; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline and termination procedures.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the modern principles and practices of public planning, building inspection, code enforcement, economic development and related development services.
• Knowledge of economics, governmental finance, urban sociology, and the principles and practices of architecture and traffic engineering as applied to public planning.
• Knowledge of land development codes, permitting laws, zoning, subdivision, and land development regulations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, including budgeting, purchasing and the maintenance of public records.
• Knowledge of organization and functions of an elected City Council and appointed boards and commissions;
• Technical knowledge and understanding of design and construction.
• Ability to deal effectively with professional and technical people.
• Ability to present programs and ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and the public.
• Strong supervisory and management skills.

TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in planning and 10 years experience in the field of planning, including experience in a supervisory capacity.  Five years of experience with a regulatory agency or government.  AICP preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must have a valid Florida drivers’ license.  Ability to operate a motor vehicle.   Every New Port Richey employee is required to fill out a Disaster Response Survey and is subject to being required to report to work during a declared disaster.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Physical Ability:

Requires sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and routine keyboard operations. The job risks exposure to no significant environmental hazards. The job requires normal visual acuity, and field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception. Ability to stand and sit for periods longer than 30 minutes but not to exceed four hours consecutively.  Ability to climb stairs and ladders occasionally.  Ability to lift boxes not exceeding 25 pounds occasionally.

Sensory Requirements:

Ability to hear, speak and understand conversation in English in various tones of voice, as well as accents or rapidly spoken in order to be able to do job.  Ability to see, read, and comprehends letters, numbers, words, characters or symbols, which are both large and small.  Ability to print and draw letters, numbers, words, characters and symbols which are legible and understood by others.  Ability to learn complex tasks and remember how to complete tasks without assistance once trained.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Ability to deal with stress related to routine deadlines and occupational problems, which demand immediate attention.  Necessity to multi-task successfully. Ability to accept decisions made by others that may be in opposition of own views. Ability to deal with customers, both internal and external, in a tactful manner.