Community Development Director

City of Catoosa; Catoosa (OK); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Catoosa is seeking a Community Development Director to plan, direct, and oversee planning, zoning, permitting, inspections, and long-range planning. You will provide strategic leadership for the department, supervise staff, and ensure compliance with development regulations while coordinating with multiple City departments and stakeholders.

Reporting to the Assistant City Manager, you will advise the City Manager, elected officials, and boards on land use, infrastructure, and

Qualifications

• Experience directing community development, planning, zoning, and permitting.
• Ability to supervise staff and manage department budgets.
• Knowledge of Unified Development Code and state/federal laws.

Responsibilities

• Directs, manages, and provides strategic leadership for the Community Development Department, establishing goals, priorities, policies, procedures, and performance standards.
• Supervises staff, provides guidance, and coordinates planning, permitting, inspection, and code enforcement functions.
• Oversees development review and permitting processes, including site plans, subdivisions, rezoning, variances, and other development applications.
• Interprets and enforces the Unified Development Code, zoning regulations, and related standards with consistency and legality.
• Coordinates development review with City departments, public agencies, utilities, consultants, developers, and stakeholders for timely project review.
• Leads updates of the Comprehensive Plan and long-range planning initiatives (land use, transportation, housing, infrastructure).
• Develops recommendations for growth management, redevelopment, and economic development initiatives.
• Advises the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, and boards on land use, zoning, and infrastructure policy matters.
• Prepares staff reports, ordinances, resolutions, and other materials for elected officials and the public.
• Serves as staff liaison to Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other bodies as assigned.
• Manages departmental budgets, contracts, grants, and funding opportunities to advance community development objectives.
• Oversees GIS, data dashboards, and technology to support decision-making and public communication.
• Builds relationships with developers, property owners, businesses, and residents as a senior point of contact for complex development matters.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state laws, Oklahoma statutes, city ordinances, and adopted plans while promoting efficient municipal services.

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary

Under general direction of the Assistant City Manager, the Community Development Director plans, directs, and oversees the City's community development functions, including planning, zoning, development review, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and long-range planning. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership for the department; supervises staff; administers and interprets the City's development regulations; coordinates development activities across City departments and with public and private stakeholders; and advises the City Manager, elected officials, and boards and commissions on land use, development, infrastructure, and community development matters.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Directs, manages, and provides strategic leadership for the Community Development Department, establishing departmental goals, priorities, policies, procedures, and performance standards.
• Supervises, trains, evaluates, and provides professional guidance to departmental personnel, ensuring effective coordination of planning, permitting, inspection, and code enforcement functions.
• Oversees the City's development review and permitting processes, including site plans, subdivisions, lot splits, rezoning, special use permits, planned unit developments, variances, appeals, and other development applications.
• Administers and interprets the City's Unified Development Code, zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, and related development standards, ensuring consistent application and compliance with applicable laws and adopted plans.
• Oversees building inspection, property maintenance, and code enforcement operations within the Community Development Department, ensuring consistent, fair, and legally defensible enforcement practices.
• Coordinates development review and community development activities among City departments, public agencies, utilities, consultants, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure efficient and timely project review.
• Leads implementation and periodic updates of the City's Comprehensive Plan and other long-range planning initiatives, including land use, transportation, housing, infrastructure, and community development strategies.
• Develops recommendations for growth management, annexation, redevelopment, economic development, housing, infrastructure, transportation, and other strategic community development initiatives.
• Advises the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other City leadership on land use, development, zoning, infrastructure, and community development policy matters.
• Prepares and presents staff reports, findings of fact, ordinances, resolutions, policies, presentations, and other technical materials for elected and appointed officials and the public.
• Serves as staff liaison to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and other boards, commissions, and advisory bodies as assigned.
• Develops and administers departmental budgets, contracts, consultants, grants, and other financial resources and identifies funding opportunities that advance the City's community development objectives.
• Oversees the use and maintenance of GIS, mapping, data, dashboards, and other technology supporting development review, planning, code enforcement, public communication, and decision-making.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with developers, property owners, businesses, contractors, consultants, governmental agencies, community organizations, and residents, serving as a senior point of contact for complex development and community concerns.
• Ensures the Community Development Department operates in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, Oklahoma statutes, City ordinances, adopted plans, and due process requirements, while promoting efficient, transparent, and customer-focused municipal services.