Community Development Director

City of Grand Junction; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Grand Junction seeks a Community Development Director to lead the Community Development Department, join the Executive Leadership Team, and report to the Deputy City Manager. This role oversees planning, historic preservation, and housing initiatives to guide long-term growth and redevelopment.

The ideal candidate will communicate clearly with City Council, residents, developers, and partners, manage department priorities and resources, and build strong relationships to advance

Qualifications

• Seven years of increasingly responsible community development experience with leadership/management.
• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration or related field; Master's preferred.
• AICP certification required or able to obtain.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado driver's license.
• Leadership Track certification within two years of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Community Development Department.
• Lead budgeting, grants, and development reviews; oversee complex funding agreements.
• Build and maintain relationships with City Council, developers, and community partners.
• Address complex, visible development issues while balancing regulations, customer service, and interests.
• Partner with City Manager and economic development partners on redevelopment initiatives.
• Lead, develop, and support a high-performing team with clear expectations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's in urban planning/public administration

Master's degree preferred

AICP certification

Job description

Community Development Director

HIRING RANGE: $190,000 - $220,000 annually

About the Position:

The Community Development Director leads the City of Grand Junction’s Community Development Department and serves on the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to the Deputy City Manager. The Director oversees planning and development services, historic preservation, and housing initiatives while helping guide the City’s long-term growth and redevelopment.

The ideal candidate is a strong, approachable leader who can clearly communicate complex issues to City Council, residents, developers, and community partners. They will value responsive customer service, consistent application of City codes, and transparent decision-making.

This position requires sound judgment, diplomacy, and the ability to navigate competing priorities in a highly visible environment. The successful candidate will build strong relationships, manage department priorities and resources, and help advance the City’s community development goals.

About the Community Development Department:

The Community Development Department leads the City's community planning, development services, zoning, historic preservation, and housing functions, and works closely with economic development partners and community organizations to support the City's growth and reinvestment priorities. The department manages current and long-range planning, plan and permit review, annexation, and maintains the City’s zoning and development code, and the City's Comprehensive Plan. As a HUD entitlement community, the City receives a direct federal Community Development Block Grant allocation, which the department administers alongside other state and local housing funding.

The department collaborates closely with other City departments, regional and state partners, and community and economic development organizations to advance shared priorities.

What You'll Do:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the City’s Community Development Department, including planning and development services, historic preservation, housing, and related community development initiatives.
• Lead department priorities, budget development, grant administration, complex development and funding agreements, and continuous improvement of development review and permitting services.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with City Council, Planning Commission, community members, developers, economic development partners, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify and respond to complex, sensitive, and highly visible community development issues while balancing regulatory requirements, customer service, organizational priorities, and community interests.
• Partner with the City Manager, economic development organizations, and other community partners to advance major redevelopment and economic development initiatives throughout the community.
• Lead, develop, and support a high-performing team through clear expectations, accountability, collaboration, and professional development.

What We're Looking For:

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible community development experience including three (3) years of management and administrative responsibility.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, public administration or related field. Master's degree preferred.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Colorado Driver's license.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, the City of Grand Junction Leadership Track certification within two (2) years of appointment.

Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

Notice to Applicants:

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, we kindly request that youdo not include the dates of your educationto include years of attendance or graduation on your application, resume or attachments.