Community Development Director

City of Apopka; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Apopka in Florida seeks an executive leader to oversee City planning and zoning, city engineering, building safety, and economic development programs. Reporting to the City Administrator, the role demands strategic vision and accountability to comply with city codes and state and federal laws.

This senior position requires strong leadership, collaboration with stakeholders, and the ability to guide complex projects while maintaining public safety and high-quality development services for

Qualifications

• Master's degree in land planning or related field.
• AICP certification or equivalent.
• Significant experience in economic development, planning, zoning and public administration.
• Valid Florida driver’s license; out-of-state license acceptable with Florida license within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Direct development of short and long term community development and economic development.
• Develop and implement long-term plans aligned with city priorities and community needs.
• Develop and implement department budgets to ensure fiscal accountability.
• Administer the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to ensure compliance for development activities.
• Oversee building safety and code enforcement to ensure public safety and compliance.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders, organizations, and businesses for service delivery.
• Lead a team of professionals to provide high-quality development services.
• Represent the department at public hearings, city council meetings, and planning bodies.

Skills

Zoning & planning knowledge

Leadership of divisions

Oral and written communication

Project management

Interagency coordination

Education

Master's in land planning or related field

AICP certification

Progressive public administration experience

Job description

General Description

This is a highly responsible executive position involving the management of City planning and zoning, City engineering, building safety, and economic development plans, programs, and services. Work is performed under the general direction of the City Administrator, with considerable independent judgment to ensure compliance with City codes and state and federal laws.

General Description

This is a highly responsible executive position involving the management of City planning and zoning, City engineering, building safety, and economic development plans, programs, and services. Work is performed under the general direction of the City Administrator, with considerable independent judgment to ensure compliance with City codes and state and federal laws.

Essential Functions

The following essential functions represent the primary duties of this position but should not be considered an all-inclusive list of responsibilities. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Direct the development of short and long term community development and support economic development throughout the City.
• Develop and implement long-term plans aligned with local government priorities and community needs.
• Develop and implement department budgets to allocate resources effectively and ensure fiscal accountability.
• Administer the City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code to ensure compliance for development and redevelopment within the City.
• Oversee building safety and code enforcement to ensure public safety and code compliance.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with community stakeholders, organizations, and businesses to ensure professional and efficient community development services are provided.
• Direct, lead, develop, and manage an effective and efficient team of professionals to provide high quality community development services to residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Represent the department at public hearings, city council meetings, community forums, and regional planning bodies.
• Performs any other duties or tasks that may be assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of local zoning and planning, ordinances, policies, regulations, and pertinent information relating to city codes.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws/regulations
• Knowledge of best practices for municipal community development efforts.
• Knowledge of land development codes, comprehensive plans, building codes, and Florida statutes related to land development and planning.
• Ability to guide complex projects and align initiatives with community goals.
• Ability to lead multiple divisions of specialized professional staff.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; to read and interpret development plans; to draft ordinances, resolution, and legal advertisements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and amiable working relationships with elected and appointed officials, news media, leadership, supervisors, residents, customers, employees, other departments, and agencies.

Minimum Qualifications

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, provided that the education and experience are in a relevant and related field.

• Graduate with Master's degree in land planning or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• AICP certification (American Institute of Certified Planners)
• Considerable, progressive experience in economic development, planning, zoning and public administration.
• Valid Florida Driver's license. A valid out of state License is acceptable, but selected candidates must obtain and provide a valid Florida driver's license within thirty (30) days of start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public speaking and presentation.

JOB LOCATION

• City Hall Annex. Occasional travel is required.

Additional Position Information

• Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, occasional standing, walking, bending/twisting, pushing/pulling up to 10 lbs., lifting up-to 10 lbs.
• Environmental Conditions: Exposure to dim or bright lights. Minimal exposure to inclement weather.
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Disclaimer

The City of Apopka reserves the right to fill positions prior to the closing date and also reserves the right to close the posting prior to the date indicated. Positions will be filled by competitive selection from among categories of qualified and available candidates. It is the policy of the City of Apopka to give first consideration to all employees and other internal applicants prior to considering external (outside) applicants. Applicants should expect a starting salary at the minimum of the pay grade range; applicants with exceptional qualifications and/or experience may be eligible for a rate of pay which is higher than the range minimum upon approval by Administration. Your social security number is requested for the purpose of payroll eligibility verification, processing employment benefits, applicant and employee background checks, and income reporting and will be used solely for those purposes. The City of Apopka participates in E-Verify. Employers are required by federal law to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. We utilize the E-Verify system to process our new hires. We provide information to the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with Information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Apopka is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recognizes a moral, ethical, and legal responsibility to provide fair and equitable consideration of applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, sexual orientation, of other non-job-related factors. As such, the City of Apopka affirms its commitment to a policy not only of nondiscrimination, but also to a process of equal employment opportunity in all departments of City government to ensure that employment is extended to all qualified persons. When requested, the City of Apopka will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We comply with all applicable laws and actively promote fairness and equity in our employment practices.

ADA Statement: The City of Apopka is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to achieving excellence and strength through diversity. The City seeks a wide range of applicants for its positions so that one of our core values, a qualified and diverse workforce, will be affirmed. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requires the City to provide reasonable invited to discuss accommodations.