Director of Development Services

Aoka; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

5% company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Leadership opportunity

Meaningful work

Tech-enabled solutions

Job summary

Aoka is seeking a Director of Development Services in Fort Worth, TX to lead a 50+ person municipal development services team and oversee planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement for client cities across Texas.

The role requires deep municipal experience, strategic leadership, and strong collaboration with software and operations teams to improve workflows and service delivery, while traveling to jurisdictions as needed.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of progressively responsible municipal planning or development services experience.
• Experience with municipal governments; smaller municipalities preferred.
• Strong knowledge of zoning, subdivision regulations, building codes, and permitting.
• Proven leadership and mentoring of professionals.

Responsibilities

• Lead development services functions for client cities, including planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement support.
• Research, interpret, and apply municipal ordinances and building codes to provide clear guidance.
• Serve as trusted advisor to city staff, elected officials, and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, efficiency, and client satisfaction.
• Collaborate with software and operations teams to improve workflows and delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer service

Relationships

Cross-jurisdiction work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning / Public Administration / Architecture / Construction Management

Tools

Permitting software

Office productivity tools

AI-assisted tools

Job description

Job Title: Director of Development Services

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Employment Type: Full-time, In-Person

Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Development Services to lead Aoka's municipal development services operations. This senior leadership role will oversee planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and related municipal services provided to cities across Texas.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading municipal planning or development services functions and understands the day-to-day realities of operating lean, high-performing teams in smaller municipalities. This individual will serve as a senior technical resource, researching and interpreting municipal codes, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and building codes to provide clear, practical, and defensible guidance.

This role is based in our Fort Worth office and requires travel to client jurisdictions as needed. The Director of Development Services will directly supervise regional managers and provide broader leadership and oversight to a 50+ person client-facing team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee development services functions provided to client cities, including planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement support.
• Serve as a senior technical resource on planning, zoning, and code matters by researching, interpreting, and applying municipal ordinances, subdivision regulations, and building codes.
• Resolve complex or ambiguous development-related questions and provide clear, defensible recommendations to city staff, developers, residents, and internal team members.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to client city staff, elected officials, planning and zoning commissions, and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, turnaround times, and client satisfaction.
• Collaborate with Aoka's software and operations teams to improve permitting workflows and technology-enabled service delivery.
• Provide executive-level operational support, cross-department problem-solving, and strategic recommendations.
• Lead or participate in daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly operations meetings.

Leadership & Team Management

• Directly supervise six (6) Regional Managers and provide broader oversight of a 50+ person client-facing team.
• Lead the hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, professional development, and career growth of Regional Managers.
• Provide operational leadership and support to planners, plan reviewers, permit technicians, inspectors, and other development services professionals.
• Oversee the plan review team and provide guidance to the Plan Review Manager regarding assignments, workload, capacity, staffing needs, and operational priorities.
• Facilitate coordination between Regional Managers, plan examiners, field operations, and client jurisdictions.
• Hire, mentor, supervise, and evaluate technical staff assigned to client accounts.
• Oversee staff hours, PTO, expenses, reimbursements, and other operational responsibilities.
• Support operational decision-making and help ensure teams have the resources and direction needed to deliver high-quality service.

Client Relationships & Business Development

• Oversee daily client updates and ensure action items are assigned, tracked, and completed in a timely manner.
• Manage the Regional Managers' client-visit program and provide quarterly reporting to the CEO.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with city staff, elected officials, developers, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the Operations liaison to Business Development to ensure operational feasibility is considered when developing sales commitments and client scopes.
• Support RFPs, RFQs, and proposals through operational scope development, staffing plans, credential requirements, technical content, and quality control.
• Contribute subject-matter expertise to client presentations, scoping discussions, and business development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, plan review, development services, or a related field.
• Experience working directly for or closely with municipal governments is required.
• Experience serving smaller municipalities, ideally cities with populations of approximately 15,000 residents, is strongly preferred.
• Strong planning background with working knowledge of zoning, subdivision regulations, building codes, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement practices.
• Demonstrated ability to research, interpret, and apply municipal ordinances and zoning regulations to resolve real-world development questions.
• Experience in both municipal government and the private sector, such as consulting, engineering, or third-party municipal services, is strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership experience, including supervising managers and mentoring technical professionals.
• Excellent customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical and regulatory issues to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work across multiple client jurisdictions with varying local codes, priorities, and political environments.
• Proficiency with permitting software, standard office productivity tools, and AI-assisted tools.

What We Offer

• Competitive annual salary of $120,000–$150,000, based on experience and qualifications.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement plan with a 5% company match.
• Paid personal time and sick leave.
• Paid federal holidays.
• Opportunity to lead and shape a growing municipal development services practice.
• Meaningful work supporting cities and communities across Texas.
• Professional environment focused on innovation, excellent customer service, and technology-enabled municipal solutions.

About Aoka

Aoka is a third-party municipal services provider serving federal, state, and local governments with code compliance, inspections, and consulting. Our proprietary software, VertexPlans, streamlines plan reviews, inspections, and reporting—ensuring faster turnaround times and better communication for our clients.

Our Values: Continuous Improvement | Diversity of Thought | Empathy | Focus

Our Vision: Using technology to reshape construction.

Aoka is an equal opportunity employer (EEO), providing fair employment to all applicants and employees.