Manager-Code Revision and Compliance

City of Indianapolis & Marion County; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Indianapolis & Marion County is seeking a Senior Planner to lead the Current Planning division, ensuring compliance with Indy Rezone, Comprehensive Plan, and related land use initiatives.

You will supervise a team of planners, guide ordinance amendments, and drive training programs while collaborating with legal counsel and city leadership to modernize processes and improve the built environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with preference in urban planning or related field.
• Five (5) years of experience in planning and zoning; master’s may substitute two years.
• Strong understanding of land use terminology and current land use concepts.
• Excellent writing, public speaking, and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage compliance, hearing administration, code revision, and workflow functions of the Current Planning Division.
• Monitor staff and projects, evaluate performance, and participate in hiring.
• Provide guidance on review of land use petitions for Indy Rezone and related plans.
• Lead planning initiatives and evaluate progress on planning initiatives.
• Develop trainings and mentor staff; collaborate with staff, leadership, and legal counsel.
• Present to Hearing Examiner, Metropolitan Development Commission, and other boards.

Skills

Urban planning

Leadership

Mentoring

Public speaking

Team management

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

ArcMap

Microsoft Office

Job description

This position is an integral member of DMD that will manage a team responsible for upholding all the Comprehensive Plan, Indy Rezone (the Indianapolis Zoning Ordinance), and other related plans and planning initiatives. Position is responsible for leading and supporting division staff in the administration of hearing operations, procedural compliance, ordinance amendments, Rules of Procedure, code revision initiatives, and related land use processes associated with MDC, BZA, Hearing Officer, Regional Center, and other hearing bodies, while overseeing operational workflows, procedural implementation, hearing administration, ordinance modernization efforts, and training initiatives to ensure consistent and compliant land use administration.

This is an important leadership role who will mentor and train a well-rounded and professional team. The position will directly supervise a team of planners and other staff that perform zoning petition review. This position will act with integrity and openness to collaboration. The position will apply supportive, positive, and productive management, decision-making and process improvement skills to evaluate, streamline, and modernize processes, documents, and workflows. Position will create and provide training internally and externally. Position will focus on quality output of decisions for improving the short- and long-term built environment of the city in accordance with guiding documents and applicable laws. This position will report to the Administrator – Current Planning.

Agency Summary

The purpose and mission of the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD) works to shape the city’s identity by strengthening people and places, building upon our history, and fostering visionary development. The DMD agency envisions the city as a growing, vibrant, and beautiful city where people and businesses thrive in an inclusive, world-class community. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the residents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

• Manages compliance, hearing administration, code revision, and operational workflow functions of the Current Planning Division. Monitors staff and projects’ progress and evaluates projects and staff performance results, including personnel issues, performance evaluations, monitoring staff activities and participates in the hiring of new staff.
• Assists in the management of the City's development review process and development review team in evaluating land use petitions and their consistency with Indy Rezone, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and other adopted plans.
• Applies extensive urban planning expertise and provides guidance consistent with local, state, and federal laws, codes and regulations to the review and production of advanced, highly complex planning activities.
• Proactively researches best practices and emerging trends for supporting growth in the city of Indianapolis.
• Leads planning initiatives, in collaboration with appropriate staff and stakeholders.
• Evaluates land uses, recommendations, and progress on planning initiatives.
• Supports the Administrator by coordinating ordinance amendments, Rules of Procedure updates, public hearing compliance, and other operational and procedural improvements in collaboration with planning staff, leadership, and legal counsel. Uses data, input, and observation to evaluate topics needed for trainings.
• Creates and implements trainings on an annual and as-needed basis.
• Provides structure and continuity of training program for new DMD staff, boards, and commissions as well as outside stakeholders.
• Provides information, technical assistance and professional guidance to developers, attorneys, the public, Metropolitan Development Commission, other city agencies, City-County Council, City Management, and staff.
• Makes oral and written presentations to the Hearing Examiner, Metropolitan Development Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Plat Committee, and other boards and commissions and community organizations as directed by the Planning Administrator.
• Supervises and assigns public hearing petitions and projects to Planners ensuring efficient review and compliance.
• Provides appropriate training and mentoring to staff members, acts as project manager for assigned projects and directs the activities of professional, paraprofessional, and technical planning staff.
• Along with the Current Planning Administrator, provides strategic guidance to the resolution of customer service issues and disputes presented by the public, development community, city agencies and elected officials regarding development requirements and procedures.
• Meets and consults with City officials, other municipal officials, major developers, and the public on planning projects.
• Performs and manages complex and sensitive professional planning projects, research, and analysis, including projects valued in the millions.
• Advises the Current Planning Administrator on all planning-related matters and may serve as Current Planning Administrator in their absence.
• Oversees the Planner-On-Call program and supports consistent zoning and petition guidance to the public, petitioners, and City departments. Fills in for staff to answer zoning/petition questions from the public, petitioners, and other City departments, as needed.
• Occasionally reviews and evaluates petitions as needed based on current worklog. Utilize resources such as ArcMap computer program/internet resources/historical maps/green bar printouts/microfilm reader to research properties, as needed.
• This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required with a preference in urban planning or related field. Five (5) years of experience working in a planning and zoning agency is required; two (2) years of experience may be substituted with an applicable master’s degree in planning or related field. Must have thorough understanding of land use terminology, zoning principles and practices, current land use law and contemporary land use concepts, and regulatory techniques. Working knowledge of Microsoft software and ArcMap is required, as well as research procedures and methodologies. Excellent writing skills, strong problem-solving skills, and public speaking skills are required. Working with integrity, respect and an ability and openness to collaborate are required.

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Master’s degree. Accreditation from the American Institute of Certified Planners or similar accreditations preferred but not required.

Working Conditions

Work is conducted in a standard office environment and can also be completed in a work from home environment. Off-site meeting may occasionally be required.

Physical Conditions

1. Sitting at a desk the majority of the day
2. Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10) pounds
3. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation
4. Tasks require the ability to perceive and hear sounds and see visual cues or signals
5. Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.