Manager - Development (Planning and Development- Civil Service)

City of Dallas; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 77,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Dallas is seeking a Development Manager to lead all development activities for the department. You will supervise staff, coordinate with GIS, zoning, and city standards, and manage projects from inception to completion.

Responsibilities include policy development, budget oversight, and serving as liaison to City Council and other agencies. Strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Experience delivering policies, programs, and projects in a municipal setting preferred.
• Strong communication, leadership, and analytical skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development processes, operations, and activities; delegate tasks and monitor compliance.
• Set short-, mid-, and long-term goals; align GIS and zoning with city standards.
• Develop procedures and provide guidance to leadership and city councils on projects.
• Ensure contract compliance; act as liaison between departments and vendors.
• Consult landscape architects, engineers, and developers to interpret regulations.
• Review zoning, historic and conservation matters; coordinate inspections and planning reviews.
• Train staff, ensure certification, and participate in hiring and evaluations.
• Represent the department to City officials and external agencies; negotiate issues.
• Attend hearings and coordinate responses to bills; support long-term planning.
• Perform any other work as needed.

Skills

Development processes

Planning systems

Cost estimation

Stakeholder relations

Analytical thinking

Program management

Leadership

Process improvement

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Administration, or related field

Job description

Dallas is Growing. Grow With Us.

Looking for more than just a job? The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose. With competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture,

Looking for more than just a job? The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose. With competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a vibrant work culture, we’re committed to helping you thrive while you help our city flourish. Be part of a team that’s committed to service, innovation, and community.

Job Summary

Job Description

Overview

The Development Manager manages, oversees, coordinates, and provides direction for all development activities for the department. Manages the provision of Sustainable Development and Construction and all programs, permitting, processes, and administration.

Position Note

The Manager – Development

Within the Innovation Unit supervises and develops employees with specialized technical, analytical, and business-process expertise. The position oversees functions including departmental technology initiatives, systems administration, maintenance and enhancements, data analysis and reporting, and business-process improvements to strengthen operational efficiency and service delivery. The position coordinates projects, resources, and cross-functional teams to ensure solutions align with departmental priorities, operational needs, and City standards. Strong leadership, analytical, problem-solving, project management, and communication skills are essential.

Essential Functions

• 1 Manages, oversees, and monitors all development processes, operations, and activities; delegates authority and responsibility for assigned tasks to subordinates; identifies needed areas of change or development and institutes changes to improve operations; plans, implements, coordinates, monitors compliance, and evaluates policies and procedures; provides code interpretation and application direction; manages and oversees technology goals an innovation for City projects
• 2 Establishes short-, mid- and long-term goals and objectives; develops and/or approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; ensures accountability and transparency within development, inspection, and other related matters; coordinates GIS implementation and development to support zoning, plat, legal description, and other mapping requests.
• 3 Assists in the development, preparation, management, and implementation of procedures, policies, and standards; provides sound recommendations, and handles various requests from City Council, City Manager's Office, and other management; communicates and assists citizens and other individuals with questions, concerns, or other related queries; manages development staff and provides direction and oversight for code compliance, inspection procedures, arborist activities, and GIS activities for developments within the City.
• 4 Manages, oversees, and monitors contract compliance for projects within the City; serves as a contract liaison between various departments including the Procurement Office, Office of Risk Management, City Secretary, City Attorney, and other vendors; provides records management and coordination facilitating communication and effective collaboration.
• 5 Consults with landscape architects, designers, engineers, developers, builders, surveyors, and other trade professionals to provide initial interpretation and guidance with city regulations and to provide insights on strategies for completing their projects successfully.
• 6 Reviews individual cases with city planners and other technical staff for zoning cases, historic and conservation district applications, real estate reviews, engineering reviews for city contracts, floodplain permit reviews, escarpment permits, early releases for subdivision plats, Public Works projects, DWU projects, public property site maintenance inspections, long-term planning projects, and general forestry-related questions.
• 7 Provides training and ensures all inspection personnel are properly certified and up to date on all current trends an developments in construction trades and related regulations; participates in hiring, training, and performance evaluations; takes disciplinary action where necessary.
• 8 Serves as the acting official departmental representative to other City departments, City Manager's Office, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends department activities, policies, and reporting; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues, code compliance issues, and financial discrepancies.
• 9 Attends City Council and legislative hearings and takes necessary action regarding decisions or inquiries made at such hearings; reviews and coordinates responses to bills considered and adopted by the Texas State Legislature.
• 10 Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.

Knowledge And Skills

• 1 Knowledge of all development activities, planning, arborist, permitting, and related processes.
• 2 Knowledge of city organizational structure, city planning systems, and other data processing systems.
• 3 Ability to estimate, justify, and evaluate costs and program effectiveness.
• 4 Ability to establish a good rapport and working relationship with federal, state, and local agencies, other city departments, and the general public.
• 5 Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of established goals.
• 6 Ability to manage program activities and establish goals and objectives.
• 7 Ability to provide administrative and professional supervision, leadership, and direction to subordinate staff
• 8 Ability to determine work procedures that expedite workflow, improve efficiency, and increase operational effectiveness.
• 9 Communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• 10 Establishing and maintaining effectively working relationships.

Education

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in a Business, Business Administration, Public Administration, or Social Science field.

Experience

Five (5) years of project/program or construction management experience with responsibility for three (3) or more of the following areas:

• policy development/ implementation
• program evaluation
• project management
• financial analysis/budgeting
• report writing
• performance planning
• preparing and/or delivering oral/written presentations.

AND

• Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or management capacity. (This experience may be included in the above experience)

Equivalencies

• High school diploma/GED plus nine (9) years of the required experience, including three (3) years of supervisory/ management capacity, will meet the education and experience requirement.
• Associate degree in any field plus seven (7) years of the required experience, including three (3) years of supervisory/ management capacity, will meet the education and experience
• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a non-specified field plus seven (7) years of the required experience, including three (3) years of supervisory/ management capacity, will meet the education and experience
• Master’s degree (or higher) in a specified field plus three (3) years of the required experience, big... (truncated)

Salary Range

$77,272.00 - $96,574.40

The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.

City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer