Manager of Current Planning & Zoning

City of Portsmouth; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Portsmouth seeks a Program Manager for current planning functions, including rezoning, site plans, and ordinance amendments. You will oversee data collection, staff coordination, and presentations to the Planning Commission and City Council while guiding development approvals and policy development.

Ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's in urban planning with 6–9 years of managerial experience in local government planning; a Master's is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, a related field, and 6 - 9 years of progressively responsible managerial experience in urban planning at the local government level, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A Master's degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and participate in planning activities including rezoning, use permits, site plan review, and code amendments.
• Collect data, coordinate with boards and commissions, and present recommendations before Planning Commission and City Council.
• Coordinate site plan reviews and preparation of land development ordinance amendments.
• Assist in development approvals and coordinate with developers and the Zoning Administrator on interpretations.
• Prepare staff reports and evaluate projects for alignment with City plans and ordinances.

Skills

Project management

Public speaking

Team supervision

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning

Master's degree preferred

Job description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under limited supervision, this position supervises and participates in highly complex planning activities primarily related to current planning functions such as rezoning and use permit processes, site plan review, and code amendments such as those for the zoning and subdivision ordinances. Reports to the Director of Planning.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Serves as a Program Manager for current planning functions of the department.; collects data, organizes board, commission and task force coordination and makes recommendations and presentations before the Planning Commission and City Council; coordinates review of site plans, preparation of various land use ordinance amendments, and applications for land development ordinances changes.

Prepares applications and zoning of land development ordinances for the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act,, subdivisions and related ordinances; provides assistance to the public and the development community with obtaining development approvals for redevelopment and new development; researches and formulates long range goals for the department and develops policy and position papers.

Provides policy guidance and/ or direction on the review of applications, all current planning projects, development of work programs and citizen input components; meets with Developers, serves as sounding board to Planners, and confers with Zoning Administrator on interpretation and application of zoning ordinance provisions.

Provides assistance in the preparation of reports; prepares and reviews staff reports on development projects, rezoning and use permit applications; evaluates projects for consistency with plans, policies and ordinances adopted by City Council; ensures all regulatory requirements for legal advertising and adjacent property owner notification are performed in accordance with regulatory requirements, develops and maintains Planning Department Internal Policy Manual; makes recommendations for improvement of the department's efficiency and effectiveness.

Serves as Coordinator of the city's Development Review Committee; assists the city's legislative liaison regarding pending legislation and or any Planning concerns or issues for or in discussion at the state or federal government level.

Responsible for effective supervision and administration of budget preparation, monitoring expenditures, performance measures, identifying future budgetary goals of the department, staff development and training, succession planning, performance management, employee relations, prioritizing and assigning work and related activities.

Attends and conducts a variety of formal and informal meetings; responds and provides assistance to citizens with routine zoning regulations and processes inquiries; assumes responsibilities of the department in the absence of the Planning Director.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department need.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Planning

Comprehensive knowledge of philosophies, practices, principles and techniques of the municipal planning process as they pertain to development and redevelopment.

Policy and Procedures

Comprehensive knowledge of the City ordinances, codes and regulations pertaining to planning.

Interpersonal Relationships/Customer Service

Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with contractors, employees and the general public. Able to effectively handle routine inquiries and complaints from or disputes with customers.

Computer Skills

Utilizes a personal computer with word processing, spreadsheet, and related software to effectively complete a variety of administrative tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy. Knowledge of techniques in preparing maps, charts, plans, sketches and other graphics.

Supervision

Knowledge of leadership techniques, principles and procedures to assign work, schedule, supervise, train, and evaluate the work of assigned staff.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex situations and research information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, forecasting, conclusions or approaches.

Time Management

Ability to plan and organize daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology.

Communication

Excellent ability to listen and understand directions, information and ideas presented verbally and in writing. Ability to handle a variety of customer service issues with tact and diplomacy in a confidential manner.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, a related field, and 6 - 9 years of progressively responsible managerial experience in urban planning at the local government level, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master's degree is preferred.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check.

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED

TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including computers, calculators, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are for those for Sedentary Work.

Data Conception

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.

Language Ability

Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, agreements, applications, studies, summaries, memos, ordinances, regulations, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, memorandum, ordinances, policies, budgets, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including engineering, planning, architectural, marketing and legal terminology.

Numerical Aptitude

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract, multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages, interpret graphs, and compute discount, interest, profit, loss ratio and proportion, etc.; perform calculations involving variables, formulas, square roots and polynomials; perform elementary and advanced statistical calculations including frequency distributions, advanced probability theory, experimental design, etc.

Form/Spatial Aptitude

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment, engineering tools and drafting instruments. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination

Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication

Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list all the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.