Planning & Development Director

City of High Point; United States; On-site; USD 107,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of High Point is seeking a seasoned Planning and Development leader to direct the department’s operations, budgeting, and regulatory programs. You will guide growth management, coordinate with council and boards, and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and safety policies.

You will oversee development reviews, interact with stakeholders, and mentor staff while advancing strategic plans for city growth and land use.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Master’s degree in planning or related field.
• 10+ years of professional planning experience; supervisory experience preferred.
• Valid Driver's License in NC or another state.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages the Planning and Development Department operations.
• Develops and administers the department budget; sets goals and work programs.
• Oversees planning work program, development review, and policy development.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in planning or related field

Master’s degree in planning

Job description

Compensation Range

$107,207.62 - $145,505.80 Please note: This job opening may close earlier than the stated date, due to high candidate volume.

Who We Are

At the City of High Point, we celebrate the creator in everyone. Building on our rich cultural history steeped in industrialism and innovation, our employees seek not only to transform themselves, but the world around us. We are collaborators, we are makers, we are visionaries. We invite you to explore the many opportunities to serve our community, by sharing your talents, skills, and expertise. You'll join a diverse team of over 1300 individuals dedicated not just to making a career, but a difference; because what we create in High Point, changes the world!

Our Core Values

• Stewardship: We manage the city’s resources responsibly and make decisions that sustain High Point’s future. In other words, we take care of what we have today to build what we’ll need tomorrow
• Welcoming: We create a friendly, open environment where residents, partners, and visitors feel valued and embraced. We want everyone who connects with High Point to feel welcomed, like they belong here.
• Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and ethical responsibility in everything we do. That means doing what’s right – even when no one’s watching. This is how we earn our community’s trust.
• Productivity: We stay focused on results, fostering creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking. We don’t just get things done – we find smarter, better ways to do them.

What We Offer

The City of High Point offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. We also offer generous benefit package for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 401K and 457B Retirement Plans PTO earned within first year 13 Paid Holidays per year Tuition Reimbursement Plan Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans effective day one

What You'll Do

Directs and manages the Planning and Development Department, providing leadership and oversight for the City’s planning, development review, and growth management functions under the general direction of the Deputy City Manager. This position plans, organizes, and evaluates departmental operations; develops and administers the budget; establishes goals, priorities, and work programs; and oversees policy development related to land use, growth, and development.

The role serves as a primary advisor to the City Manager, City Council, and appointed boards and commissions, represents the City in regional and inter-jurisdictional planning efforts, and ensures effective coordination with staff, stakeholders, and the public while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations, professional standards, and safety policies.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, supervises and evaluates the work of division heads and staff carrying out departmental work program, monitors progress and makes changes
• Develops departmental budget, monitors and manages expenditures
• Works with staff and others to identify and address city needs, future trends, and critical issues
• Communicates with public officials and citizen groups concerning planning and development issues
• Formulates, guides and manages the planning work program
• Oversees the development and revision of city policies and strategies concerning growth and development
• Oversees the development review process including the review of annexations, rezonings, subdivisions, site plan and related development reviews
• Oversees the plan review process
• Sets goals, agendas and timetables for planning and development activities and projects
• Provides guidance to the Technical Review Committee and oversees coordination
• Provides technical and professional support to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment and Historic Preservation Commission
• Presents reports to City Council and provides technical and professional assistance
• Advises the City Manager and other officials on planning and development matters
• Assists with the recruiting, screening and interviewing of job applicants as vacancies occur and appoints the selected candidate
• Guides work plan priorities for division heads, sets objectives, target dates and evaluates work of key staff on annual, semi-annual or more frequent basis.
• Hears and discusses staff concerns, grievances, and gives counsel and advice.
• Reviews employee performance problems with division head and establishes course of action.
• Improves staff’s professional skills through training and coaching.
• Participates in activities of regional and inter-jurisdictional committees.
• Discusses issues of mutual interest with regional planners, negotiates inter-jurisdictional agreements and represents City in joint planning activities.
• Prepares speeches, articles, reports and other presentations dealing with the planned development of the area.
• Ensures that all work is performed in accordance with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of the advanced principles and practices of urban and regional planning Thorough knowledge of economics, municipal finance and sociology as they apply to planning Thorough knowledge of current literature and recent developments in the field of planning General knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as they relate to planning and subdivision design and control Ability to interpret and analyze technical and statistical information and to prepare and present technical reports both in oral and written form Ability to communicate effectively to groups and individuals, engineers, architects, contractors, developers, businesses, supervisors, employees, and the general public Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, officials, boards, commissions, agencies and the general public Ability to plan, direct and evaluate the work of others

Qualifications

Required Qualifications Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning or a related field, supplemented by a master’s degree in planning and extensive professional planning experience. At least 10 years of responsible professional experience, to include management/supervisory experience and training. Valid Driver's License in North Carolina or another state.

Preferred Qualifications

Certification by The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)

Physical Requirements

Hearing/Speaking Expressing and/or receiving information by means of spoken word are both necessary to converse with internal and external customers including co-workers, citizens, and applicants.

Visual Abilities Acuity, far – clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see from a distance when administering and observing employment tests, operating a motor vehicle, or addressing an audience. Acuity, near – clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see work-related business documents close at hand. Depth perception – Three-dimensional vision and the ability to judge distance and space relationships. Field of Vision – the area that can be seen up and down or to the right or left while eyes are focused on one point. Must be able to see a wide span of area. Accommodation – Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly.

Physical Strength Light Work Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally; and/or Exerting up to 10 pounds of force frequently; and A negligible amount of force constantly to handle or move materials related to the position.

Type of Physical Demands Reaching - Extending the hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Handling - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s). Fingering - Picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingers primarily rather than the entire hand or arm.

Mental Activity/Requirements

Reasoning: Ability to apply principles of logical thinking combined with knowledge of principles and practices of public personnel and employment laws to work tasks and handle practical situations, comprehend, and respond to a variety of situations in a timely fashion and exercise good judgment. Mathematics Ability: Using arithmetic and/or Statistics: Ability to direct and oversee the use of arithmetic and/or statistics in the preparation of a variety of tests and reports. Language Ability: The ability to speak, read and write the English Language are required for this position.

Environmental Conditions

Physical Surroundings: The Human Resources Analyst is subject to working inside or outdoors. Hazards: There are no occupational hazards typically associated with this position. Machinery/Tools/Work Aids/Other Equipment: Equipment regularly associated with office-based work.

Location

The work location of this job will be 211 S Hamilton St High Point, North Carolina.

Our Commitments

The City of High Point is dedicated to fostering a work environment that values individuals from all backgrounds and seeks to attract and retain the most qualified partners in service to the citizens of High Point. As an at-will employer, the City allows employees to terminate their employment, or be terminated at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not prohibited by law. The City of High Point is committed to classifying and compensating its employees fairly for the work they do, weighing both the internal capabilities and the external market. While the job description is not intended to and does not create a contract of employment, we are excited to use this “living document” as a guide for managing performance and positions to ensure job descriptions are reflective of the current work required by the incumbent or expected by any candidate to whom an offer of employment is extended. The City of High Point is committed to providing a safe, comfortable working environment for all employees. To that end, we are proud to comply with all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, as well as make reasonable accommodations to candidates and employees as we are able in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates selected for employment must undergo (a.) a drug screening, in accordance with the City’s drug and alcohol policy and (b.) a background screening to determine whether there is any current, pending, or previous charge, conviction or other infraction deemed incompatible with service in the capacity for which the candidate is being hired. In lieu of or in addition to background screening, candidates selected for employment in a position that requires working with children in any capacity must be fingerprinted and undergo a criminal history record check conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Certain positions are considered so critical to the health and safety of others that a candidate cannot be placed in any such position without passing a pre-placement physical exam. The City offers employment to successful candidates conditioned upon the City’s receipt of satisfactory results from all required screening, checks, and exams, as applicable. The City of High Point offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Employees in designated part-time positions may participate in some of the benefit programs offered to regular full-time employees. Access the following link to view City of High Point Benefits and links to Benefit sites: Benefits Overview The Benefits Handbook provides a summary of benefits for City of High Point Employees.