Planning Director
City of Traverse City, Michigan
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Job summary
The City of Traverse City seeks an emotionally intelligent, progressive Planning Director to lead land use, sustainability, and zoning for a vibrant Michigan community. You will drive long-range planning, code updates, and interdepartmental collaboration with a high degree of autonomy.
As a key executive, you will direct strategic initiatives, engage residents, and oversee budget, staffing, and performance. AICP certification and HUD grant experience are required or strongly preferred.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or related field is required.
- Master’s degree is preferred.
- AICP certification is required.
- Experience with HUD CDBG/grant administration is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Update the Master Plan and develop short-/long-range land use studies.
- Modernize zoning, sign codes, and development frameworks; set goals and internal controls.
- Direct department operations, staffing, evaluations, and budget management.
- Coordinate multimodal infrastructure with the Mobility Action Plan.
- Oversee grant applications for transportation, capital projects, and community development.
- Serve as official representative to the City Commission and advisory committees.
Skills
Education
Job description
The City of Traverse City is seeking an exceptional planning leader to help shape the future of one of Michigan’s most vibrant and distinctive communities. Nestled along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is known for its unparalleled natural beauty, vibrant downtown, engaged residents, and commitment to thoughtful land use, environmental stewardship, and sustainable growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking organization and make a lasting impact in a community that values innovation, collaboration, and quality of life.
The City is seeking an emotionally intelligent, progressive municipal planning executive to serve as its next Planning Director. The City is seeking a leader who listens with openness, respect, and a capacity to be changed, and who universally embraces the City Manager’s desired culture, which is firmly rooted in feedback.
As a key executive leader, the Planning Director provides strategic direction and administrative oversight for the City’s land use, sustainability, urban development, zoning, and code enforcement operations, while providing support and expertise to other departments in capital transportation and municipal infrastructure projects. Operating with a high degree of autonomy and sound professional judgment, the Director leads long-range planning initiatives, updates municipal codes, and aligns departmental operations with the City’s Strategic Action Plan, Master Plan, and mission.
The Opportunity
The City of Traverse City is seeking an exceptional planning leader to help shape the future of one of Michigan’s most vibrant and distinctive communities. Nestled along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City is known for its unparalleled natural beauty, vibrant downtown, engaged residents, and commitment to thoughtful land use, environmental stewardship, and sustainable growth. This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking organization and make a lasting impact in a community that values innovation, collaboration, and quality of life.
The City is seeking an emotionally intelligent, progressive municipal planning executive to serve as its next Planning Director. The City is seeking a leader who listens with openness, respect, and a capacity to be changed, and who universally embraces the City Manager’s desired culture, which is firmly rooted in feedback.
As a key executive leader, the Planning Director provides strategic direction and administrative oversight for the City’s land use, sustainability, urban development, zoning, and code enforcement operations, while providing support and expertise to other departments in capital transportation and municipal infrastructure projects. Operating with a high degree of autonomy and sound professional judgment, the Director leads long-range planning initiatives, updates municipal codes, and aligns departmental operations with the City’s Strategic Action Plan, Master Plan, and mission.
The City operates under a collaborative governance model, with strong engagement among elected officials, executive leadership, and the community. The Planning Director receives general supervision from the Deputy City Manager and exercises supervisory responsibility for the Planning and Zoning Department.
The successful candidate will be universally adept at staying in uncomfortable, and at times emotionally charged, conversations with total professionalism. They will communicate sincerely, openly, clearly, and confidently while inspiring trust and engagement across the organization and community. By listening and interacting with empathy and genuine appreciation for passionate, divergent points of view, the Planning Director will embody a culture of feedback, embracing the valuable perspectives of residents, City Commissioners, Planning Commissioners, and regional stakeholders to inspire individuals to freely share ideas.
Traverse City, Michigan offers an exceptional opportunity for a leader who embodies a mindset of possibilities, seeking both professional impact and quality of life. Situated along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan, Traverse City is a four-season destination community and serves as the regional hub of Northern Michigan while maintaining a strong identity. Traverse City is connected to the world through its Cherry Capital Airport, the third busiest airport in Michigan, with direct flights to major metropolitan hubs.
The City has a year-round population of nearly 16,000, with daytime population more than doubling, and significant seasonal population fluctuations that create a dynamic and complex municipal service environment as a highly sought destination community. As the regional hub of Northern Michigan, Traverse City offers a unique blend of small-city character, regional influence, and destination-community demands.
- Four-season outdoor recreation
- Vibrant downtown and waterfront
- Renowned food scene with nationally recognized restaurants, wineries, breweries, and year-round markets
- Strong schools, healthcare, and community services
- Engaged and supportive community
The ideal candidate is a values-driven, collaborative leader dedicated to community stewardship, transparent communication, and responsive public service. The next Planning Director will be a skilled manager and communicator capable of allocating municipal resources effectively, establishing strategic priorities that promote sustainable growth, and maintaining executive support through authentic engagement.
- Emotional Intelligence & Professional Poise: Navigates high-profile or sensitive political situations with diplomacy, tact, strict confidentiality, sound judgment, and calm professionalism under public pressure.
- Strategic Collaboration & Alignment: Partners closely with executive leadership to execute Strategic Action Plan Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
- Feedback-Oriented Leadership: Cultivates an inclusive environment that values input from residents, staff, and municipal boards while encouraging open idea-sharing.
- Public Engagement & Executive Communication: Acts as a primary spokesperson, convenes citizen and neighborhood forums, facilitates public meetings, and conveys complex planning concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
- Vision & Policy: Updates the Master Plan and develops short-/long-range land use studies.
- Ordinance & Governance: Modernizes zoning, sign codes, and development frameworks; establishes departmental goals, SOPs, and internal controls.
- Department Administration: Directs all operations, staff recruitment, evaluations, professional development, and budget administration.
- Multimodal Infrastructure: Partners with City departments to align complete streets and transit projects with the Mobility Action Plan.
- Federal Grants & CDBG: Oversees CDBG entitlement compliance and housing initiatives, delegating daily operations to the Deputy Planning Director.
- Board Liaison: Serves as official representative to the City Commission, Planning Commission, and advisory committees.
- Community Relations: Facilitates public/developer engagement, oversees site plan reviews, and collaborates with regional entities.
- Climate Initiatives: Supports implementation of the Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) and promotes resilience strategies.
- Funding Procurement: Directs grant applications for transportation, capital projects, and community development.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, Public Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Planning: 5+ years of progressive planning experience (master planning, placemaking, ordinance drafting, zoning).
- Leadership & Grants: 3+ years supervisory and budget management experience preferred; proven HUD CDBG/grant administration background.
- Certification: AICP certification required (CNU-A, LEED AP, or CEcD preferred).
- Schedule & Residency: Must reside within 30 miles of city limits within 12 months; available for mandatory evening meetings and occasional weekend events.
The City of Traverse City provides a competitive executive package designed to attract top-tier talent.
- Pay Range: $99,688 – $131,271, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance packages.
- Retirement & Leave: Defined benefit pension, 457(b) match options, and generous paid time off.
- Relocation: Relocation assistance and potential temporary housing stipend for qualified out-of-area candidates.
- Workplace Flexibility: Flexible workplace culture with options for hybrid and flex time as appropriate.
The City of Traverse City is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff...
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