Planning Division Manager

City of Thousand Oaks; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Thousand Oaks seeks an experienced Planning Division Manager to lead the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. This role oversees advanced and current planning, housing and redevelopment, and guides policies, ordinances, and regulatory initiatives.

The Manager provides strategic leadership, directs staff, manages budget and operations, and collaborates with City leadership, the Planning Commission, and stakeholders to implement City priorities.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional planning and/or housing and redevelopment experience, including two years in management.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, business administration, public administration or a closely related field.
• Master’s degree in urban planning (MUP) or public/business administration (MPA/MBA) and Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning activities including land use, zoning, annexation, open space management, environmental review, and related regulatory initiatives.
• Develop and update City ordinances; ensure enforcement of zoning, housing, and related municipal codes.
• Direct staff, workforce planning, budget preparation, and continuous improvement of divisional operations; collaborate with City leadership, Planning Commission, and stakeholders.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public or business administration

Master’s degree in urban planning (MUP) or public/business administration (MPA/MBA)

AICP Certification desirable

Job description

The City of Thousand Oaks Community Development Department is seeking an experienced, collaborative, solutions-oriented leader to serve as its next Planning Division Manager. Operating under administrative direction, the Planning Division Manager is a division head responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the activities, major programs, services, and operations of the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. This position oversees advanced planning, current planning, and housing and redevelopment, while providing highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Community Development Director.

The Planning Division Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight of the City’s current and long-range planning functions, guiding the development and implementation of plans, policies, and programs that advance the City’s vision and priorities. The Manager oversees a broad range of planning activities, including land use, zoning, annexation, open space management, environmental review, and related regulatory initiatives. This role also plays a key part in developing and updating City ordinances and ensuring the effective administration and enforcement of zoning, housing, and related municipal codes.

The Planning Division Manager also provides oversight and direction to division staff, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team. Responsibilities include workforce planning, staff development, budget preparation and administration, resource allocation, and continuous improvement of divisional operations. Working closely with City leadership, the Planning Commission, and other stakeholders, the Manager ensures the timely implementation of City Council priorities and Planning Commission initiatives while providing thoughtful guidance on complex and often sensitive planning matters.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements include at least eight (8) years of increasingly responsible professional planning and/or housing and redevelopment experience including two (2) years of management and administrative responsibility. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, business administration, public administration or a closely related field is also required.

A master’s degree in urban planning (MUP) or pubic/business administration (MPA/MBA) and Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual base salary range for the Planning Division Manager is $131,672 - $197,508. For a complete overview of the City’s extensive benefits, review the detailed summary here. Highlights include membership in CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System), a deferred compensation plan that includes a City match of up to 1%, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave.

Questions

Please direct questions to Serena Wright-Black at [e-mail] and Robert Colichio at [e-mail].