Planning & Economic Development Director

City of Thornton; Thornton (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Thornton is seeking a Planning & Economic Development Director with a strategic mind and proven leadership to guide planning, development review, and business support. The role links long-range planning with meaningful development and engages residents and developers across City programs.

The successful candidate will lead department operations, develop land-use and development strategies, oversee budgets and staffing, and promote robust community engagement to foster equitable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Eight years’ management level experience in community development or related field, including five years of supervisory experience.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• AICP designation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs and manages all activities and operations of the department, including development and plan review, city planning, building permits, building inspection, development engineering, and the Office of Economic Development.
• Develops and implements strategies to link land-use, housing, and business development with art, transportation, parks, and community programs.
• Ensures robust community engagement and stakeholder involvement to foster collaborative growth and purposeful development.
• Accounts for department budget and funds from various sources, and manages staffing and performance.
• Advises the City Manager on development, growth, planning, and business support.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Planning & zoning

Budget management

Community engagement

Economic development

Staff supervision

Policy development

Development review

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Planning or related field

Eight years in management (five supervisory)

Tools

AICP (preferred)

Job description

The City of Thornton is seeking an engaged visionary with a strategic mind and demonstrated leadership qualities for the Planning & Economic Development Director.

This position leads, directs, and manages the planning, development review, and business support activities to create sustainable growth with robust community engagement. Provides strategic leadership to link long range planning with purposeful development to create a vibrant community. Implements the approved strategic workplan and addresses the city priorities through thoughtful leadership and policies. The Director and members of the Planning and Economic Development Team work with other departments to strengthen the City’s capacity to engage residents and developers in meaningful ways across all City programs.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate strengths to include:

• Directing and managing all activities and operations of the department, including development and plan review, city planning, building permits, building inspection, development engineering, and the Office of Economic Development.
• Developing and implementing strategies to link land-use, housing, and business development with art, transportation, parks, and community programs.
• Ensuring robust community engagement and stakeholder involvement to foster collaborative growth and purposeful development. Identifies opportunities for creative, equitable, and sustainable development. Assesses local needs and updates the strategic plan for the future of the department, the city, and the community. Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals and provides excellent customer service.
• Strong financial and compliance experience includes development and management of the department budget and ability to work across various funding sources.
• Strong personnel and management skills to include hiring, development, discipline, termination or advancement of employees.

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

We anticipate holding panel interviews the week of November 16, 2026 and will be holding screening interviews as the hiring team reviews applications.

Directs and manages all activities and operations of the department, including development and plan review, city planning, building permits, building inspection, development engineering, and the Office of Economic Development.

Develops and implements strategies to link land-use, housing, and business development with art, transportation, parks, and community programs.

Ensures robust community engagement and stakeholder involvement to foster collaborative growth and purposeful development. Identifies opportunities for creative, equitable, and sustainable development.

Assesses local needs and updates the strategic plan for the future of the department, the city, and the community.

Analyzes problems, identifies alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendations in support of goals and provides excellent customer service.

Develops and implements the department budget, including coordination with the Engineering Department for major capital projects and fleet.

Determines levels of staff, equipment and other resources needed to effectively and efficiently provide departmental services and programs. Pursues grant opportunities at the federal, state, and local level.

Manages, supervises and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination or advancement of employees.

Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance.

Monitors departmental operations and customer service to ensure quality control; identifies and resolves deficiencies; prepares and presents periodic and special staff reports on departmental issues and projects.

Balances advocacy for individual department wants/needs with commitment to and support for the best overall outcomes for the city and community.

Maintains a thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, local statutes, ordinances, standards, procedures, and trends related to department operations, and ensures their implementation. Assesses proposed state legislation to determine potential local impacts. Makes recommendations regarding proposed amendments and formal city position in the best interest of the community.

Develops and implements rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to advance the department's mission, goals and objectives.

Advocates necessary changes to promote high quality of life within the community; coordinates and resolves interdepartmental issues that arise from department processes.

Advises the City Manager on issues related to development, growth, planning, and business support.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Planning or related field from an accredited college or university; eight years’ management level experience in community development or related field, including five years of supervisory experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

American Institute of Certified Planners designation is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, practices and goals of the City of Thornton and the department.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, statutes, and ordinances related to community and business development, including planning and building inspection.
• Knowledge of the theory, principles, practices, and methods of economic development and redevelopment.
• Knowledge of the City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan.
• Knowledge of the general principles and practices of public administration, including personnel management and supervision, organizational development and budgeting.
• Knowledge of the organization and functions of the Council/Manager form of government and the functions of appointed boards and commissions.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the conduct of public meetings.
• Knowledge of basic principles of finance.
• Skill in planning, organizing, assigning, and coordinating the activities of professional and technical staff.
• Skill in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures in order to achieve department missions, goals, and objectives.
• Skill in directing, overseeing, and evaluating operational and management issues.
• Skill in dealing constructively with conflict, developing consensus and facilitating change.
• Skill in promoting economic development.
• Skill in assessing community and city needs and strategically planning for the future.
• Ability to develop, manage, monitor, and maintain departmental budgets.
• Ability to determine levels of staff, equipment, and other resources needed to effectively and efficiently provide departmental services and programs.
• Ability to monitor departmental operations and customer service to ensure quality control, and to identify and resolve deficiencies.
• Ability to develop and achieve department missions, goals, and objectives.
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Ability to respond with tact, composure, and courtesy when dealing with difficult situations.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to interpret, understand, and comply with complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and laws.
• Ability to research, develop and lead formal and informal presentations and discussions with diverse groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city management, employees, elected officials, board and commission members, other agencies, community members and the general public.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with city management, employees, elected officials board and commission members, other agencies, community members and the general public.
• Ability to lead, supervise and train employees.
• Ability to exercise significant authority and discretion.
• Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software required for the position.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to balance, stand, walk, finger, grasp, feel, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions. This position is mostly sedentary work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The employee is required to have close visual acuity. The employee is subject to both internal and external environmental conditions.

Examinations may include but are not limited to application screening beyond minimum qualifications; written, oral, practical exercise or any combination thereof or other job related assessment deemed appropriate by Human Resources.

Your application will be used as a screening tool. Completeness and accuracy are important! Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process could disqualify you from consideration.

As a condition of employment, the city of Thornton conducts background investigations for all positions which may also include a review of credit report and/or driving record. A drug screen, physical, and/or psychological examination administered by a city-designated provider will be required for pre-determined positions.