Assistant Director Of Planning & Community Development

Working At Harris County Precinct 4:

You will be surrounded by team members who bring "heart, hustle, and higher standards" to work each day. These leaders advance opportunity and justice as they deliver services to and advocate for the residents of Harris County. The team you will be joining is innovative, dynamic, and forward-looking.

Assistant Directorof Planning & Community Development Position Overview:

The Assistant Director of Planning and Community Development leads a multidisciplinary team of professionals focused on planning the future of Harris County Precinct 4, located in western Harris County. Harris County Precinct 4 touches a wide transect of urban, suburban, and rural communities at the headwaters of Metropolitan Houston and encompasses over 5 cities and 160 special purpose districts. The Assistant Director will play a key role in driving positive outcomes in Harris County Precinct 4, one of the most vibrant, diverse, and rapidly growing areas in Metropolitan Houston, and in facilitating equitable capital planning and Community Development across the precinct's multicultural communities, neighborhoods, and regionally significant central business districts.

The position reports to the Director of Planning & Community Development and is a role that requires independent thought leadership, strong judgement, and analytical skills to drive the Precinct's planning and Community Development efforts. The primary role is to design and manage the Precinct's capital planning efforts, including the multiyear Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and oversee teams in Community Development and GIS. The Assistant Director is responsible for designing the CIP effort as an integrated planning process across the Precinct's departments, engaging communities, stakeholders, and County departments through participatory methods that would include long-range planning, capital budgeting, project development, public engagement, a communications strategy, among other departmental coordination. The Assistant Director is also responsible for leading planning implementation of the CIP into project development phases, including managing conceptual planning/design efforts before handing off to Precinct 4's Engineering team, developing a capital investment strategy, preparing grant applications and a grant strategy with the Precinct's Innovation team, managing comprehensive and subarea plans, conducting policy analysis as required, and identifying programmatic recommendations in partnership with the Precinct Operations Division and community stakeholders.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop Precinct's multiyear Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that sets the Precinct's capital investment priorities in collaboration with Finance, Engineering, Government Affairs and Community Engagement, and Policy/Innovation Divisions at Precinct 4.
• Oversee a team of Community Development, GIS, and capital planning staff.
• Manage high-profile planning projects such as comprehensive and subarea plans, park master plans, corridor studies, bicycle and pedestrian plans, urban design initiatives, disaster recovery efforts, revitalization, and economic development capital projects.
• Manage climate adaptation projects (i.e. urban resilience).
• Develop quality assurance and quality control processes across the planning portfolio, including providing mentorship for project managers in support of their professional development.
• Manage high-profile capital planning efforts and oversee Community Development and GIS initiatives.
• Manage assigned staff; develop goals and priorities; schedule and assign tasks and projects, evaluate performance; develop staff skills and coordinate training.
• Motivate, coach, and grow professionals and leaders at all stages of their careers.
• Create presentation materials for the Infrastructure Division and represent the Precinct on relevant boards and commissions related to urban and regional development.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

Additional Requirements:

• One-page Cover Letter and Resume

Licensure:

• Valid Texas driver's license with a good driving record.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proficiency in developing and delegating assignments in Microsoft Office Suite, primarily MS Excel and MS Word.
• Effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to organize, synthesize, and analyze information to prepare recommendations.
• Proven track record in leading consultants, budgeting, project tasks, data collection, meetings and communications, and instructing junior level staff.
  
• Exceptional project manager to organize the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), provide QA/QC, and mentor direct reports with project management responsibilities.
• Knowledge of all applicable local ordinances and state and federal statutes related to urban development.
  
• Knowledge of state and federal grant programs related to infrastructure, transportation, and Community Development.
  
• Principles and practices of grant project management and contract administration.
  
• Proficiency in working with sociodemographic data and ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap.
  
• Ability to work in Adobe Creative Suite and adherence to best practices in visual communications.
  
• Communication and interpersonal skills at a level necessary to develop collaborative working relationships. Executive-level tools and skills to manage multiple, high-priority assignments, and the ability to adapt to evolving priorities.
• Ability to design survey instruments and deploy platforms.
  
• Ability to facilitate and conduct in-person and virtual public participation activities, meetings and hearings; present and explain planning reports and information in public meetings.
• Ability to contribute to a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Education:

• Master's degree in urban/regional planning, geography, public policy, civil engineering, landscape architecture, or a related field of study from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

• Ten (10+) years of professional experience in progressively responsible work directly related to urban/regional planning, economic development, capital planning, community revitalization, or urban resilience.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience as a public sector manager and leader with a track record of empowering a work environment conducive to positive morale, professionalism, creativity, and teamwork.
• Experience drafting scopes of work for professional services and coordinating the procurement process and contracts, including deliverable review and invoices. (preferred)
• Experience drafting project reports, staff reports, technical memorandums, grant applications, and communications for presentations within the organization or with community groups. (preferred)
• Experience as public stakeholder representing an organization on boards and commission. (preferred)
• Experience embracing diversity and engaging with marginalized communities and individuals of all backgrounds and beliefs. (preferred)

Licensure:

• Licensure credential by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred or ability to acquire within 1 year of hire.

Language:

• Bilingual fluency (preferred)

Position Type, Salary and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular | Full-time

Work Location:

• The position is based out of our Tomball Service Center at 14444 Holderrieth Rd, Tomball, TX 77377.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands, arms, and fingers to handle, feel and reach; frequently required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk and hear; regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

What You Will Get in Return:
You will be surrounded by team members who bring "heart, hustle, and higher standards" to work each day. These leaders advance opportunity and justice as they deliver services to and advocate for the residents of Harris County. The team you will be joining is innovative, dynamic, and forward-looking.

Featured Benefits:

Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of full-time continued employment. Vacation, sick-time, and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program allows employees to save for retirement. Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees.

HARRIS COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Employment Type: Regular Full-time