Community Development Director

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Battle Ground, WA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2023-00029
Department:Community Development
Opening Date: 10/12/2023
FLSA: Exempt
Position Status: Non-Represented
Position Summary
**Attention interested applicants**
To view the full position description & to apply, please visit the GMP Consultants website.
Under the direction of the City Manager, this position plans, organizes and directs the activities of the Community Development Department which includes long range and comprehensive planning, development review and permitting, code enforcement, building services and developer support activities. The Director is responsible for the development, recommendation and implementation of policies, programs and procedures that accomplish the goals and objectives of the department.
Essential Duties

• Responsible for the overall leadership, direction and operation of the Community Development staff.
• Manage City development permits and issuance function, including the building services program. Oversee the efficiencies of the Permit Center. Ensure requirements, once established, remain consistent for the life of the project expert to accommodate health and/or safety concerns.
• Manage the code enforcement activity to minimize cost and disruption of developers and citizens while ensuring all applicable health and/ or safety standards are enforced.
• Oversee the implementation of the Building Services program, as well as integration of this program with development services.
• Coordinate and approve budget proposals for the Department; recommended expenditures; and ensure responsible expenditure of funds.
• Resolve difficult citizen and developer complaints often involving policy or technical questions, political issues and/ or sensitive Department priorities.
• Lead Economic Development and recruitment efforts for the City.
• Delegate assignments and projects to subordinates as appropriate.
• Oversee the development of an annual work program; establish long range Department goals; develop and administer policies, procedures and basic objectives and methods of operation for subordinate sections.
• Resolve personnel, administrative and performance issues; including discipline and developing recommendations in hiring and termination of employees as necessary.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate staff.
• Perform special projects or studies in areas of Department concern.
• Ensure consistent internal workflow among technical disciplines.
• Apply for and administer a variety of grants, including Community Development Block Grant, and Department of Commerce.
• In cooperation with other Departments, coordinate the application of City regulations.
• Represent the Community Development Department and/or the City on various committees and before the City Council, Planning Commission and other community and regional committees.
• Attend Council meetings and a variety of other special interest meetings as required.
• Serve on the City's management team.
• Follow/adhere to all city policies and procedures, and safety program regulations and requirements.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Extensive knowledge of legislation relating to the building codes; state and local standards; and planning, zoning and environmental regulations, including SEPA and GMA, and the interrelationship between them.
• The relationship between long range land use planning and overall fiscal stability and sustainability of the City.
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• The relationship between comprehensive planning and development review.
• Environmental codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Economic development trends, issues and techniques for successful downtown revitalization.
• Business trends and issues.
• Urban design principals.

Ability to:

• Direct, lead, motivate, influence, and guide all levels of employees toward accomplishing the mission and goals as a service oriented team.
• Absorb and analyze complex technical information and make decisions of major scope with awareness of technical, legal and financial consequences.
• Communicate data and sensitive Department information to groups of various audiences in a clear and persuasive fashion.
• Effectively present information in a public legislative forum.
• Mediate conflicts, define issues and manage change to accomplish overall Department goals and objectives.
• Balance the need for cooperative working relationships with the user population and the need to enforce the City's standards.
• Develop and implement short and long range goals and programs.
• Develop and implement effective policies, affecting City public groups, individuals, and builders and development community.
• Understand, evaluate, organize, and prioritize budget requests, and develop department budget.
• Establish and meet inflexible timelines and delegate responsibility appropriately.
• Plan, organize, review, and effectively evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Read and understand blue prints, plans and maps.
• Develop rapport with a variety of people and the effectively solicit cooperation.
• Prepare and implement comprehensive plans, including the growth management act.
• Make decisions in an environment of competing groups and interests which are often polarized.
• Collaborate and coordinate activities with other City Departments and various jurisdictions while ensuring the Department's overall goals are met.
• Respond to complex work organization and efficiency issues with innovative solutions.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships among co-workers and other City personnel, contractors, and the general public.

Experience, Education and Other Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in planning and zoning, public administration, or other closely related field.
• Five (5) years of demonstrated experience in the field of planning, Community Development, economic development, or closely related field, preferably in municipal or county government.
• Experience must include progressive management and supervisory responsibilities.

Licenses, Certificates and Other Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is desirable.
• Must successfully pass all phases of the pre-employment hiring process, including but not limited to, reference checks and a criminal background check.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
Work is performed in an office environment and field locations in varying weather conditions. Requires sitting at a desk for extended periods of time. Equipment utilized includes standard and specialized office equipment including personal computers. Position may be required to work extended hours and attendance at evening meetings and occasional weekend meetings is required. Position may be required to travel outside the City to attend meetings, training, and conferences.
The City of Battle Ground offers an excellent benefit package for employees (and their families) which includes:

• Medical insurance - Regence PPO and Kaiser HMO plan options offered
• Dental insurance - Delta Dental of WA
• Vision insurance - Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Basic term life insurance policy
• Long-term disability policy
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Membership in the WA State Department of Retirement Systems (Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) or LEOFF 2 for Police positions)
• Vacation accrual rate of 8 hours per month to begin (accrual increases based on service years)
• Sick leave accrual rate of 8 hours per month
• 12 paid holidays per year, plus a floating holiday
• Other voluntary/employee paid benefits options available: flexible spending account, Aflac plans & 457 deferred compensation program options.

The City of Battle Ground is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
This means that the City does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of protected class status. All applicants and employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, compensated, without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation or gender identity, veteran status, use of a guide or service animal, genetic information, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability (unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification), or because the applicant/employee is a victim of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or stalking.