Job Description

The City of Johnson City, Tennessee is accepting online applications for a Director of Planning. The employee performs complex professional, administrative, and managerial work in directing the City's planning and development functions. The Director of Planning provides leadership for current and long-range planning initiatives, development review, community development programs, and related departmental activities. The position directs, coordinates, and evaluates the work of assigned staff. Responsibilities include establishing priorities, managing resources, improving organizational productivity and service quality, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and supporting effective development and growth throughout the City. Work is performed under the general supervision of an Assistant City Manager. This position performs complex professional, technical, administrative, and managerial work in directing the City's planning and development functions. The Director of Planning oversees current and long-range planning activities, development review processes, planning studies, and related programs and services. The position is responsible for achieving departmental objectives by establishing priorities, coaching and developing staff, managing workloads and resources, and ensuring the accuracy, quality, and timely completion of departmental work. The Director also provides professional expertise and leadership on complex, highly visible, and politically sensitive planning initiatives, development proposals, projects, and assignments.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Plans, directs, manages, and evaluates the daily operations, programs, services, and activities of the Planning Division.
• Develops and implements divisional goals, objectives, policies, procedures, priorities, work plans, and performance measures in alignment with City and departmental objectives.
• Assists in the preparation, administration, and monitoring of the division's budget and ensures the responsible and effective use of financial, personnel, and operational resources.
• Supervises, assigns, directs, and reviews the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff; establishes work priorities and ensures assignments are completed accurately, timely, and in accordance with applicable standards.
• Reviews project plans, schedules, and work products; assigns staff to projects; balances workloads; resolves conflicts; and monitors progress to ensure established goals, deadlines, and budgetary requirements are met.
• Provides leadership, coaching, training, and professional development to assigned staff; conducts performance evaluations and addresses performance or conduct concerns in accordance with City policies and procedures.
• Participates in the recruitment, selection, placement, promotion, discipline, and other personnel actions involving assigned employees.
• Coordinates planning activities and projects with other City departments, governmental agencies, consultants, developers, community organizations, and the public.
• Provides complex professional and technical assistance to the Assistant City Manager or designee regarding planning, development, land use, zoning, and community development matters.
• Prepares, reviews, and presents staff reports, recommendations, ordinances, resolutions, plans, studies, and other materials related to planning activities, projects, programs, and services.
• Presents information and recommendations to the City Commission, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, other boards and committees, community groups, and the public.
• Directs and coordinates programs and activities related to comprehensive and long-range planning, current planning, development and design review, zoning administration, community planning, environmental planning, annexations, subdivisions, and related land-use matters.
• Provides professional expertise and guidance regarding complex, sensitive, or highly visible planning and development issues, projects, applications, and policy matters.
• Conducts and participates in public meetings, community engagement activities, presentations, and other public relations and outreach efforts related to assigned programs and initiatives.
• Applies accepted principles, practices, and methods of urban planning, land-use regulation, development review, and community development.
• Reviews and interprets site plans, building plans, development proposals, maps, technical reports, ordinances, regulations, and related documents.
• Maintains accurate records, reports, files, and documentation in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and records-retention requirements.
• Uses Microsoft Office, geographic information systems, permitting and development-review systems, and other software applicable to assigned duties.
• Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, and understands and carries out complex oral and written instructions.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance and attends evening meetings, public hearings, and other after-hours events as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, and techniques of municipal planning, land-use regulation, zoning administration, and community development.
• Thorough knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Tennessee Code Annotated, the City Charter, and ordinances, codes, regulations, and policies governing planning, zoning, development, annexation, and subdivisions.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of project management, organizational planning, program administration, and public-sector operations.
• Ability to plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate complex research projects, planning studies, development proposals, and policy initiatives.
• Skill in preparing and interpreting maps, charts, sketches, site plans, technical illustrations, reports, presentations, and other complex graphic materials.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, evaluate alternatives, and present research findings and recommendations clearly and effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
• Knowledge of research methodologies, statistical techniques, data analysis, and the appropriate use of demographic, economic, land-use, and socioeconomic information.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, plans, and technical documents to planning and development matters.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and provide professional guidance regarding complex, sensitive, and highly visible planning and development issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City officials, board and commission members, developers, consultants, representatives of other governmental agencies, community organizations, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate professionally, tactfully, and effectively with individuals and groups representing diverse viewpoints and interests.
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments, manage competing demands, meet established deadlines, and keep projects and initiatives on schedule.

Acceptable Experience and Training:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban or regional planning, public administration, architecture, engineering, geography, or a closely related field is required. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in municipal planning is required, including significant experience managing complex planning projects, programs, and staff. A master's degree in planning, urban design, public administration, architecture, or a related discipline is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. Specialized education or professional experience in a complementary discipline, such as urban design, physical geography, geology, civil engineering, transportation or traffic engineering, economics, or political science, is desirable.

Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is required.

Pre-employment physical and background check required.

EEO