Wake County (County), one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, is seeking its next Director of Planning and Development Services. The County welcomes approximately 25,000 new residents every year, and the moment calls for a leader who can shape the County’s growth with clarity, consistency, and vision. The Director of Planning and Development Services steps into a rare opportunity: to serve as the founding director of a newly established department, build its culture, and guide Wake County's approach to land use, permitting, and environmental stewardship at a pivotal point in its history. For the leader who thrives at the intersection of complex regulatory work, community engagement, and organizational development, this is an extremely compelling opportunity.
The Director leads a department of approximately 100 staff organized across four divisions: Administration, Planning, Building Permits and Inspections, and Watershed Management. The department serves as Wake County's primary authority for administering land development regulations, guided by the County's Unified Development Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, Stormwater Regulations, and the North Carolina Building Code. Wake County does not exercise zoning authority over municipal jurisdictions, which shapes how the Director engages with the development community and neighboring governments: less as a traditional regulatory enforcer and more as a convener, a resource, and a partner in responsible growth.
Raftelis helps local governments and utilities thrive by providing management consulting expertise to create the change our clients seek.
We’ve helped transform more than 600 organizations in the last year alone. We work in all areas of management consulting including: finance, assessment, communications, technology, executive recruitment, and strategic planning.
Some of the things we do include: helping local governments and utilities improve their financial foundation while minimizing the impact on the people that rely on their services; enhancing organizational performance; identifying top talent; establishing strategic plans; using technology to provide and convey data-driven insights; and telling an organization’s story in a compelling, concise way.
