Assistant Director of City Development - City of Blue Springs

JOB SUMMARY STATEMENT:   Under general direction of the  Director of City Development, assists the Director in the administration, management, and coordination of the City Development Department and manages the Planning Division.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Assists in the development and implementation of operational policies for the preparation of the department's fiscal and program budget; develops, reviews, and analyzes programs and special projects to assess effectiveness.

2.  Assists with the preparation, development, and evaluation of highly technical studies, reports and analysis related to City planning activities; analyze and evaluate study results; prepares reports and presents findings.

3.  Participates in the review and approval of development proposals; oversees enforcement of City zoning, subdivision and planning codes; as well as application review and conditions of approval; oversees and/or performs field inspections for the planning division as necessary.

4. Manages the activities, operations, and services of the division including developing, updating and implementing elements of the Comprehensive Plan and area plans.

5. Develops strategies and recommendations on long-range planning, historic preservation issues, and presents reports or updates to the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, City Council and various committees and advisory boards; prepares code amendments; and negotiates and prepares intergovernmental agreements.

6.  Coordinates with other departments involved in the development review process in order to insure a uniform planning product; participates in staff meetings and conferences.

7. Oversees management and compliance of the City's participation in the federal HUD Community Development Block Grant program.

8.  Confers with citizen groups, applicants and/or their representatives regarding the implementation of ordinances, plans and other laws applicable to property development.

9.  Facilitates the communication of information regarding new legislation and current trends and practices in professional planning to staff.

10.  Selects, assigns, and evaluates the performance of team members; acts for the  Director of City Development in his or her absence; oversees administrative procedures as directed.

11. Attends and makes presentations and provides advice to the City Council, Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, and other similar groups.

16.       Provides staff support to various Boards and Commissions as needed.

The above duties and responsibilities include those tasks, physical and mental requirements, visual requirement, unique physical surroundings and mental/cognitive abilities required to perform the essential elements of the position.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Graduation from a recognized College or University with a Bachelor's degree in planning, transportation planning, public administration, geography, architecture, community development, environmental sciences, landscape architecture, or a closely related field.

A Master's degree in Planning, Public Administration, or closely related field may be substituted for one year of the non-specialized required experience, though any equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional environmental and/or land use planning experience including two years of responsible supervisory, administrative, or managerial experience.  Experience with CDBG activities, long-range plan development and project management, and community development software implementation and enhancement, including Tyler Technologies products is desirable.

Licenses and Certificates:  Valid, lawful driver's license is required at the time of appointment.

Must be able to obtain American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Certification within one year of accepting the position.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Skills:   Must have adequate skill to: understand and operate assigned personal computer, multi-line desk telephone, voice mail, electronic mail, cellular telephone, and pager to ensure adequate and required levels of communication are achieved; convey complex job-specific information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; adapt readily and quickly to the changing dynamics of the workplace in terms of goals and objectives, technological changes and changing professional requirements; handle personal and job-related stress in a healthy and productive manner to ensure negative effects do not diminish job performance; establish and maintain appropriate professional working relationships with internal and external customers, ensuring adequate listening and problem-solving skills are used as necessary; and understand and apply required general safety and job-specific loss control and risk management programs, policies, and techniques.

Mental Requirements:  Must have the capacity and demonstrated ability to: independently manage multiple assignments and tasks to ensure each is completed as required; and understand and apply specific City and department requirements, policies, and procedures when completing assigned tasks

Physical Requirements:  Must have the physical ability to: sit for prolonged periods; understand normal conversation; physically move from one location to another; operate assigned equipment and tools; retrieve physical and electronic resources and information necessary to complete assigned tasks and, must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and transport it 15 feet.

Supervisory Responsibility:  Provides direct supervision of assigned professional, technical, clerical, and volunteer staff.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.