DIRECTOR of COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Job Description:

DIRECTOR of COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Description

OVERVIEW

For more information about the Community Development Department, visit our website !

QUALIFICATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, Planning (Land Use, Urban, Environmental, Long, Current) or closely related field from a college or university accredited by the US Department of Education, and
• Ten years of professional level experience in public planning, OR executive management position performing strategic planning and organizational development, preferably in the public sector . Must include three years of supervisory and managerial responsibilities; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the work.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners),
• Master’s degree Public Administration, Political Science, Community Planning, Environmental Planning, or closely related field.
• Certification as a building official, planner, or professional engineer.
• ICC (International Code Council) certification, or
• Experience working with the WA State Growth Management Act.

If you use education to meet the requirements for the position, a copy of your official transcripts must be submitted prior to your first day of employment.

Driving Requirements

• The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver’s License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy. This position is categorized as: Category 2 : Driver may operate a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business. Any employee using a personal vehicle on official County business shall be required to maintain auto liability insurance, in addition to having a valid driver’s license. If driving on county business the incumbent must meet and follow the Fleet Risk Control Policies to operate a motor vehicle on County Business.

Criminal Conviction Standards:

• The successful incumbent will access to a secured/confidential facility or computer system(s). As a result, Kitsap County will be conducting an extensive criminal background check by law enforcement agencies, which may include fingerprinting.
• Please review the following list of disqualifying crimes and negative actions to determine if you meet our standard for this position: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/disqualifying-list-crimes-and-negative-actions

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

(The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Kitsap County provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• The duties in this position are performed in an office setting and may be required to lift at least 20 pounds.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

• Management : Plans, organizes, controls, integrates, and evaluates the work of the Department of Community Development: develops, implements, and monitors day to day and long-term plans, goals and objectives focused on achieving the community’s priorities as conveyed through the Board of County Commissioners’ mission, vision and values linked here. Provides managerial assistance to subordinates in planning and implementing programs.
• Direction : Establishes direction, goals, objectives, and priorities for the department. Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the performance of department staff; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development. Reports on performance and coordinates with HR and County Administrator on personnel changes, growth, and management.
• Leadership : Provides leadership to develop and retain highly competent, public service-oriented staff through strategy development, recruitment, selection, compensation, training, and day-to-day management practices that support the County’s mission and values. Partners well with other County departments and builds strong relationships with other Department Directors and officials. Identifies specific training needs and gaps within teams and creates plans to remedy.
• Community Role : Represents the County and department in the community; informs and advises community groups, as well as the County Administrator and Board of County Commissioners, on local and regional community development, environmental and infrastructure planning issues. Builds relationships with diverse stakeholders to ensure Department’s work is understood and clear to all.
• Broader Context : Monitors national and state-wide developments in building, planning, economic and community development matters; evaluates their impact on County programs and operations; implements departmental process improvement where warranted; represents the County in regional conferences and other forums.
• Customer Service : Responds to and serves the public promptly and respectfully. Lead staff to exercise thorough, thoughtful, and helpful expertise about building and planning requirements and/or services to all customers in a friendly, open, and unbiased manner.
• Code Interpretation : Offers and facilitates guidance to County staff members to support clarity, fairness and consistency across the Department in decisions related to application of building and land use codes. Includes Fire Marshal’s office, land use, building inspection, development assistance and other development-related work units.
• Budget : Managing the presentation of the department's budget, workplan, and reporting with a focus on aligning resources with strategic priorities and evolving workload. Develops and administers departmental budget, including the forecasting of funds for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, and monitoring of expenses.
• Communication : Collaborating with key stakeholders, and effectively and proactively communicating with customers on the status of major projects and initiatives.
• Innovation : Identifying customers thoughtfully and fostering a culture of innovation to continuously improve on meeting current and emerging customer needs and community engagement expectations.
• Technology : Utilizing internal and external resources, technology, and continuous improvement techniques to report metrics, improve process, create more capacity and deliver greater value.
• Process Improvement : Develops and monitors processes and procedures controlling permit applications, plan review, building inspection, and code enforcement; review development approval/denial and the development of recommendation reports and letters.
• Legislative Review : Reviews and monitors proposed changes to federal, state, and local laws to determine their impact on departmental policies and practices; prepares, coordinate, and implements responses and recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
• Project Management: Plans and directs current and long-range projects related to comprehensive and current planning, zoning, subdivision activities, environmental analysis, building, and code enforcement.
• Comprehensive Plan and Zoning : Oversees the Comprehensive Plan and zoning code revisions process. Anticipates planning and zoning needs, coordinate with other Directors/disciplines, and facilitates current and long-range planning efforts to develop and implement the City’s strategic vision.

OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

• Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
• This position is classified as exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is non-represented and covered under the Kitsap County Personnel Manual. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions.

• This position is classified as "at will”. Incumbent's continued employment is at the discretion of the County Administrator and Board of County Commissioners.
• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Process

Persons interested in this position should upload a cover letter and current resume when submitting your application.

If you have questions regarding this recruitment, please email Mandy at mmeigs@kitsap.gov.

Kitsap County is committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment. We encourage people of all background, cultures, and religions to apply, knowing that a diverse workforce is a strong workforce. We will provide aid in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who require such assistance.

Compensation

The hiring salary range for this position is $147K - 188K. Benefits include generous leave, highly subsidized health insurance and participation in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System. The County also provides access to the State's Deferred Compensation Program.

This position will be open until filled with the initial review and preliminary screening of applications occurring on September 30, 2024. The second review of applications will take place the week of October 7, 2024, and then weekly thereafter until filled.

At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental -Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
Disability - Short-term disability & Long-term disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Wellness.aspx
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: https://spf.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Benefits.aspx or the Kitsap County Digital Benefits Guide .

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:

Upon completion of 3 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)
Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will beprorated***

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Personnel-Manual-2019.aspx

Salary:

$133,645.77 - $188,837.97 Annually