Commercial Compliance Program Manager

City of Charlotte•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The City of Charlotte is seeking a Commercial Compliance Program Manager within the Planning, Design, and Development Department with extensive zoning knowledge and experience who will implement the City’s commercial zoning regulations. The Manager will be responsible for leading and managing department programs, focusing on regulations, ordinance implementation and collaboration with internal partners and external customers. This position will supervise, lead, and manage staff responsible for reviewing and approving commercial development projects for compliance with the zoning articles within Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). This position will oversee training, coaching and implementation consistency of the UDO and Legacy Code. Performs professional, technical, and detail-oriented work to enforce the City’s zoning regulations.

Requirements

Ability to solve complicated zoning related matters is required
Extensive knowledge of planning and land development principles and practices related to regulatory services (zoning regulations and ordinances)
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff including other planning divisions, the development community, community leaders, other governmental agencies, and the public
Ability to comprehend technical ordinance and legal requirements related to zoning matters and convey such information in an easy-to-understand fashion
Ability to supervise, coach and mentor staff
Analytical skills applicable to planning and regulatory projects and initiatives
Excellent customer service skills (such as the ability to effectively communicate graphically, verbally, and in writing)
Effective time management with ability to meet deadlines and timely respond to internal and external customers
Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams to ensure process efficiencies and achieve positive impacts for the community
Ability to collaborate with diverse groups on a variety of issues and maintain a high level of collaboration within and outside of the department and lead staff to do likewise
Ability to prioritize and respond quickly and professionally to escalated or time sensitive questions
Ability to perform effectively and efficiently with minimal level of supervision
Four-Year degree in Planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related degree
Minimum seven (7) years of progressively responsible planning experience in multiple planning areas (notably policy planning and implementation)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related field
AICP and CZO, or other certifications (AIA, GISP, LEED, PE, etc.)
Three years of supervisory experience in the Planning function

Responsibilities

Participate in the Department’s Program Management Team to foster collaboration and leadership for Department and City Planning Department led programs.
Communicate and support the department’s philosophy, goals and policies.
Represent the department and the Division Manager/Deputy Director/Director (at his/her request) with other divisions and departments, City Manager’s Office, elected officials, Planning Commission, other departments and the public to make presentations, provide training, and facilitate program discussions.
Provide research, coordination, problem solving, & customer service on complicated zoning issues to the public, constituent services for elected officials and the mayor, and internal team members including residential & commercial zoning, code enforcement, subdivision, rezoning, Historic District Commission, Urban Design, UDO team, city attorney’s office, Mecklenburg County Water Quality, and the Charlotte Department of Transportation.
Lead, supervise, train and coach commercial zoning staff and provide support with escalated issues.
Manage the operations and innovation of programs and services.
Continually track implementation issues for patterns that may warrant text amendments to the UDO and communicate findings to leadership.
Track and create UDO text amendment requests and implementation policies.
Manage assignments that ensure implementation consistency in planning and permitting across Land Development teams.
Collaborate with the Deputy Division Manager, Residential and Subdivision Compliance Manager, and Rezoning Manager on UDO and Legacy Code implementation.
Undertake complex and difficult planning and regulatory project assignments as needed.
Interpret and explain complex planning processes, regulations and analyses to other agencies, staff and to the public.
Create and refine processes in response to emerging and changing issues, and to improve customer experience in multiple review platforms.
Facilitate meetings with staff, other departments and members of the public as needed, and serve as a representative for various meeting groups upon request.
Serve as zoning liaison for high profile projects.
Manage inquiries about conceptual/hypothetical scenarios and creative development options.
Research properties and find applicable ordinance references for various scenarios and odd lot issues.
Identify, solve problems and make strategic linkages between assigned projects and broader City policies, regulations and objectives.
Occasionally attend meetings outside of business hours to represent zoning.
Provide customer service responses to inquiries via phone, email and in-person.
Other duties as assigned.