Community Development Director

City of Lake Forest Park • Lake Forest Park, WA

1d • $152,082 - $202,777 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Development Director provides overall leadership and management of the City’s Community Development Department, which includes Planning and Building and has 7.55 FTE. As a member of the City’s executive leadership team, the Director translates community vision into municipal strategy and implements policy consistent with the City’s mission and core values. The role involves substantial engagement with elected officials, residents, neighborhood groups, businesses, developers, and other governmental entities.

The Director leads the department’s planning, building safety, and code enforcement activities; develops and administers policies, programs, and budgets; oversees development review and application of land-use, building, and environmental regulations; and represents the department in public and intergovernmental settings. The role also supervises and develops staff, manages consultants and contracts, and evaluates service delivery and department operations.

This is a full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position. A hybrid schedule of two remote days per week is available after successful completion of the probationary period. The proposed 2027 salary step schedule is $152,082.48–$202,776.60 annually. Applications are accepted until the position is filled; applicants seeking consideration in the first review round should apply by November 23, 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, urban planning, or a related field, and at least seven years of progressively responsible senior-management experience in municipal planning, building, community development, or economic development, including at least three years of direct supervisory experience; equivalent education and experience may be accepted.
• Valid Washington State driver’s license by date of hire and ability to maintain insurability with the City.
• Knowledge of City organization, operations, policies, and procedures; applicable State and Federal laws; and municipal codes, rules, regulations, statutes, and ordinances.
• Knowledge of urban planning, redevelopment, land division, land use, zoning, real estate acquisition, community and economic development, environmental protection, code enforcement, permitting, and development processes.
• Knowledge of public-policy development and Washington redevelopment and land-use law, including SEPA and the Washington Growth Management Act.
• Knowledge of redevelopment project planning and design, affordable community housing, and public/private development and infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with GIS fundamentals and community and economic trend analysis.
• Knowledge of organizational, fiscal, personnel, and supervisory practices and principles.
• Proficiency with computers and applicable software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; working knowledge of modern administrative office procedures, methods, and equipment.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, relationship-building, business, and fiscal management skills.
• Ability to work with attention to detail in a busy, sometimes stressful environment with changing priorities; exercise initiative and independent judgment within established guidelines; and manage time and strategic planning effectively.
• Ability to work fairly and impartially, maintain regular and reliable attendance, and work independently with reliability, accuracy, and productivity.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and apply complex guidelines, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures and oversee code enforcement.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, employees, customers, vendors, intergovernmental agencies, and the public.
• Ability to mentor, supervise, and evaluate personnel and plan, implement, manage, and evaluate multiple Community Development programs and objectives.
• Ability to maintain professional conduct and confidentiality; foster public discussion and effective forums for input; and use sound judgment to prioritize work, solve problems, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively in English, orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
• Working knowledge of Accela permitting software.

Responsibilities

• Lead, organize, direct, and evaluate the Community Development Department, including planning, building safety, and code enforcement.
• Develop and administer department policies and guidelines, set goals and priorities, and conduct short- and long-range planning.
• Monitor service delivery, workloads, administrative systems, and reporting relationships; identify and implement operational improvements.
• Direct review of development proposals and ensure consistent application of building codes, zoning, environmental regulations, the comprehensive plan, and related ordinances.
• Review and approve SEPA and critical-area mitigation plans, certain permits, and land-use decisions; interpret land-use standards and regulations.
• Prepare and review reports and recommend plan and code amendments, annexations, historic preservation projects, and other planning, zoning, and building actions.
• Respond to sensitive resident inquiries and complaints and coordinate with engineers, developers, architects, agencies, and the public.
• Administer consultant and outside professional contracts and review consultant work for compliance with City standards and goals.
• Monitor changes in laws and development practices, assess impacts, and recommend or implement policy and operational responses.
• Prepare and present materials to elected officials, the hearing examiner, agencies, and the public; represent the department at meetings and in community and professional settings.
• Explain and defend department programs and policies and negotiate or resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
• Assist property owners, businesses, and developers with the City’s development process, including site selection, negotiations, land assembly and relocation, financial analysis or assistance, and contract or code compliance.
• Select, train, mentor, supervise, and evaluate staff; establish performance objectives; assign work; coordinate training; and address performance deficiencies.
• Coordinate staff work plans and resolve priorities, workload, and technical issues while fostering communication, feedback, and problem-solving.
• Develop and administer the department budget, forecast staffing and operational needs, monitor expenses, and prepare and justify budget requests and amendments.
• Project department revenues and funding, manage permitting fees and funds, and pursue applicable federal and State funding sources.
• Ensure economical and effective use of department funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• HRA/HSA/FSA
• Enrollment in Washington State’s DRS PERS plan
• 401(a) retirement plan with matching employer contribution
• Optional 457 deferred compensation plan (DCP)
• Vacation, sick leave, and holiday time off
• Additional 48 hours of administrative leave, prorated based on hire date
• Prior public-entity employment tenure counts at 50% toward City vacation accruals for eligible new hires
• Hybrid schedule of two remote days per week after successful completion of the probationary period

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior