Community Development Director

City of Enid•Enid, OK

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Development Director plans and oversees the City of Enid’s Community Development Department, including its Planning, Code Enforcement, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) divisions. The role’s purpose is to support the quality of life of current and future residents through the orderly growth and development of the community. The Director provides long- and short-term vision, leads staff and community initiatives, and maintains a visible presence at civic events and evening meetings. The Director oversees building inspection and code-compliance programs, reviews plans and proposals for municipal improvements, and develops or recommends land-use proposals, development ordinances, and code amendments. The role provides staff support to city boards and commissions, conducts public meetings, and coordinates with government officials, developers, residents, architects, building owners, and contractors. The Director also oversees the CDBG program, departmental operations, personnel, budgets, contracts, and process improvements, and provides assistance to other departments as needed. This is a salaried position with a regular eight-hour schedule, typically 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. After-hours attendance at meetings and availability to respond to problems outside normal work hours are required. The position reports to the Assistant City Manager and supervises an Administrative Assistant. The employee must reside within 25 miles of Enid, Oklahoma, or relocate to the area within the first six months of employment. Employment is subject to pre-employment drug screening and a criminal background check, as well as random drug and alcohol testing under the City’s substance abuse policy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Land Use Planning, or a closely related field from a four-year college or university.
Five years of progressive experience and/or training.
Valid Oklahoma driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
English proficiency.
Must reside within a 25-mile radius of Enid, Oklahoma, or relocate to the area within the first six months of employment.
Knowledge of building and construction materials, methods, and tools; zoning laws; design techniques and principles; practical engineering and technology applications; English; administration and management; computers; and law and government.
Proficient personal-computer skills, including email, databases, word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, and graphics.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, read and understand construction and scale drawings, handle multiple tasks, and work accurately with attention to detail.
Excellent communication and public-relations abilities; ability to assist and support others and operate a telephone, PC, copier, and other basic business machines.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents; respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints; write speeches and articles; and deliver persuasive presentations to management, public groups, and boards.
Ability to apply logical or scientific reasoning to complex practical problems and to work with abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to work with probability, statistical inference, geometry, trigonometry, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
Ability to deal effectively with angry clients and take a flexible approach to problems.
Comply with the City of Enid substance-abuse policy, including random drug and alcohol testing.

Nice To Haves

Certified Planner (A.I.C.P.), Licensed Architect (A.I.A.), or Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) credential.
Master’s degree in Public Administration or a related field.
Continuing education.
Advanced qualifications listed for advancement include 9–11 years of related experience, a master’s degree in a related field, ability to fill in for the City Manager briefly, advanced CDBG-regulation and related-principles knowledge, conversational Spanish, professional-organization membership, advanced computer-aided drafting, architectural or planning certification or training, and valid CPR certification.
Further advancement qualifications listed include 12 or more years of related experience, a doctorate in a related field, ability to fill in for the City Manager for an extended period, expert knowledge of operating procedures beyond planning design principles, bilingual ability, and a leadership role in a professional organization.

Responsibilities

Provide short- and long-term vision, planning, and oversight for the Planning, Code Enforcement, and CDBG divisions.
Develop, support, and lead action and focus groups addressing community-development issues.
Maintain a visible community presence, including regular attendance at civic events and evening meetings.
Administer building and structure inspections to ensure compliance with applicable local and national codes.
Oversee municipal-facility projects by preparing, reviewing, or interpreting plans, diagrams, blueprints, and construction specifications; assess proposal feasibility and identify needed changes.
Initiate staff recommendations for creating, updating, or amending land-use proposals, development ordinances, and codes.
Provide staff support to the City Commission, Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historical Preservation, and Construction Boards; represent the city in other groups as needed.
Hold public meetings and consult with government, developers, the public, and special-interest groups on land-use and community plans.
Consult and correspond with architects, building owners, and contractors about building codes and regulations; recommend changes as needed.
Assess the effects of regulatory limitations on projects and discuss the purposes of land-use projects with planning officials.
Keep informed about economic and legal matters involving the comprehensive plan, zoning and building codes, and environmental regulations.
Perform administrative functions, including reviewing and writing reports, approving expenditures, enforcing rules, and making decisions about purchases and services.
Lead and direct staff, evaluate performance, and recommend and implement personnel actions.
Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy improvements.
Prepare budgets, bids, and contracts, and direct contract negotiations.
Maintain confidentiality, including of private health information.
Oversee the CDBG program and meet its deadlines and process requirements.
Assist other departments as needed and perform other duties as required.