Community Development Director

Town of Fort Myers Beach Florida•Fort Myers Beach, FL

About The Position

The Town of Fort Myers Beach seeks a collaborative, experienced leader to oversee community development, including planning, zoning, building permitting and inspection, floodplain management, economic development, and community engagement. Reporting to the Town Manager, the Director leads internal staff and contracted professionals, supports Town officials and community stakeholders, and ensures development aligns with Town goals, applicable regulations, and community needs. The Director is accountable for building a high-performing, customer-focused department and leads permitting, planning, and rebuilding efforts following disasters. This is an essential emergency position. During emergency activations, the Director serves on the Town’s Emergency Operations Center team and must be available for irregular schedules immediately before, during, and after severe weather or other declared emergencies. Assignments may require working around the clock for several days on short notice. The Town offers comprehensive health insurance, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, gym membership reimbursement, paid leave, sick leave, an annual birthday benefit, 14 paid holidays, and an employer-contribution 401(a)/457(b) pension plan with immediate vesting. Employment is contingent on pre-employment drug screening and general background verification.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
At least 8 years of progressively responsible municipal government experience in community development, urban planning, zoning, or permitting.
At least 5 years in a supervisory or management role leading multidisciplinary staff.
Current FEMA ICS and NIMS training IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 within six months of employment; ICS-300 and ICS-400 within twelve months of employment.
Valid Florida Driver License.
Knowledge of urban planning, land use management, community development, building codes, environmental regulations, coastal resource protection, and government operations.
Knowledge of federal and state grant requirements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), public-sector budgeting, contract administration, and outsourced professional services performance management.
Knowledge of Florida statutes and regulations concerning building, permitting, licensing, development, and code enforcement, including Florida growth management law (Chapter 163, F.S.) and the Florida Building Code.
Knowledge of FEMA regulations, floodplain management, the National Flood Insurance Program, OSHA standards, workplace safety, and risk management.
Ability to lead, coach, develop, and manage staff and teams through organizational change.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including preparing technical reports, strategic plans, policies, and public presentations.
Conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, and consensus-building skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, permitting and land management software, and GIS platforms.
Project management skills, including scope, budgeting, scheduling, and oversight of departmental and grant-funded projects.
Ability to build effective working relationships; interpret and apply complex laws and codes; exercise sound judgment; handle sensitive information; adapt to changing priorities and emergencies; and promote customer service and community engagement.
Ability to analyze data and communicate technical information clearly to elected officials, committees, and the public.
Must be readily available to work irregular schedules immediately before, during, and after severe weather or other declared emergencies; failure to work assigned shifts may result in disciplinary action.
Ability to perform tasks involving standing, bending, stooping, stretching, walking, moderate lifting up to 20 pounds, standard dexterity operating office equipment, and extended desk and keyboard work.
Ability to work in office and field settings, including public meetings, construction and inspection sites, and municipal offices; occasional evening or weekend work may be required.
Employment is contingent upon successful pre-employment drug screening and general background verification.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience working in a coastal community or FEMA-designated floodplain.
Experience leading post-disaster recovery and rebuilding, including damage assessment, substantial damage determinations, and coordination with FEMA and state recovery agencies.
Experience managing grant-funded projects and contracted professional services.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification.
Additional FEMA and emergency management training, including Emergency Operations Center courses, may be assigned as necessary.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and manage community development staff and contracted professionals; set expectations, delegate work, evaluate performance, develop staff, and plan for staffing and succession.
Recommend laws, policies, ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to the Town Manager to improve departmental operations and support growth management.
Oversee zoning, land use, long-range and current planning, GIS, FEMA and CRS programs, and special projects, while protecting coastal resources.
Coordinate development efforts with other Town departments, agencies, stakeholders, businesses, developers, and community members.
Conduct studies and surveys, review existing programs, and initiate new initiatives to inform development recommendations.
Partner with Public Works & Utilities on sanitary sewer, water, storm drainage, and street system maps, databases, and plans.
Coordinate with Code Compliance on referrals and enforcement involving land development, building, and construction-related ordinances.
Plan and oversee departmental projects, including planning studies, code updates, and resilience initiatives; manage scope, schedules, budgets, consultants, and deliverables.
Support Public Works projects with planning, zoning, floodplain, and permitting guidance and ensure regulatory compliance.
Identify grant opportunities and lead the department’s grant application contributions, including technical content, project justification, and planning documentation, in coordination with the Grants Manager.
Oversee grant compliance for planning, environmental review, permitting, and floodplain management; coordinate project status, reporting, reimbursement, documentation, monitoring, and audits with the Grants Manager.
Review and approve consultant invoices and change orders, and administer contracts for outsourced building, inspection, and planning services.
Oversee FEMA, CDBG-DR, and other disaster recovery and hazard mitigation funding activities related to planning, permitting, and floodplain management.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including zoning, building, and environmental codes, in collaboration with legal counsel and Town officials.
Address community concerns about planning, development, permitting, and zoning while balancing customer service with consistent code compliance.
Lead creation, updates, and administration of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
Analyze departmental data, improve operational effectiveness, prepare and manage budgets, maintain fiscal accountability, establish internal controls, and develop departmental procedures.
Attend Town Manager leadership meetings and facilitate staff meetings; prepare agenda materials and present at Town Council meetings, public hearings, and other board sessions as needed.
Maintain relationships with outside agencies, consultants, the development industry, and the public; represent the Town at assigned meetings and public events.
Implement and maintain electronic tracking systems and manage department web content.
Administer floodplain regulations, maintain or improve the Town’s CRS classification, and lead post-disaster permitting and rebuilding, including NFIP substantial damage and substantial improvement determinations.
Serve as liaison to local, county, state, and federal building and development agencies.
Prepare operational reports and strategic plan updates, and participate in emergency response operations as assigned.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance with low deductibles and annual maximums; the Town covers 100% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Gym membership reimbursement.
Paid leave accrued monthly.
Sick leave.
Annual birthday benefit.
14 paid holidays.
Immediate vesting in a 401(a)/457(b) pension plan with employer contributions.
Supportive, team-oriented environment.