Community Development & Planning Director

Sumter Local Government Consulting•Senoia, GA

140d•$100,000 - $110,000

About The Position

Sumter Local Government Consulting is assisting Senoia, GA, in recruiting for their next Community Development and Planning Director. Senoia is a vibrant, historic, and rapidly growing community with a unique blend of small-town charm and dynamic opportunity. The City operates under a Mayor-Council form of government, supported by a City Manager. The Community Development and Planning Director plays a vital role in guiding the City’s growth, land use, and long-term development strategy, working closely with the City Manager, Mayor, and Council. This position also serves as a key liaison to bodies like the Downtown Development Authority and Historic Preservation Committee. The Director is responsible for fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the department, overseeing long-range planning, development review processes, zoning administration, and community engagement. The role requires balancing growth with preservation, supporting economic development initiatives, and ensuring development decisions reflect the community’s vision, enhance quality of life, and promote long-term sustainability. The City of Senoia is seeking a highly engaged and strategic Community Development Director to lead all aspects of planning, zoning, land development, and economic development. This position serves as a key member of the City’s leadership team and is responsible for guiding policy development, managing growth, and ensuring that development aligns with the City’s long-term vision. This role combines executive-level leadership with hands-on operational oversight in a dynamic, growing community. The Director will work closely with the City Manager, Mayor, and Council, as well as advisory boards, to shape development outcomes, resolve complex land use issues, and maintain a high standard of customer service for residents, developers, and businesses. The position also plays a central role in balancing economic growth with preservation of Senoia’s historic character and community identity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in planning, engineering, or a related field required
Minimum five (5) years of municipal government experience with some leadership or senior management experience
Strong knowledge of zoning, land use, development regulations, and capital project management
Strategic and forward-thinking leader with a strong foundation in community development and planning
Politically savvy and experienced working with elected officials, boards, and commissions
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse stakeholder groups
Excellent communicator—both verbally and in writing—with the ability to clearly present complex information
Collaborative and team-oriented, with a leadership style that fosters accountability and professional growth
Customer-service oriented, with a commitment to responsiveness and solution-driven outcomes
Skilled negotiator who can balance competing interests and achieve practical, consensus-based solutions
Adaptable and resilient, comfortable navigating ambiguity and changing priorities
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
Ethical, transparent, and committed to public service values
Innovative thinker who embraces process improvement and modernization opportunities

Responsibilities

Guiding the City’s growth, land use, and long-term development strategy.
Working closely with the City Manager, Mayor, and Council to ensure planning initiatives, development activities, and regulatory processes align with the City’s vision and strategic priorities.
Serving as a key liaison to boards and authorities such as the Downtown Development Authority and Historic Preservation Committee.
Providing professional guidance, coordinating development reviews, and supporting policy implementation for advisory bodies.
Fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the department.
Overseeing long-range planning, development review processes, zoning administration, and community engagement efforts.
Balancing growth with preservation.
Supporting economic development initiatives.
Ensuring that development decisions reflect the community’s vision, enhance quality of life, and promote long-term sustainability.
Leading all aspects of planning, zoning, land development, and economic development.
Guiding policy development, managing growth, and ensuring development aligns with the City’s long-term vision.
Shaping development outcomes.
Resolving complex land use issues.
Maintaining a high standard of customer service for residents, developers, and businesses.
Balancing economic growth with preservation of Senoia’s historic character and community identity.