Director - Community Development

City of Surprise•Surprise, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Surprise is seeking a Director for its Community Development department. This role requires a professional, responsive, innovative individual with a strategic vision dedicated to the city's mission of providing an exceptional quality of life and fostering business opportunities through investments in public safety, infrastructure, water, responsible financial management, economic development, and community activities. The city is a growing community of over 172,943 residents with significant development potential. The Community Development Department has 60 FTEs and an annual operating budget of approximately $9 million, encompassing Planning and Zoning, Development Services, Building Safety, Business Operation, and Code Enforcement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Management, Engineering, Real Estate Development or a related field.
Five years of progressively responsible management experience directly related to the area assigned, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong background in Current and Long Range Planning.
Strong background in Land Development.
Strong background in the Construction Process.
Strong background in Building Codes.
Strong background in Construction Plan Review and Inspections.
Strong background in Code Enforcement.
Ability to anticipate challenges and communicate them to City Management.
Ability to establish credibility and trust among stakeholders.
Ability to provide exceptional customer service for both internal and external customers.
Resume should reflect to/from dates (months and years) of each position held, as well as size of staff and budgets managed.

Nice To Haves

Be servant leader-focused for their team to build consensus and support succession planning within the CD Department.
Build relationships throughout the organization that support a city-wide team-based environment.

Responsibilities

Developing and implementing the City’s new Desert Rural Zoning District and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) ordinances.
Implementing a new community development software system to track all phases of the entitlement process.
Forecasting citywide growth and ensuring new development provides necessary infrastructure.
Providing support, structure, and direction to the Community Development team.
Forging key relationships with public agencies, civic leaders, regional stakeholders, and the business community.
Leading multiple projects and empowering team members.
Working with Councils, Commissions, Boards and Committees.
Streamlining the entitlement process through technology.