City of Missouri City, TX - Director of Development Services
About The Position
The City of Missouri City, Texas, seeks a Development Services leader to guide growth across Fort Bend and Harris Counties. Reporting to the City Manager’s Office, the Director leads planning and zoning, permits and inspections, and community development functions. The City operates under a council-manager government with a seven-member Council and an adopted fiscal 2027 citywide budget of approximately $305.9 million. The Director will help implement the updated Comprehensive Plan, align ordinances and staff practices with adopted policy, and support quality growth and reinvestment. Priorities include improving the application-to-completion process, coordinating reviews across departments, building on permitting technology gains, and coaching division leaders. The Director works closely with the Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and City Council. The ideal candidate brings emotional intelligence, humility, calm judgment, and a record of process improvement and execution through a team. Experience with redevelopment, master-planned communities, and residential and commercial development is valued. The Director will explain complex requirements clearly, resolve competing interests constructively, and earn trust with residents, applicants, colleagues, and elected officials through consistent decisions and follow-through. The City may consider an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in planning, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
- Valid Class C driver’s license and a good driving record.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in planning, public administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
- American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.
- Eight (8) years of professional experience as a Director or Assistant Planning Director in a municipal setting, or at a closely related level of responsibility.
- Experience with redevelopment, master-planned communities, and residential and commercial development.
Responsibilities
- Lead planning and zoning, permits and inspections, and community development functions.
- Help implement the updated Comprehensive Plan.
- Align ordinances and staff practices with adopted policy.
- Support quality growth and reinvestment.
- Improve the application-to-completion process.
- Coordinate reviews across departments.
- Build on permitting technology gains.
- Coach division leaders.
- Work closely with the Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and City Council.
- Explain complex requirements clearly, resolve competing interests constructively, and earn trust through consistent decisions and follow-through.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
