Planning Manager - Internal Only

City of Lone Tree•Lone Tree, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Lone Tree is seeking a Planning Manager to lead its planning team. This role is responsible for managing a wide variety of current development and long-range planning projects and activities in fulfillment of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Division emphasizes exemplary service, collaborative partnerships, and continuous improvement, guided by the City's Six Big Ideas. The division operates with integrity, respect, and inclusivity, achieving organizational goals through collaborative problem-solving. The Planning Manager will oversee the Planning Division, provide leadership and mentorship, develop strategic plans, make recommendations on land use projects, serve as staff liaison to the Planning Commission, develop relationships with internal and external partners, and assist the Community Development Director on special projects. This position requires a strong understanding of local government principles, urban design, planning processes, land use analyses, and quasi-judicial and legislative processes.

Requirements

Excellent interpersonal, oral and verbal skills.
Ability to interact effectively with individuals of varying cultural, economic, professional and educational backgrounds to effectively communicate with all levels of personnel within the City and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner.
Demonstrated personal effectiveness, professionalism, integrity and credibility, thoroughness, flexibility, and collaboration skills.
Outstanding presentation and public speaking skills including the ability to present information concisely at public meetings.
Excellent writing skills: the ability to prepare clear, concise, and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials using proper spelling, grammar, and style.
Critical and creative thinking skills with a focus on systems thinking: the ability to assess complex planning issues and problems, analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective courses of action regarding zoning policies, land use ordinances, public lands management, and community planning.
Effective in strategic thinking, organizational development, project management, and team leadership.
Knowledge of objectives, principles, procedures, standards, practices, information services, and trends in the fields of current planning and development review and long-range planning and growth management.
Strong understanding of zoning, land use, urban design, demographic, environmental, and social/economic concepts and principles as applied to local government planning.
Basic understanding of how special districts function, as well as the relationship between special districts and local governments in providing services to communities.
Knowledge of purposes, roles, and authorities of councils, commissions, and others involved in the planning process.
Solid knowledge of the federal, state and local regulations related to planning.
Knowledge of community engagement principles and techniques.
Ability to build consensus and negotiate solutions among groups with diverse and conflicting needs and navigate complex political, technical, and community dynamics.
Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, procedures, regulations, specifications, site and building plans, environmental impact reports, data, and maps to development proposals.
Ability to implement performance metrics to evaluate division effectiveness, responsiveness, and customer service outcomes.
Master’s degree in Land Use Planning, Urban Design, Natural Resource Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning. At least three (3) years of the required work experience must include experience with staff supervision and project management.
Bachelor’s degree in Land Use Planning, Urban Design, Natural Resource Management, Public Administration, or a closely related field, AND a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible work experience in local government or private sector planning. At least three (3) years of the required work experience must include experience with staff supervision and project management.

Nice To Haves

Local government experience is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with GIS, data analysis, and emerging planning technologies.
Experience with Esri GIS software platforms (either online or desktop) strongly desired.
Experience with Smartsheet, Bluebeam and Accella preferred.

Responsibilities

Managing the Planning Division and providing leadership and mentorship to Planning Division supervisors and staff.
Developing strategic plans related to City and Community Development Department goals associated with current and long-range planning.
Making informed recommendations to City management and appointed/elected officials regarding complex land use projects and initiatives.
Serving as the staff liaison to the Planning Commission and supervising the planning division staff liaison to the Recreation Advisory Committee.
Developing and maintaining relationships with internal and external partners and representing the City in interactions with the public, the development community, as well as local, state and federal agencies.
Assisting the Community Development Director on a variety of special projects.
Develop and oversee the Planning Division work program and manage long-range and current land use projects to ensure thorough and efficient processing of projects, and to maintain a fair and equitable delegation of regular and special projects.
Interpret zoning and land use regulations for staff, developers, and the general public.
Manage, train and coach the current and long-range planning teams.
Manage comprehensive projects such as updates to master plans, land use regulations, and design standards/guidelines.
Evaluate and administer land use development projects including, but not limited to, site improvement plans, rezonings, subdivisions and special use permits.
Prepare agenda items, and drafts of ordinances and resolutions as required.
Professionally presents (privately and publicly) to supervisors, City Council, boards and commissions as well as the general public.
Draft and present a variety of reports and presentations for varying audiences, to include technical analyses, informational reports, news articles, legislative comments, and public and professional presentations and trainings.
Respond to public inquiries in a professional, transparent and politically sensitive manner.
Design and maintain training materials for Division staff and the Planning Commission regarding current and long-range planning topics.
Collect, analyze and communicate data on a variety of topics to various stakeholders and the public to implement the community’s vision.
Establish and curate Division policies, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
Develop, manage and implement the approved Planning Division’s budget and recommend input to the strategic staffing plan.
Facilitate effective coordination and communication between Long Range Planning, Current Planning, the Building Division, Code Compliance, the Public Works Department, and other City departments.
Promote a culture of equity, innovation, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.