Planning Manager

City of Greeley • Greeley, CO

4d

About The Position

The Planning Manager provides leadership in the day-to-day management of the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. The division includes long-range planning, landscape architecture, and historic preservation. The manager directs staff, responds to citizen and applicant inquiries, and presents information to the community, Planning Commission, and City Council. The role clarifies complex procedures, negotiates policy and land-use matters, resolves issues, and researches and prepares reports on requests and special projects.

This position leads and coordinates review of development applications and ensures that long-range planning projects are completed on time and to a high standard. It works regularly with internal and external partners to facilitate solutions to planning issues, and oversees development review and land-use application processes from pre-application and conceptual plans through permit issuance. The role also supports Citywide initiatives and keeps the Greeley Development Code current with development trends and land-use policy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, urban or park planning, civil engineering, construction management, natural resources, or a related field.
• Five years of experience in community development or planning.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification, or a combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that enables successful performance of the essential job functions.
• Valid driver's license.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to apply urban planning, landscape architecture, enabling legislation, engineering, and construction project management principles and techniques.
• Ability to supervise and manage employees, contractors, and consultants to complete planning and development review projects effectively, fiscally responsibly, and on time.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, schedule, budget, supervise, and communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Strategic problem-solving skills, including the ability to mitigate risks and provide innovative solutions.
• Interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, representatives of other agencies and organizations, contractors, consultants, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ability to work extended shifts and attend training and meetings outside regularly scheduled hours, and to work in stressful, deadline-driven situations.
• Ability to drive to field locations and meetings, navigate uneven terrain, visit and inspect parks, trails, open lands, construction sites, and new land acquisition opportunities, and work outdoors in all types of weather.
• Ability to perform the stated physical activities, including extended sitting and standing, walking, climbing, balancing, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and tasks requiring hand-eye coordination and operation of a computer keyboard, mouse, and other devices.

Nice To Haves

• Management experience leading a high-performing team.
• Master's degree in landscape architecture, urban or park planning, civil engineering, construction management, natural resources, or a related field.
• Experience with project management software, GIS and mapping, CAD, grant management, and design or graphic communication tools and techniques.
• Knowledge of urban planning and development and local government policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide training, leadership, and professional guidance to direct reports and other planning team members.
• Recruit, select, supervise, coach, and evaluate Planning Division staff; assign work, set goals, provide feedback and training opportunities, and address conflicts and complaints.
• Lead development review to ensure projects receive adequate review by all members of the City's Development Review Team.
• Manage Planning Division operations, including assigning projects and scheduling agenda items for the Planning Commission, City Council, City departments, and outside agencies involved in development review.
• Participate in Citywide initiatives as determined by the Community Development Director.
• Respond to public- and private-sector land-use and application inquiries; research information, interpret data and regulations, and provide information about current development activity.
• Work with the Engineering Development Review Manager to clarify and simplify the review process and improve development review.
• Lead revisions and updates to the Greeley Development Code to keep standards current with development trends and land-use policy.
• Review and process land-use applications from pre-application and conceptual planning through permit issuance for new, infill, and redevelopment proposals.
• Review development plans for consistency with the City's long-range goals, Comprehensive Plan, Development Code, and other regulations and policies.
• Ensure compliance with the Municipal Code, Development Code, applicable state and federal regulations, previous City approvals, and professional planning practices.
• Prepare monthly development review reports, monitor development trends, obtain information from the development community, and prepare 5–10-year projections of development activity and comparisons with actual activity.
• Collaborate with City departments and public or quasi-public agencies on development proposals, impacts, mitigation, and solutions to land-development issues.
• Make decisions and solve problems concerning broad policies and specific objectives.
• Organize and delegate team assignments; establish and pursue business and financial objectives; analyze processes and develop more effective or efficient approaches; and ensure compliance with safety procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Benefits-eligible position; the job posting directs applicants to the City's benefits guide for details.
• The City describes its total rewards program as supporting employee development and recognition, safety, and well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager