GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
Plans, organizes and directs the operations and activities of the community development department. Serves as the City’s planner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Essential functions are fundamental job duties. They do not include marginal tasks which are also performed but are incidental to the primary functions. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, nor does every position allocated to the class necessarily perform every duty listed.

-Directs personnel functions of the department (i.e., selection, assignment, evaluation, training, scheduling, interviewing, hiring and discipline).
-Plans, develops, and implements department operating budget; monitors costs and expenditures.
-Develops, implements, and reviews policies and procedures for the department.
Develops, implements, and updates City-wide plans and policies pertaining to planning and zoning and code enforcement.
-Evaluates, prepares, and processes amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code (LDC), and Code of Ordinances in a manner consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
-Confers with developers, engineers, architects, landscape architects, surveyors, and members of the public on applications related to planning.
-Attends and presents staff reports to the City Council and Local Planning Agency (LPA).
-Produces mapping and graphic illustrations using geographical information systems.
-Offers pre-application consultations for planning and zoning requests.
-Coordinates building plan review and inspections program with the Okaloosa County Growth Management Department.
-Reviews Business Tax Receipt applications for compliance with the LDC.
-Reviews and processes variances, conditional uses, development orders, subdivision, and lot split applications.
-Serves as chairperson for the Technical Review Committee, an internal committee charged with reviewing developments for compliance with the LDC.
-Prepares audits and ensures compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program.
-Prepares audits and ensures compliance with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit.
-Interacts with the public in an effective and courteous manner.
-Must demonstrate commitment to our mission, vision, values and goals and represent the City in a professional, dignified manner at all times both in actions and appearance.
-May have a role in the City’s disaster preparation and/or recovery efforts; may be required to work before, during and/or after an emergency.
-Must be able to meet minimum attendance standards; may be required to work an irregular schedule, including evenings.
-Performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL, VISUAL, AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
The physical requirements are that of sedentary work and include exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required occasionally. Requires repetitive motion of the wrists, hands and/or fingers. Requires fingering to include picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Required to operate a motor vehicle to attend off-site meetings.

Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures. Transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

Requires the expression or exchange of ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly. Requires perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make the discriminations in sound.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The working environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions and is nearly absent of potentially disagreeable elements, such as irate customers, outdoor weather conditions, excessive noise, extreme temperatures, odors, dust, etc. The employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work).

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of principles and accepted practices of public planning and zoning; site plan review and land development process; methods of collecting and analyzing planning data; preparation of planning reports and statistical studies; applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, codes and/or statutes; budget preparation.

Required to operate a personal computer and word processing program. Requires creative and business proofreading, editing, writing and research; verbal communication; public speaking.

Required to interpret current legislation, rules and regulations relating to planning and related programs; read, analyze, interpret, and apply statutes, codes policies, and regulations in a firm, tactful and impartial manner; effectively represent the City and the department in answering questions, responding to inquiries, providing assistance, and dealing with concerns from the public, community organizations, other City staff and other agencies; express ideas effectively both, orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationship with community officials, state and federal officials, representatives of private organizations, employee and public.

MINIMUM & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s Degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Engineering, Architecture or closely related field; supplemented by a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible planning and zoning experience; one (1) year of which shall be in a lead/supervisor capacity; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Must be computer literate. Experience in a governmental or municipal organization is preferred. Experience with Tyler Technologies Permitting and Licensing is preferred. Experience with ArcGIS and CAD is preferred.

LICENSURE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS
Requires a valid driver license at the date of hire and maintain said license while employed in this position. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is preferred.

The City of Mary Esther is a Drug Free Workplace, Equal Employment Opportunity, Veterans preference employer. Preference in appointment will be given to eligible veterans and spouses.