The City of Sammamish is seeking an Assistant Director of Community Development. Step into a pivotal leadership role where your work directly shapes the future of the City. Lead a high-performing team, influence how development takes shape across the community, and help deliver services that are efficient, consistent, and aligned with the City’s long-term goals.

The Community Development Assistant Director (Development) is a senior leadership position responsible for directing the City’s development services operations and ensuring that development activity is managed in a manner that is efficient, consistent, legally compliant, and aligned with the City’s long-term vision. Reporting to the Community Development Director, this position provides strategic, operational, and technical oversight of the Current Planning, Permit Center, Building Services, and Code Compliance workgroups, guiding the review, permitting, inspection, and enforcement functions that support community development throughout the City. The Assistant Director (Development) ensures that daily development services activities are effectively integrated with the City’s adopted Community Vision, Comprehensive Plan, development regulations, and applicable state, regional, and local requirements. This position is responsible for identifying and implementing operational improvements, strengthening cross-functional coordination, and supporting development outcomes that reflect the City’s policy objectives and community goals. As one of two Assistant Directors in the Department, the position works in close partnership with the Assistant Director (Policy) to maintain alignment between development services operations and the Department’s broader policy and legislative work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
-The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
-Lead and manage Current Planning, Permit Center, Building Services, and Code Compliance divisions, ensuring consistent, efficient, and high-quality development services.
-Supervise and mentor division managers and staff, fostering professional growth, accountability, and operational excellence.
-Coordinate cross-functional workflows to align permitting and development review processes across City departments involved in permit review.
-Identify systemic issues, recurring themes, and opportunities for process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce redundancy, and improve service delivery.
-Build strong working relationships with permit review staff in other departments, providing guidance and motivation to achievetimelyand coordinated outcomes.
-Oversee implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Community Vision, development regulations, and applicable state, regional (PSRC), and federal mandates.
-Serve as the primary point of contact for complex development issues, disputes, and customer concerns, ensuring responsive, professional, and equitable resolution.
-Collaborate with the Assistant Director (Policy) to ensure operational development activities align with long-range planning, policy initiatives, and legislative requirements.
-Monitor performance metrics, permit timelines, and workload across divisions and partner departments to ensure continuous improvement and accountability.
-Implement technology, best practices, and workflow enhancements to streamline permitting, inspections, and code enforcement processes.
-Collaborate with City leadership and legal counsel to minimize risk to the organization and seek resolution on legal challenges.
-Participate in departmental leadership, contributing to strategic planning, budgeting, and policy implementation to advance City growth and community development goals.
-Represent the City in public, interagency, and professional forums, advocating for coordinated, efficient, and customer-focused development services.
-Advise the Director and City leadership on departmental priorities, strategic initiatives, and operational improvements.
-Serve as City State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) designated Responsible Official.
-Serve as City Shoreline Management Act (SMA) designated Administrator.
-Engage with and presents to Sammamish City Council, boards, commissions, committees, regional forums, and the community at public meetings as needed to provide updates, recommendations, and technical -information regarding development projects, programs ,codes, and policies.
-Represent the City at public meetings, open houses, and regional meetings.
-Attend evening and/or weekend meetings and events based on organizational responsibilities and/or requirements.
-Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those interacted with during work regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, military service, or diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
-Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public administration, civil engineering, architecture, or a closely related field.
-Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, development services, building services, or code enforcement. At least five (5) years of supervisory or management experience, including leading multiple divisions or teams.
-Demonstrated experience in cross-functional coordination, managing complex development review processes, or integrating work across multiple departments. Proven experience in policy implementation, regulatory interpretation, and process improvement within a municipal or public-sector environment.
-Employees must be residents of Washington State.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
May be required to possess and maintain a valid Washington State Driver License and the ability to drive a city owned vehicle per established policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree in a related field (e.g., Urban/Regional Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, or Construction Management) strongly preferred.

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