The Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) Director is responsible for overseeing five (5) divisions: planning, code administration, building trades, economic development, and community development. This role offers a unique early opportunity to evaluate the organization’s current operations and make a meaningful impact. The successful candidate will be empowered to identify areas for improvement and provide strategic recommendations on systems and structural enhancements, driving greater efficiency, and contributing directly to the organization’s ongoing growth and success.

The Director should be a strong communicator and collaborative leader, engaging effectively with the public, staff, and officials. This role requires strategic thinking, a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the ability to balance priorities and build consensus. The ideal candidate is highly organized, skilled in multi-disciplinary team management. This position reports directly to the City Manager’s office.

Examples of Duties:

The CPED Director provides strategic leadership for the City’s planning, code enforcement, building trades, community and economic development divisions. This role is responsible for shaping long-range community vision documents, sustainable planning practices, advancing equitable economic growth, strengthening neighborhoods, and ensuring that development aligns with adopted plans, community values, and fiscal constraints.

A qualified individual with a disability must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Develop and implement strategic plans for economic development, land development and zoning ordinance management for the City; Including strategic leadership of Master Plan through Imagine Kalamazoo alignment.
Builds relationships and partnerships with elected officials, city departments, community organization partners, and neighborhood leaders to facilitate city projects and programs overseen by CPED; attends, coordinates and/or facilitates project meetings as appropriate.
Works with City Manager’s office to manage the community engagement and implementation of department strategic plans; formulates City Commission agenda items.
Reviews and coordinates with divisions on quarterly department financial records including billing, reports and division projections; manages the budget process (internal and Capital Improvement); manages department projects (IT, Union, etc.)
Provides leadership to staff with policy implementation, vision implementation, and community impact relationships.
Oversees major economic development based initiatives including planning, developing and implementing major public policy, strategic plans, community-based projects and programs; prioritizing activities based on goals; deciding on most effective strategies; and selecting consultants for projects.
Oversees a variety of economic development issues; negotiates, directs and manages economic development agreements; establishes and maintains working relationships with the development community. Attend city commission and other public meetings as necessary of municipalities and agencies to answer questions, coordinate on projects, and promote community and economic development programs, plans and policies.
Coordinate and implement strategies and programs for business recruitment, outreach, and retention; support the advancement of real estate development projects;
Provide assistance and support for the Mayor, City Manager and City lobbyist in regard to legislative activities.
Performs other related duties, as assigned by the City Manager’s office.

Essential Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Planning or related field required.
Master’s degree in Public Administration or a related field preferred.
Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, development and municipal administration or related experience.
Minimum of five (5) years supervisory experience.
Strong, clear communicator and excellent interpersonal skills; proven ability to effectively and positively communicate with the public and all levels within the organization.
Demonstrates a sense of urgency, prioritizes well, shows energy, responds to opportunities, instills urgency in others, and meets deadlines.
Previous experience with preparing reports, researching information, gathering, analyzing and interpreting data.
Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills

Desirable Qualifications:

Ability to translate vision into implementation
Knowledge of Federal and State financing, redevelopment tools, and partnerships.
Ability to develop budgets with multiple funding sources spread over multiple fiscal years
Skilled at leading multi-disciplinary teams
Experience as a department director or deputy director

Physical Requirements:

Frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate equipment and reach with hands and arms.
Occasionally required to lift, move, carry, pull and push files/objects up to 20 pounds while sitting, standing, climbing or walking.
Required to regularly talk and hear.
Required to occasionally stand and walk.
Specific vision abilities required include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Regularly speaks clearly, using the English language.

Work Environment:

Frequently in the general office environment; lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous conditions.
Exposed to temperature conditions common at the time.
Noise level is usually moderate/conversational.

The City of Kalamazoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive employer by creating an environment where different perspectives and experiences are welcomed and encouraged. This approach will give each current and potential employee the opportunity to learn, grow and contribute to the City of Kalamazoo.