Director of Community Development

City Administrator Assistant

Responsible for assisting the City Administrator in the daily administrative functions of local government as well as providing coordinated emphasis to enhance the economic vitality of the City of O'Fallon and promote a stronger economic base. Supervises the Community Development Department.

Responsibilities include (but are not limited to) assisting the City planning and zoning activities; provides professional assistance, recommendations and project reviews to the Planning Commission and City Council. Assists the City's planning, zoning, building, and code enforcement activities; through subordinate staff and supervisors. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): supervising community development department activities through designated staff, coordinating planning, building, zoning and development activities and projects, and providing planning and development support and training to other City departments and community organizations;. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): serve as a member of the Leadership Team in motivating team philosophy; and other duties within the scope of the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages and supervises departments to achieve goals within available resources; plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments; trains, motivates and evaluates assigned staff; reviews progress and directs changes as needed.
• In collaboration with other city departments, manage high-profile economic development projects including but not limited to: involvement in evaluation of economic incentive in collaboration with Finance; acquisition, negotiation and coordination of professional services of external consultants for economic purpose; presentation of project status to City Administrator, and/or Mayor & City Council.
• Provides leadership and direction in the development of short- and long-range departmental plans; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinates department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.
• Attends Council, Committee, Board, Subdivision and other City related meetings to gather data, represent the City and make presentations; interpret the actions and opinions of City management and other groups to one another. Represents the City at community and intergovernmental meetings and events.
• Coordinates functions of standing committees; frames issues for members' consideration; provides research to assist with decision making; develops recommendations on the subject matter of committees; may organize committee meetings and prepares agendas and minutes; and presents recommendations to the City Council in order to ensure effective policy making.
• May prepare or supervise staff that prepares technical reports, studies and cases on land use matters including zoning map and text amendments, special and planned use requests, development agreements, annexations, and subdivision requests.
• Coordinates, negotiates and recommends annexation and land development agreements. Researches, develops and drafts special planning studies, reports and projects. Consults with local authorities, civic leaders, and concerned parties to determine the technical requirements, expected results and implications of requests for land use.
• Conducts public meetings, presentations and hearings before citizen groups, Planning Commission, Zone Hearing Officer, Historic Preservation Commission, and City Council.
• Develops and recommends revisions and updates to City codes including the zoning ordinance, land subdivision ordinance, and comprehensive plan. Coordinates commercial site plan reviews with other City departments.
• Drafts and reviews all building and housing code amendments. Provides general supervision of the activities of the Inspectors and intervenes when appropriate to resolve problems or in unusual, complex, or controversial situations.
• Directs and administers activities and operations including business development, business retention, economic analysis, redevelopment projects, and business assistance and advocacy services; develops and implements rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Presents reports; promotes and coordinates activities; resolves economic development issues and concerns; serves as economic development ombudsman and advocates for development projects and issues; meets with property owners, developers and real estate brokers and represents the City on economic development issues.
• Assists in developing ordinances and resolutions; develops economic development financing programs including incentive agreements in coordination with the Finance Director and City Administrator
• Prepares annual budget based upon agreed plans and policies. Assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget; performs cost control activities; monitors revenues and expenditures in assigned area to assure sound fiscal control.
• Seeks and secures funding from federal, state and local sources and from private entities. Maintains and collects census data and other socio-economic information for the City.
• Allocates and prioritizes financial and personnel for reporting departments.
• Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies and standardizes department procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
• Issues written and oral instructions; assigns duties and examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.
• Prepares and submits to the City Administrator such reports as may be required by that body or as it may deem advisable to submit. Recommends for adoption by the City Administrator such measures as may deem necessary or expedient.
• Provides assistance to the City Administrator in economic development-related functions and other activities.
• Reviews all planning and zoning matters referred to the City Attorney for prosecution or follow-up.
• Provide the City with regular, predictable attendance.

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities

• Conducts special research and manages projects within various departments as support to the department heads.
• Serves as liaison to various boards, committees and groups to provide technical and professional advice to support their endeavors.
• Maintains effective relations with other government officials, community leaders, citizens, and news media representatives.
• Performs various other duties and functions as required or assigned within area of expertise or scope of the position.

Supervision Received

This position reports to the City Administrator. Supervision Exercised: Exercises supervision over all Community Development Department employees, either directly or through subordinate supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning, geography, architecture, or closely related field (Master's degree in urban planning, public administration, or closely related field preferred); and: 2. At least five years of progressively more responsible work experience, at a managerial level, with knowledge of fundamental practices of planning and zoning; or: 3. Other equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. 4. American Institute of Certified Planers (AICP) certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of: Considerable Knowledge of: 1. Planning and zoning principles, practices and methods as applicable to a municipal setting. 2. Manpower supervision, staffing and budgeting in a municipal setting. 3. Fundamentals of land and economic development. Knowledge of: 1. City policies, laws, and regulations affecting planning and zoning activities. 2. Implementing planning documents and strategic plan recommendations. 2. Building and occupancy codes. 3. Relevant legal and technical terminology encountered in the course of work. 4. Modern office management practices and procedures, equipment and systems.

Ability to:

1. Maintain a positive attitude; demonstrate a commitment to City goals and values, and to exhibit a positive overall customer service-oriented manner and a willingness to work together in a team environment.
2. Work in a highly visible position and manage sensitive issues while subject to public scrutiny.
3. Establish and maintain productive interpersonal relationships with co-workers, public officials, media, and the public.
4. Think critically and engage in productive judgment/decision-making strategies.
5. Analyze and interpret complex qualitative and quantitative data and information.
6. Interpret and apply federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
7. Efficiently manage time and projects through strong prioritizing/organizing processes.
8. Communicate strongly both orally and in writing.
9. Perform and accomplish requirements of the job using appropriate general office equipment (i.e., fax machine, copy machine, calculator, multi-function telephone).
10. Use and set up equipment needed for presentations (i.e., projector, laptop computer,, etc).
11. Work independently on complex and confidential assignments without detailed instructions.
12. Use advanced computer software such as web browsers, word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, basic web page design and development, and presentation software programs (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint).
13. Comprehend and make inferences from written materials.
14. Understand, interpret, explain and apply relevant policies, procedures and regulations.
15. Attend to details, calculate numerical formulas and verify accuracy of amounts and calculations.
16. Perform light physical work exerting up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis; perform such activities as fingering, grasping, lifting, and reaching,