Development Services Director

Development Services Director

The Town of Fountain Hills has an excellent full-time job opportunity available as its next Development Services Director. Reporting directly to the Town Manager, the Director leads the Town's planning and zoning, building safety, and code enforcement functions and serves as a member of the Town's management team.

This is a working director position in a small department, requiring both strong technical planning and zoning skills and effective people management. In addition to directing department operations, the Director personally reviews development proposals, analyzes land use issues, prepares reports and ordinance amendments, and presents recommendations to the Town Council and Planning and Zoning Commission. The successful candidate must be comfortable moving between department leadership and detailed project work.

The Director leads a team that includes a Senior Planner, a building official, building inspectors, code enforcement staff, and an Executive Assistant. The position provides direction and support to employees across these functions while working closely with Public Works, Engineering, and other Town departments. Specific supervisory assignments may evolve with organizational needs.

The Town seeks an approachable, collaborative leader who sets clear expectations, develops employees, and helps resolve difficult issues. The ideal candidate will combine sound planning judgment with practical problem-solving skills, explain requirements clearly to residents and applicants, and apply Town policies and regulations consistently. Experience working directly with development applications, zoning ordinances, public hearings, and complex land use matters is valuable.

This recruitment is being conducted in anticipation of the current Director's retirement in June 2027. The Town intends to provide a substantial transition period for the selected candidate to work alongside the current Director, becoming familiar with active projects, department operations, community priorities, and key working relationships. The start date will be coordinated with the selected candidate to support this transition.

The position will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed weekly.

Examples of Duties

• Plan, organize, and direct Development Services Department operations while personally performing professional planning, zoning, and development review work.
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate staff; establish clear expectations, distribute workloads, and support employee development and accountability.
• Review and analyze development proposals, rezoning requests, subdivision plats, site plans, and other land use applications for consistency with the General Plan, zoning requirements, and applicable Town regulations.
• Prepare and review staff reports, findings, recommendations, ordinance amendments, and other planning documents.
• Present development proposals, policy matters, and recommendations to the Town Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and other boards and commissions, as applicable.
• Interpret planning and zoning requirements; work directly with applicants, property owners, residents, and design professionals to explain requirements and resolve complex issues.
• Guide long-range planning efforts and updates to the General Plan, area plans, zoning regulations, and related development policies.
• Provide leadership and coordination across planning and zoning, building safety, and code enforcement to promote consistent decisions and responsive service.
• Coordinate with Public Works, Engineering, and other Town departments on development review, infrastructure requirements, and project issues.
• Advise the Town Manager and other Town leadership on development matters, department operations, and policy considerations.
• Evaluate and improve department procedures, application materials, and review processes.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor the department budget and oversee assigned professional service contracts and consultants.
• Visit project sites as needed to evaluate conditions and assist in resolving problems.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science, or an equivalent field.
• A minimum of five years of public-sector experience in planning and zoning and related development services functions, including management experience.
• Possession of a valid driver's license for a minimum of two years with a good driving record.
• Equivalent combinations of experience and training that meet the minimum qualifications may be substituted.
• Strong knowledge of urban planning principles and practices and the ability to exercise sound, independent judgment.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, regulations, legal documents and descriptions, contracts, and reports.
• Ability to prepare technical documents, policies, procedures, reports, and correspondence that communicate complex information clearly.
• Ability to supervise and evaluate staff, establish priorities, and manage multiple projects and competing demands.
• Ability to prepare and explain an annual department budget and maintain compliance with approved spending limits.
• Ability to analyze complex issues and develop practical recommendations for department and Town policies and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, elected and appointed officials, residents, developers, contractors, design professionals, and other agencies.

Supplemental Information

The Town generally operates on a four-day, MondayThursday work schedule. Attendance at evening meetings and other work outside regular business hours will be required as needed.

Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with occasional travel and visits to project sites.