Deputy Director

This is a management level professional position responsible for assisting the Director with coordination, administration and ensuring the execution of all planning program activities. The professional in this class coordinates and performs activities with local, state, and federal agencies, in accordance with each planning program area. Additionally, this position will be responsible for municipal planning, land use and zoning ordinance development for Erie County and its municipalities. The position requires a responsible, mature professional who is capable of working independently as well as supervising other staff on various projects as needed. Supervision is received from the Director, with the work being completed requiring final review by the Director for completeness, quality, and adherence to established standards. The Director may also assign additional work tasks not listed here. Duties & Responsibilities Interprets and applies applicable state, county and local codes, ordinances and regulations as well as compliance measures. Assists with updating and maintenance of County Comprehensive Plan and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Coordinates, develops, and maintains the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code required portions of the County plan; support the integration of community, transportation and environmental planning needs into the county plan and support any plans under development. Conducts extensive research in specific or general program areas. Writes and presents formal and technical reports and plans. Identifies community problems, issues, and opportunities in particular neighborhoods that could be mitigated through better community planning. Develops long range comprehensive plans for communities. Develops strategies to promote economic and community development or efficient land use consistent with community goals. Evaluates adequacy of community facilities to meet current and projected needs. Locate, apply for, and oversee grant processes and provide administrative and technical support to the department, as needed. Assist the director with administering planning programs as needed. Assumes duties and authority of Planning Director in their absence. Writes and helps implement departmental and county policies & procedures in coordination with the Planning Director. Assist with the planning program specialties to facilitate planning functions. Recommends priorities, schedules, and funding sources to implement public improvements. Writes, or assists in writing, a variety of ordinances and regulations relating to development controls. Attends substantial number of evening and weekend meetings. Work with the director to manage personnel, including mentoring and coaching of direct reports and supporting an environment of learning and innovation overall, delegation of tasks and give daily direction to others. The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Must be able to work independently, exhibit flexibility and effectively collaborate with various government officials, agencies, private foundations, staff and the public. Well-developed knowledge of planning principles and practices General knowledge of planning specialties, such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, historic preservation, or economic development Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection Knowledge of effective writing techniques Knowledge of or experience in community redevelopment, and knowledge of relevant Federal programs Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications Familiar with GIS capability and applicability Oral communication and interpersonal skills to present research findings to various municipal boards and planning commissions Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well- defined practical problems Ability to review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances and codes to determine compliance with such regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed Ability to attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind Effective written and verbal communication skills Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning or a closely related field. Minimum of 2 years of Professional Planning Experience in Local, County or Regional Planning Minimum 1 year management, leadership or related experience or education. Must have a Valid Driver's License Preferred Qualifications 2 years of Leadership/Management experience Thorough knowledge of urban planning, development, and local government policies and procedures Position: Deputy Director Department Planning Administration Location Erie County Courthouse Status Full Time Starting Pay Rate $28.96 Hourly Hours Per Week 40.0 Exemption Status Exempt Posting Date 08/11/2026 Closing Date 09/08/2026 Pay Grade NB18 Bargaining Unit NON-BARGAINING Posting Number 5832 Definition of Class This is a management level professional position responsible for assisting the Director with coordination, administration and ensuring the execution of all planning program activities. The professional in this class coordinates and performs activities with local, state, and federal agencies, in accordance with each planning program area. Additionally, this position will be responsible for municipal planning, land use and zoning ordinance development for Erie County and its municipalities. The position requires a responsible, mature professional who is capable of working independently as well as supervising other staff on various projects as needed. Supervision is received from the Director, with the work being completed requiring final review by the Director for completeness, quality, and adherence to established standards. The Director may also assign additional work tasks not listed here. Duties & Responsibilities Interprets and applies applicable state, county and local codes, ordinances and regulations as well as compliance measures. Assists with updating and maintenance of County Comprehensive Plan and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Coordinates, develops, and maintains the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code required portions of the County plan; support the integration of community, transportation and environmental planning needs into the county plan and support any plans under development. Conducts extensive research in specific or general program areas. Writes and presents formal and technical reports and plans. Identifies community problems, issues, and opportunities in particular neighborhoods that could be mitigated through better community planning. Develops long range comprehensive plans for communities. Develops strategies to promote economic and community development or efficient land use consistent with community goals. Evaluates adequacy of community facilities to meet current and projected needs. Locate, apply for, and oversee grant processes and provide administrative and technical support to the department, as needed. Assist the director with administering planning programs as needed. Assumes duties and authority of Planning Director in their absence. Writes and helps implement departmental and county policies & procedures in coordination with the Planning Director. Assist with the planning program specialties to facilitate planning functions. Recommends priorities, schedules, and funding sources to implement public improvements. Writes, or assists in writing, a variety of ordinances and regulations relating to development controls. Attends substantial number of evening and weekend meetings. Work with the director to manage personnel, including mentoring and coaching of direct reports and supporting an environment of learning and innovation overall, delegation of tasks and give daily direction to others. The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Must be able to work independently, exhibit flexibility and effectively collaborate with various government officials, agencies, private foundations, staff and the public. Well-developed knowledge of planning principles and practices General knowledge of planning specialties, such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, historic preservation, or economic development Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection Knowledge of effective writing techniques Knowledge of or experience in community redevelopment, and knowledge of relevant Federal programs Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications Familiar with GIS capability and applicability Oral communication and interpersonal skills to present research findings to various municipal boards and planning commissions Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well- defined practical problems Ability to review plans and apply provisions of the ordinances and codes to determine compliance with such regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops Ability to work on several projects or issues simultaneously Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed Ability to attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind Effective written and verbal communication skills Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning or a closely related field. Minimum of 2 years of Professional Planning Experience in Local, County or Regional Planning Minimum 1 year management, leadership or related experience or education. Must have a Valid Driver's License Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning or a closely related field. Minimum of 2 years of Professional Planning Experience in Local, County or Regional Planning Minimum 1 year management, leadership or related experience or education. Must have a Valid Driver's License Preferred Qualifications AICP certification 2 years of Leadership/Management experience Thorough knowledge of urban planning, development, and local government policies and procedures Conditions Of Employment Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Erie County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Erie County Government values the power of diversity in our workforce. Our goal is to continue developing inclusive workforce policies that require individual equality, support the diversity of employee experiences, and include unique perspectives. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. #J-18808-Ljbffr