COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING DIRECTOR

Salary: $109,432.56 - $175,092.10 Annually
Location : Norcross, GA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202400048
Department: Community Development
Opening Date: 09/11/2026


Description


The purpose of this position is to manage the operations of the City's Community Development planning activities by providing planning for short range (current zoning) and long range (future land use) plans, which includes reviewing and analyzing zoning requests, site plans, and architectural review.

Examples of Duties

• Creates a comprehensive city planning process develops land use goals and objectives, ensures public involvement in the process, and documents the information accordingly.
• Administers the city zoning ordinance: drafts new ordinances, supervises the enforcement of existing ordinances, and administers rezoning and appeals.
• Works with the Economic Development leader to implement effective ED strategies.
• Partners with the Code Enforcement Supervisor and Officers to enforce City ordinances.
• Partners with the City Engineer to ensure the success of City Capital Projects.
• Serves as or assigns a designee to serve as the official secretary and staff to the Architectural Review Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning and Zoning Board; presents appeals to the boards and processes requests for zoning variances. Schedules and prepares agendas for Planning and Zoning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic Preservation Commission and Architectural Review Board meetings.
• Plans for and holds public meeting or hearings, including public notices, press releases, and notices to affected property owners when required in compliance with adopted procedures. Arranges site visits and meeting logistics as required.
• Reviews and edits brief descriptions or summary of proposals, issues, or requests; including facts, applicable requirements and analysis of proposal related to criteria, standards, regulations, policies, and procedures. Prepares or assigns a designee to prepare conclusions and recommendations for Planning and Zoning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Architectural Review Board and Historic Preservation Commission.
• Orients new commission member to the Norcross' structure, vision, operations, and specific issues. Informs board members of technical processes such as code revisions, regional issues, award programs, growth management, etc.
• Compiles and analyzes data on economic, social, and physical factors affecting land use to recommend land utilization measures that are consistent with community needs.
• Oversees the city land development regulations: issues land development permits, provides information to the public on development issues, and processes appeals.
• Supervises and participates in the reviews for development and related land use permit applications, site plans, variance applications, certificates of appropriateness etc. Examines applications for compliance with established plans and ordinances, and applicable local, state, or federal regulations; solicits input from appropriate staff, schedules hearing and actions, monitors applications through the approval process, enforces compliance with regulations, prepares reports and related data as required and addresses complaints.
• Provides technical and professional advice; drafts reports and makes presentations to the City Council, boards, commissions, civic groups, and the general public.
• Administers the city building codes, including directing the issuance of permits and supervising the provision of building inspection services.
• Supervises the work of departmental personnel, prepares the departmental budget, and monitors expenditures under the current budget.
• Performs annual personnel performance evaluations and managers work performance improvement plans with staff if needed.
• Maintains official city limits, zoning, land use, and thoroughfare maps.
• Supervises the development and implementation of ordinances and special studies, and monitors conformance of development projects to local, state, and federal regulations.
• Submits public notices for legal advertising.
• Supervises the preparation of agendas for Architectural Review Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Sustainable Norcross Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning and Zoning Board; records and preserves official meeting minutes.

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Preference may be given to those candidates with a Master's degree in Urban Planning or Public Administration. Preference may be given to those candidates who possess AICP credentials or are AICP track candidates
• Five to ten years of experience in planning, zoning, and development review with supervisory experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with land development and/or building construction, operating in a role involving permitting, zoning, and interaction with regulatory agencies.

Supplemental Information
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
Any other duties as assigned by management.
Scope and Impact:
The purpose of this position is to manage the development of the city. Successful performance helps ensure the orderly development of the city, affects the quality of economic opportunity for city residents, and affects the image of the city.
Communications/Customer Contact:
Contacts are typically with the general public, property owners, real estate developers, attorneys, architects, engineers, bankers, landscape architects, elected officials, and city, county, state, and federal officials. Contacts are typically to provide or exchange information, resolve problems, provide services, motivate personnel, and negotiate matters.
Competencies:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Knowledge of theories, practices and procedures of community planning, economic development, zoning, land development, construction, and building.
• Knowledge of City, County, ARC, state and federal codes, ordinances and regulation pertaining to land development and planning.
• Knowledge of zoning principles, laws, and regulations as well as city codes, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge of building construction standards, methods, and related codes.
• Knowledge of real estate law.
• Knowledge of federal regulations affecting land development.
• Knowledge of management and budgeting principles and practices.
• Ability to review, understand and interpret design drawings, site plans, construction specifications, engineering plans, maps, and plat.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, officials, developers, builders, contractors, lawyers, architects, and the general public.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The work is typically performed with the employee sitting at a desk intermittently standing, walking, or stooping. The employee must be able to distinguish between shades of color.
• The work is performed in an office and occasionally at building inspection sites. The employee is exposed to occasional inclement weather.

Interested applicants must submit a letter of interest and updated resume to
EOE/DFW; No phone calls please
We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees, including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Employer Paid Benefits 2025

Paid Time Off

The City of Norcross recognizes the importance of paid time off for relaxation and other personal reasons. Based on your years of service as a full-time employee, you accrue vacation and sick hours on a bi-weekly basis. Accrual rates are below:

Vacation Leave

• Up to 5 years of service - 80 hours annually
• 6 through 10 years of service - 120 hours annually
• 11 through 15 years of service - 160 hours annually
• 16 through 20 years of service - 200 hours annually
• 21 years or more - 240 hours annually

Sick Leave

• All regular full-time employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period for a total of eighty (80) hours per year. Sick leave accrual is unlimited

Health Insurance Benefits

The City of Norcross provides a comprehensive health insurance program, including medical, dental, and vision benefits.

Medical: As of 01/01/2025 ,

Cigna Low Plan OAP (HDHP)-HSA


Cigna Mid Plan OAP


Cigna High Plan OAP

Dental: As of 01/01/2025. Cigna DPPO Dental Network

Vision: As of 01/01/2025. Cigna Vision PPO Network

Wellness Program: The City of Norcross's Imagine Wellness Program provides a variety of wellness activities and incentives.

Holidays

The City observes 11 Holidays. 2 Personal Holidays are earned upon hire and every January 1st.

Life and AD&D Benefits

Life and AD&D insurance coverage provides financial protection for you and your family in the event of an accident or death.

All eligible employees are covered by basic life and AD&D insurance, paid entirely by the City of Norcross. The City provides basic life insurance for the employee at 1x their base salary and 2x base salary for Department Heads, both rounded up to the next higher $1,000.

The City offers additional life insurance coverage for you, your spouse, and/or dependents at an additional cost to you.

Savings and Retirement Benefits

Pension Plan: The city offers a retirement benefit for all eligible employees in which you participate.


The City contributes 7% of employees' annual base pay. Employees contribute 3%. Full vesting after 5 years of service.

Deferred Compensation Plan: Through the 401(a) Plan, you and the City of Norcross work as partners to help build your financial security for retirement. When you participate, your savings grow through your pre-tax contributions, through the City's matching contributions, and through the investment growth of your total account. The City of Norcross will match your contribution at 50%, up to 6% of your base annual salary.


Flexible Spending Accounts: The City of Norcross provides the opportunity to enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's) to help you save on eligible health and dependent care expenses by paying for them with pre-tax dollars.


Health Savings Accounts: The City of Norcross provides an initial one-time amount of $500.00 during enrollment of the plan. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan(HDHP). HSA has tax advantages. An HSA is "portable." The contributions remain in your account until you use them.

Social Security & Medicare: Each year, you and the City share in the cost of Social Security and Medicare taxes.


Other Valuable Benefits

Bereavement Leave • Direct Deposit • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Family Medical Leave•

• Tuition Reimbursement • Jury Duty Leave - Uniform Expense • Carpooling Incentives

Important

The City of Norcross reserves the right to amend, change, or terminate the plan at any time