Planning & Development Director

Community Builder

Make a difference in the community you live in! As a Community Builderan employee with the City of Gainesvilleyou will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it's a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department: GG_Sustainable Development: Planning and Development Administration

Salary Range Minimum: $130,977.60

Salary Range Maximum: $220,777.53

Closing Date: 06/12/2026

Job Description

Summary

This is managerial and administrative work directing the City's Planning and Development Services Department, also known as the "Department of Sustainable Development", staff in facilitating, assisting and guiding customers through the steps involved in the process of starting or growing a business in Gainesville.

The Planning and Development Services Director serves at the will of the City Manager and may be appointed or removed at will by the City Manager. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its management responsibilities directing the City's business start-up or growth process.

Examples Of Work*

*This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

Essential Job Functions

Serves as a strategic partner with Charter Officers, department directors, and the City Commission, as appropriate.

Provides a leadership role for the City with respect to all matters concerning business start-up and growth within the City.

Develops, implements and monitors long- and short-range strategies for the department that are aligned with and support the City's organizational values, goals and objectives.

Plans, directs, coordinates and administers all activities and personnel of the City's Planning and Development Services staff in facilitating, assisting and guiding customers through the many steps involved in the process of starting or growing a business in Gainesville.

Stays abreast of and applies knowledge of cutting edge practices, technological platforms, software and programs that support business development, planning, zoning and community development functions.

Envisions processes and scenarios that do not exist today and encompasses a willingness to let go of old processes to expand the capabilities of the organization in new directions.

Coordinates interests of private developers with those of the general public to encourage the most suitable ultimate development of the City's urbanized area.

Provides professional advice and assistance to business leaders, industry and other groups and agencies regarding general planning and development of the City's urbanized area.

Coordinates planning and development activities with functions of other City departments and other agencies, both private and public.

Administers planning staff activities including long-range planning and growth management, development plan review, concurrency management, mapping and historic preservation.

Manages the multi-departmental development review process, including planning and building functions.

Oversees activities of the First Step Citizens Assistance Program, provides professional planning advice to the City Commission, coordinates planning activity with state agencies, Alachua County, adjacent local governments and the University of Florida.

Prepares annual budget for Planning and Development Services department involving multiple individual funding sources for various divisions.

Tracks financial reports monthly and participates in annual program and finance audits for numerous separate funding sources.

Serves as staff support to the City Plan Board, Historic Preservation Board, Board of Adjustment and Development Review Board. Presents staff recommendations concerning re-zoning requests, ordinance changes, site plan review and special studies. Presents Plan Board recommendations to the City Commission and answers related questions.

Serves as staff liaison to the Community Development Committee (CDC)

Reviews land use and development plans and specifications for compliance with City policy and sound planning principles. Keeps records and makes reports concerning community development activities.

Oversees Code Enforcement processes and staff for the City.

Communicates with the City Commission, City Manager and other Charter Officers by providing periodic and on-request reports, and presentations as directed by the City Manager.

Recommends selection, promotion, discharge and other appropriate personnel actions.

Performs fair and timely performance evaluations.

Trains subordinates and advises them on more difficult aspects of their work.

Stays abreast of current nationwide trends and methods of planning and community development.

Attends work on continuous and regular basis.

Non-Essential Job Functions

Provides public education on planning and development subjects by giving speeches and preparing newspaper and radio releases.

Attends all City Commission and other relevant government and business meetings, when appropriate.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

Education And Experience

A Bachelor degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required.

A Master Degree from an accredited four-year college or university is preferred and may substitute for the required experience on a year-to-year basis.

Must have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public, private or non-profit organizations in business development, planning & zoning, community development or a related area which includes three (3) or more years of supervisory or management experience.

Additional knowledge of cutting edge practices, technological platforms, software and programs that support business development, planning and zoning and community development functions (such as electronic plans review/submittal and interactive GIS mapping features) is highly desired.

Certifications Or Licenses

Licenses

Valid driver license required upon appointment. Valid Florida Driver License required within thirty (30) days of appointment and at all times whiles employed in this classification.

Certifications

None.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, methods and theories of planning and community development.

Thorough knowledge of laws, ordinances, regulations and statutes which govern urban planning functions.

Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of effective administration and supervision.

Knowledge of governmental budget procedures.

Ability to plan, direct, coordinate and administer a comprehensive program of urban planning.

Ability to analyze difficult planning problems and to develop a course of action consistent with established and contemporary planning procedures, theories and methods.

Ability to facilitate citizen's goals and objectives while maintaining fairness and integrity in process.

Ability to maintain transparency and ethical conduct.

Strong critical and creative thinking skills to assess and resolve problems or issues by gathering and assessing information, taking advice, and using judgment that is consistent with standards, practices, policies, procedures, regulations or law.

Excellent analytical and research skills as demonstrated by the ability to develop, assess, and blend information and recommendations from a wide variety of sources.

Excellent written and oral communication skills as demonstrated by the ability to translate and articulate complex technical data and information and issues clearly, concisely, and persuasively.

Strong interpersonal skills as demonstrated by the ability to interact collaboratively and productively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds including elected and appointed government officials, Charter Officers, City employees, union representatives, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.

Strong project management and organizational skills to plan and independently execute projects/tasks within specific deadlines.

Ability to teach, motivate, and influence others in order to accomplish a goal.

Ability to work under high stress levels, with frequent interruptions and with tight and often changing deadlines.

Strong attention to detail in order to compose a variety of written documents which are intended to present management's position on a given matter.

Ability to maintain security and confidentiality.

Ability to coach employees and management through complex and difficult issues and to handle difficult conversations.

Knowledge of principles and programs of City government.

Ability to develop and implement long- and short-term plans and programs and to evaluate results.

Ability to identify actual and potential problems.

Ability to