Community Planning & Design Manager

Help Shape the Future of Our City!

The Community Planning and Design Manager leads the development of plans, policies, and strategies that guide thoughtful growth and development. This role brings together project leadership, community engagement, policy interpretation, and collaboration with stakeholders to turn vision into action. From managing key initiatives and guiding cross-functional teams to presenting ideas and recommendations to decision-makers, this position plays a vital role in how our city grows and evolves.

Note: This position will remain open until filled with first application review taking place 2 weeks after posting date.

What You’ll Lead and Influence

• Drive transformational planning efforts including comprehensive plans, corridor studies, neighborhood and small-area plans, and major policy initiatives that guide long-term city growth.
• Shape community vision by coordinating with residents, stakeholders, elected officials, and local, state, and federal partners to bring big ideas to life.
• Champion meaningful public engagement by designing and leading outreach strategies that ensure community voices are heard, valued, and reflected in city decisions.
• Influence design and development outcomes through urban design leadership, design review, and strategic identification of funding and grant opportunities.
• Guide key development decisions by managing the full lifecycle of legislative entitlement reviews—from applicant collaboration and policy analysis to final recommendations.
• Help prioritize city investments by identifying infrastructure needs and aligning planning efforts with community goals and long-term priorities.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams by mentoring planning and urban design staff, setting clear priorities, and fostering professional growth and excellence.
• Improve how we work by developing streamlined workflows, modernized procedures, and strong records management practices that support efficiency and accountability.
• Support influential boards and commissions by preparing agendas, facilitating discussions, and providing trusted technical expertise that informs major decisions.
• Shape policy and strategy by analyzing trends, monitoring legislation, and translating complex data into clear, actionable planning direction.
• Serve as a trusted resource to residents, applicants, and partner agencies by making planning information clear, accessible, and easy to navigate.
• Lead impactful consultant projects by defining scopes, selecting partners, and ensuring projects deliver high-quality results on time and on budget.
• Turn data into insight through maps, metrics, and visual tools that inform smarter planning and better decisions.
• Enhance public communication by ensuring planning information is transparent, engaging, and widely accessible across digital platforms.
  
  

Why This Role Matters
This is a highly visible, high-impact position where your work directly shapes how the community grows—physically, economically, and socially. You’ll collaborate with a wide range of partners, lead meaningful projects, and help turn long-range vision into real-world results.

• Education and Related Experience
  • Master’s Degree in urban and regional planning, public administration, or a closely related field, and a minimum of five years of related experience, or a bachelor’s degree in one of the above-listed fields and a minimum of seven years of related experience.
• Supervisory Experience
  • Minimum 3 years of supervisory experience.
• Knowledge
  • Advanced knowledge of local government procedures and practices
  • Thorough knowledge of one or more planning disciplines/areas of specialty such as land use planning/zoning, transportation planning, environmental planning, urban design, housing, or economic development.
  • Principles and practices of supervision, training, and personnel management.
  • Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, including recent changes.
  • Methods of effective report preparation and presentation.
  • Citizen involvement techniques and processes.
  • Principles, methodology, and practices of research and data collection.
  • Computer programs and applications, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, internet applications, and geographic information systems (GIS).
• Skills
  • Ability to communicate and foster a cooperative and professional culture.
  • Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with elected/appointed officials, residents, and other stakeholders.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including formal presentations.
  • Creative problem-solving skills to solve complex problems and manage highly visible/controversial projects.
  • Ability to build consensus in developing solutions to problems.
  • Ability to identify needed changes to ordinances and procedures to meet goal and policy objectives.
  • Ability to evaluate projects for consistency with legal requirements and policy positions.
  • Ability to provide effective leadership and staff supervision.
• Certifications
  • American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification

• Work Schedule
  • Ability to work nights and weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Office Work: Sedentary, involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.
• Field Work: Exposure to various weather conditions for various events and site visits. Such work may require standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects up to 10-20 pounds occasionally. Employees may encounter uneven terrain and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• General Requirements:All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am – 5:00pm; however, some night and weekend work may be required.
• Required office-based work utilizing standard office equipment in a climate-controlled setting and adhering to applicable safety and ergonomic guidelines.
• Site visits and community events may require exposure to outdoor conditions, traffic, noise, and uneven terrain, and occasional standing, walking, or lifting of light materials with appropriate safety measures in place.
• The position functions in a fast-paced, collaborative, and public-facing municipal environment, involving interaction with elected officials, employees, community members, and external partners. Employees may regularly address complex compliance issues and complaints and may encounter individuals who are upset, frustrated, or dissatisfied. The position requires the ability to remain professional, exercise sound judgment, and apply conflict resolution techniques while resolving concerns.