Current Planning Manager

The Current Planning Manager is an advanced level professional position within the Department of Planning and Community Development that works to fulfill regulatory and statutory duties, supervise staff, and implement policy. The position is responsible for managing and organizing current planning functions of the Department and a variety of professional and technical duties of high complexity and variety related to the administration and maintenance of the County’s land use regulations (e.g. subdivision, zoning, floodplain, building for lease or rent, code enforcement etc.). This position reports to the Chief Planning Officer and works closely with the Community Development Manager, Board of County Commissioners, several planning-related boards, civil staff from the County Attorney’s office, Code Compliance Officer, and other departments as needed.
 
General: 

1. Responsible for managing and organizing the programmatic functions of the Department related to current planning and development review
2. Provides expertise and guidance to staff regarding specific questions, technical problems, and other issues related to current development review. Provides code interpretation, further references, and training as needed to effectively respond to staff informational needs.
3. Provides professional-level customer service to the general public and other customers of the Department of Planning and Community Development and information regarding land-use, adopted development regulations, and plans.
4. Attends hearings, meetings, conferences, and trainings, including, when necessary, those held on evenings and weekends.
5. Acts as liaison between community groups, government agencies, developers and elected officials in administering plans and regulations.
6. When assigned, collaborates with interns, other departments, and consultants working on County projects.
7. Works with the Chief Planning Officer on budget proposals and tracking.

   
Current Planning and Development Review: 

1. Reviews or manages the review of the most complex and contentious current planning applications (e.g. subdivision exemptions, major subdivisions, zoning amendments, site plans, conditional use permits, variances, land use permits, sign plans, zoning determinations, building for lease or rent applications, etc.) to determine conformance with applicable plans and regulations.
2. Prepares and presents detailed reports that summarize a specific application, identify applicable regulations, and provide other relevant factual information to inform advisory boards and decision-making bodies.
3. Conducts site visits and performs research to compile information relevant to reviewing applications and analyzing the impact of proposed projects.
4. Acts as primary Department contact on compliance issues and collaborates with the Compliance Department, County Attorney’s Office, and Department staff to develop potential remedies for regulatory violations.

 
Community Development and Long-Range Planning: 

1. When assigned, provides current planning perspective to inform long-range planning projects.
2. When assigned, conducts research, gathers data, and prepares summary reports on complex subjects relevant to land-use planning and community development (e.g. socioeconomic, demographic, and land-use trends; trends in application numbers; cross-jurisdictional information; legislative history; case law; gathering planning-related information from other jurisdictions, etc.).
3. When assigned, develops or assists with the development of in-depth reports and other documents in support of new and updated plans, policies, programs and regulatory documents.

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES: 

1. Provides programmatic management and supervision of Department’s current planning work.
2. Assists the Chief Planning Officer with hiring, training, evaluation, and disciplining of Department staff.
3. Works with the Chief Planning Officer to determine current planning project assignments among Planners within the Department. Ensures balanced workloads, work assignments commensurate with experience, and an overall workflow that enables the Planning Department to achieve goals and objectives, use staff efficiently, and meet regulatory deadlines or established timeframes.
4. Monitors progress and quality of project work performed by staff to ensure consistency with Department standards ensuring completion of assignments prior to regulatory deadlines or within established timeframes.
5. Addresses the most complex, contentious, and negative contacts with individuals and groups that are referred to the incumbent by less experienced staff. Diffuses conflict and hostility if possible and provides individuals and groups with alternative resources or other pertinent information.

This work requires thorough knowledge and experience implementing the principles, practices, methods and procedures associated with land-use planning, including vast experience with land-use regulations and development review. Well-developed knowledge of planning principles and policies including, but not limited to, Montana land-use laws. Position requires professional planning work of substantial complexity and is characterized by increasing specialized knowledge of aspects of the planning field related to development, maintenance, and administration of land use regulations. Position must have the ability to effectively communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing to audiences with varying levels of technical knowledge; ability to apply supervisory skills; ability to prepare professional quality written reports; perform research and collect data; apply basic mathematical skills to practical situations; ability to use common computer software to develop reports and spreadsheets and maintain databases and familiarity with geographic information systems is desirable; work on several complex projects or issues simultaneously; work independently or in a team environment as needed; the ability to have creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve vaguely defined practical problems; the ability to review plans and apply provisions of the regulatory documents to determine compliance with such regulations and to apply regulations to field conditions and the ability to facilitate small group meetings and larger community workshops.The required knowledge, skills, and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to three to five (3-5) years of experience in an advanced planning position with either: (1) a Bachelor’s degree in a planning-related field and a planning-related professional certification such as: American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), etc.; or (2) a graduate degree in planning or a related field and employee supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

The position is open until filled. Please be prepared to attached the following documents when you submit your application materials:

• cover letter
• resume
• three work references.

To maintain confidentiality, references will not be checked until near the end of the process.

As a condition of hire, the final candidate will be required to successfully pass a criminal history check and background investigation and must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of Montana or attain a Montana driver's license within six months of hire and be insurable under the County's liability policies.

Gallatin County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, or sex when the reasonable demands of the position do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, or sex distinction.