Planning Division Manager - Entitlement Services

Department: Planning, Design & Development Department

Salary: $114,294.00 - $164,298.19 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Entitlement Services Division is one of seven divisions in the City of Charlotte Planning, Design and Development Department. The division manages rezoning, annexation, and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) revision processes. The division has 16 team members, including the manager, planners, technicians, and an administrative professional serving the division. Candidates can expect a fast-paced environment and should excel in communication skills, both internal to the City of Charlotte and external to constituents and partners. Advanced knowledge of rezoning and land use petition processes, annexation, and development regulations is required. Well-developed skills that aid in the strategic direction of division work program items (in partnership with managers within the division) and a proven ability to coach and mentor staff at all levels is expected. The position requires a naturally collaborative, solutions-focused, and adaptable management approach, and a big-picture understanding of zoning, land use policy, and urban form and function. The incumbent will be immersed daily in the minutiae of the Unified Development Ordinance but must concurrently be able to look and think beyond the UDO.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

 

• Provide leadership and oversight to rezoning, annexation, and UDO revision staff
• Work with the Rezoning Program Manager on major rezonings and ongoing evaluation of and improvement to the rezoning process and approach
• Work with annexation staff on annexation requests and ongoing evaluation of and improvement to annexation policy and processes
• Work with UDO revision staff to identify concerns, enhance standards, and address policy changes
• Manage and mentor staff and provide oversight with workload planning, schedule and budgets for the division
• Work with leaders and staff in other divisions, as well as other City Departments, on major rezonings, annexation, alignment of zoning with policy, and UDO amendments
• Provide requested information and support to department leadership, City Manager’s Office, Planning Commission, and City Council
• Establish relationships with community members, developers, designers, and rezoning agents to further the efforts of the division
• Provide leadership in developing, monitoring and implementing the Entitlement Services Division elements of the work program
• Develop, monitor and implement division budget
• Review and approve all division procurement and expenses
• Participate actively in Department’s Executive Leadership Team and provide guidance for Leadership Team to help set major goals, initiatives and policies

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

 

• Demonstrated experience in the rezoning and other land use petition processes, with an emphasis on coordinating staff recommendations with adopted policy
• Significant experience using, evaluating and amending development ordinances
• Knowledge of North Carolina zoning and land use law
• Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise multiple programs and personnel
• Ability to maintain a high level of collaboration within and outside of the department and encourages staff to do likewise
• Ability to understand the community’s adopted development vision while understanding the relationship of the regulations needed to implement the vision
• Experience in discussing complex issues with diverse audiences and ability to work comfortably with all segments of the City’s diverse population
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and gain the respect of direct reports, department leadership, City Manager’s Office, Planning Commission, elected officials and the public
• Ability to facilitate consensus around challenging and controversial issues
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets and contracts
• Demonstrated mentoring and staff development skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related field
• Five years or more of supervisory experience in the Planning function strongly preferred

Minimum Qualifications:

 

• Four-year degree in Planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related field
• Eight years of progressively responsible planning experience in multiple planning areas (notably rezoning processes, creation and implementation of development regulations, and policy planning)
• Two years of supervisory experience required

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected].

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.