Director of Community Development Department

Join the County of Del Norte as our next Director of Community Development!

Del Norte County is seeking a collaborative, strategic executive leader to direct one of our most diverse departments—shaping County priorities, infrastructure, and the built and natural environment.   

Working under the policy direction of the Board of Supervisors as an appointed department head, you will lead a multidisciplinary team of roughly 30 staff (plus a part-time County Surveyor) across six divisions spanning Development Services (Planning, Building Inspection, Environmental Health, Code Enforcement) and Public Works (Engineering & Surveying, Roads). In this high-impact role, you will:   

• Steward Major Resources: Administer ~$12.4M in FY 2026–27 expenditures and financing uses across 17 budget units, overseeing 291.8 miles of County roads, 33 bridges, and flood control districts.   

• Lead Key Initiatives: Guide critical projects like the Hunter Creek Bridge Replacement, the Del Norte Regional Drainage Study, and Sixth Cycle Housing Element implementation.   

• Foster Partnerships: Collaborate effectively with the Board, tribal governments, community partners, and state/federal agencies.   

We are looking for a practical problem-solver with strong fiscal management skills and political awareness who thrives in a rural county environment where teamwork is essential. Ready to translate policy into responsive public service? Apply today!

To organize, direct and administer the operations of the Community Development Department which includes the divisions of Engineering, Surveying, Roads, Planning and Building Inspection.  Employees in this classification receive indirect supervision within a broad framework of overall objectives.  Employees in this classification supervise personnel.  

Essential job duties may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics.  The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities.   Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Plans, coordinates, directs and administers the County’s Community Development Department to insure efficient utilization of personnel to provide effective services.
• Serves as Director of Transportation for purposes of construction, repair and maintenance programs for roads, bridges and drainage structures.
• Serves as District Manager for the County Service Area; supervising related activities of sanitary sewer and water collection system.
• Serves as Planning Director to develop, recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and priorities for the development of the County, insuring compliance with laws, codes, regulations, etc., to protect natural resources and the community as a whole.  Evaluates the need for and develops plans and schedules for long-range community development programs.
• Administers and supervises the activities and operations of County airports, flood control, engineering/surveying, building inspection, and County refuse disposal program.
• Monitors road fund expenditures in accordance with California State Law.
• Serves as staff to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Local Agency Formation commission, Transportation Commission and other commissions and committees for the purpose of community development or as directed by the Board of Supervisors.  Attends Board of Supervisors on County and/or public policies.
• Represents the County in the community and at professional meetings and performs related duties as required at the direction of the Board of Supervisors.
• Oversees the coordination of Community Development Department activities with activities of other County departments or outside agencies.
• Directs the professional management staff assigned the responsibilities of divisions within the department, and supervises personnel.
• Administers and directs the financial, statistical and administrative record keeping and reporting of activities of the department including the preparation of the departmental budget(s) and payment claims.

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major work in public/business administration, civil engineering, planning or closely related field; five to eight years responsible experience in County planning or public works field including at least four years in a management professional position.

 Possession of Certification as a Civil Engineer by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers is highly desirable.

Requires: 

• Working knowledge of modern organizational and management practices as applied to analysis and evaluation of departmental programs, policies, organizational structure and operational needs.
• Knowledge of technical planning principles and practices, particularly with respect to natural resources.
• Knowledge of methodologies applicable to the analysis of finances, as it applies to revenues, budget, etc., community zoning, planning and development, environmental health and waste management.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposes actions and implement recommendations in support of department/division and program administration.
• Ability to collect, interpret and apply laws, rules, codes and regulations as they apply to department/division and program administration.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with subordinates, public groups and organizations, County officials and other government agencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including skill to prepare reports utilizing technical and statistical data.