Category: 
Job


Location: Wheaton, MD

Zoning, Public Projects, and Agricultural Initiatives Supervisor

Salary: $86,079.00 - $152,364.00 Annually

Closing: 8/20/2024

Description
The Montgomery County Planning Department is seeking an experienced planner to supervise the Zoning, Public Projects, and Agricultural Initiatives team within our Upcounty Planning Division. Upcounty Planning is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the land area in Montgomery County, including Fairland Briggs Chaney, Burtonsville, Ashton-Sandy Spring, Olney, Damascus, Clarksburg, Germantown, Potomac, Darnestown, and the Agricultural Reserve.

Montgomery Planning is part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). For over 95 years, M-NCPPC has had a national reputation for excellence in planning, and today serves a culturally diverse population of over one million people on the border of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County. We provide county-wide planning functions including long-range planning, as well as reviews of development applications in diverse built environments of downtown urban districts, suburban communities, and agricultural areas. We have pioneered nationally modeled programs in agricultural preservation, inclusionary housing, and transit-oriented design.

This is an opportunity to lead a section within the Upcounty Division by supervising: the review of zoning applications, development review applications, and mandatory referrals; various agricultural initiatives, including but not limited to implementation and improvement of the Transfer of Development Rights and Building Lot Termination Programs, implementation of the 2019 Agritourism Study, and monitoring and supporting the County’s solar program goals on agricultural lands while preserving agriculture as the primary use in the Agricultural Reserve. Additionally, this Supervisor will assist the Division Chief in implementing Thrive by crafting, responding to, and communicating various policy recommendations, and in developing and implementing the annual work program.

Given the history and nature of the Agricultural Reserve, this position will require frequent coordination and communication with Councilmembers, Councilmember staff, and various knowledgeable and passionate community groups and stakeholders. Excellent oral and written communication and consensus-building skills are essential to succeed in this position. The selected candidate must be comfortable crafting policy and long-range planning recommendations. Site visits, fieldwork within various communities, and occasional evening meetings are required.

Examples of Important Duties

  • Supervises, leads, and assigns work to planning staff; monitors work performance, identifies areas of improvement, and develops and trains staff on applicable policies and procedures.
  • Supervises the drafting of reports and presentations to the Planning Board, Hearings Examiner, and County Council.
  • Knowledge and experience of the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Forest Conservation Law, regulatory process, mandatory referral process, and various disciplines within Montgomery County is preferred.
  • Extensive experience in project leadership and the capability to work well with a team with diverse sets of backgrounds and areas of expertise such as county residents, developers, planners, architects, engineers, attorneys, and public officials.
  • Works with department leadership to establish goals and objectives and major planning policy initiatives. Coordinates matters relating to other Commission units and government agencies. Establishes standards to accomplish work program.
  • Works with the Agricultural Community and the Montgomery County Department of Agriculture as the liaison to agricultural practices in the Agricultural Reserve.
  • Leads and coordinates complex planning studies that impact planning policy, ordinances, or procedures. Conducts advanced professional planning projects and studies of a very difficult nature either independently or as leader of inter-departmental or multi-agency team. Prepares special reports and papers.
  • Works with Planning Board, County Council, and/or other high-level public officials to resolve difficult planning related public policy issues on a regular basis within area(s) of expertise. Supervises or authors complex policies for action by public officials.
  • Defends planning programs, concepts, and policies to the Planning Board, District Council, Zoning Hearing Examiner, and before other boards and bodies as required.
  • Responds to inquiries or requests for information from citizens, developers, engineers, architects, and attorneys about proposed developments, Planning Board actions, laws and regulations, etc.
  • Provides consultation and expertise on Upcounty and Department-wide planning matters.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Planning, Geography, Architecture, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Urban Design, Engineering, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Economics or any related field.
  • Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional level planning experience that includes supervisory or project leadership and coordination experience.
  • An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together totals ten (10) years.
  • Valid driver’s license (depending on area of assignment) in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations. Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

How to Apply
Apply online at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mncppc/jobs/4581519/zoning-public-projects-and-agricultural-initiatives-supervisor-15219-grade-32