Category: 
Job
Organization: 
City of Olympia
Close date: 
Friday, January 17, 2025
To event remaining 26 days


Location: Olympia, WA

Community Planning & Economic Development Director

Salary: $149,472 to $224,208

Closing: January 17, 2025

Description

Reporting to the City Manager and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the Director of Community Planning & Economic Development oversees Current and Long-Range Planning, the Building Official, Permitting, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Historic Preservation, Urban Forestry and Housing & Homeless Response. The Director is responsible for a budget of $19.4 million and 54 employees.

The Ideal Candidate

  • A visionary, inspirational and strategic leader who can advance Olympia’s shared Comprehensive Plan vision of a growing and welcoming community that promotes livable and affordable neighborhoods, while preserving and promoting the unique culture, art, and historic assets that help to define Olympia. 
  • A proven track record in developing and implementing strategic plans, with a focus on using performance measures to guide decision-making.
  • Experience in building and fostering authentic relationships across Departments and different work groups within the City in addition to building and maintaining community and regional partnerships.
  • Demonstrates knowledge in the complexities of addressing housing and homelessness and understands the role and impact of government in developing and implementing short-term and long-term solutions.
  • Extensive knowledge of planning and development policies, land use practices, laws, and ordinances; including experience with permitting processes and delivery systems. 
  • Knowledge of economic development trends, challenges and opportunities, with an emphasis on strengthening small businesses and retaining and expanding major employers and enhance economic pathways for all community members.
  • Outstanding communication skills and is an empathetic and skilled listener with a proven reputation for being accessible, responsive, honest, and transparent. 
  • Experience managing complex budgets that include multiple funding sources

Areas of Experience and Demonstrated Success Leveraging Regional and Community Partnerships

Ability to develop and maintain collaborative, respectful, and productive relationships with other governmental agencies, jurisdictions, nonprofits, community and business leaders, the state legislature, tribes and stakeholders and partners to advance the work of the City. Embraces community-driven and inclusive engagement to inform priorities and address complex community challenges.

Courageous and Empathic Leadership

A visionary, innovative, and strategic leader who forecasts needs based on the dynamic and emerging needs and priorities of the community. Emphasizes fostering and strengthening relationships amongst team members and with other departments. A genuine interest in people and can look beyond traditional strategies to develop and cultivate the workforce. Has outstanding communication skills and is an empathetic and skilled listener with a proven reputation for being accessible, responsive, honest, and transparent. An ability to stay courageous in the midst of complex organizational challenges and decision making.

Creating Thriving Workplace Cultures

Prioritizes working with employees to imagine, create, and implement programs that nurture a healthy, innovative, and fun culture where all employees feel like they belong and have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. An ability to embrace a “First Team” culture, where one can put the interest of the City above their own departments or functions.

Promoter of Work/Life Balance

Leads by example in promoting a healthy work-life balance for all staff and recognizes the benefits of flexible, teleworking or hybrid work schedules.

Champion of Social Justice, Equity and Belonging

Demonstrated commitment to advancing social justice, equity, and belonging in the community and within the workforce. Understands the value of community engagement in uncovering and developing strategies to avoid or mitigate inequitable outcomes.

Challenges and Opportunities

1. Comprehensive Plan.
Olympia is currently reviewing and updating its Comprehensive Plan to reflect how the community will accommodate new population and employment growth, and development through 2045. The successful candidate will support the final adoption and implementation of the Plan, with an emphasis on the resulting development, review, and adoption of new or revised regulations, continuing engagement with the community, and the fostering of partnerships to support achieving plan goals. To learn more about the process underway visit https://engage.olympiawa.gov/olympia2045.

2. Affordable Housing & Homelessness.
Housing and homelessness are a top priority for the City of Olympia; addressing it calls for urgency, flexibility, strong City and regional partnerships, and a desire to seek evidence-based and innovative solutions. Solutions may include adapting development regulations, reducing financial barriers for low-income developers, seeking out new and creative partnerships, and pursuing and leveraging state and federal funding.

3. Land Use Planning, Permitting & Development.
Olympia is seeking a leader who will ensure the City’s zoning and land use policies, regulations and processes are being continuously improved to make them more understandable and easier to navigate for applicants. This means demonstrating a strong commitment to ongoing customer, employee and community engagement, process improvement, and data-driven policy and decision-making.

4. Olympia Strong.
Olympia Strong is the City’s framework for identifying roles and priorities for creating and maintaining economic opportunity for all community members. Olympia is a seeking a leader who can guide successful implementation of Olympia Strong in collaboration with other Community Planning & Economic Development divisions, City departments, and broad range of community partners.

Education & Experience

  • Eight to ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience. Strong experience in managing and communicating about complex issues with high community visibility and interest, long range and strategic planning, providing support to boards and commissions and elected officials, land use planning and permitting, and ensuring compliance with City codes, plans, and state and federal regulations.
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration or other related field. A master’s degree and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification is desired but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $149,472 to $224,208. The starting salary with be based on a combination of experience, education, skills and abilities.

The City offers a competitive benefit package including health, vision, and dental insurance, as well as vacation and sick leave. The City participates in the State of Washington Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Application Process

Persons interested in this position should submit the following information:

  • A cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position.
  • A current resume

If you have questions regarding this announcement, please call Marissa Karras at 360.956.1336.

This position will remain open until filled but the screening process will move quickly.

In order to be considered for the first round of interviews please submit your application materials at http://www.karrasconsulting.net no later than January 17, 2025.