Growth Management Director – City of Winter Haven

Centrally located between Tampa and Orlando, a robust growing community of 42,828 seeks a competent and personable professional to manage all phases of its Growth Management Department ensuring mission, vision, values, exceptional service, and priorities are achieved in comprehensive planning, zoning, development permitting and inspections, annexation, and economic development promotion. Under the guidance of the City Manager, the Growth Management Director is responsible for an $11,249,468 department budget and leading and managing programs, activities, and staff within the Planning, Building, Engineering Services, and Airport Divisions.

The Director manages and coordinates development review and approval services through the implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Unified Land Development Regulations, Airport Master Plan and other applicable codes and ordinances conferring with engineers, planners, real estate agents, developers, and the general public.  The director serves as a subject matter expert and technical advisor to administration, the City Commission, Planning Commission, and citizen committees, and oversees special funding programs including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP), and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

The candidate of choice will have vast knowledge of Florida’s planning and growth management laws as well as current development principles and practices applied to comprehensive municipal development programs, public and urban planning, building permitting and inspections, engineering, site plan review, neighborhood revitalization, redevelopment, and economic development; the ability to balance multiple and diverse projects simultaneously, work professionally and in a participatory manner, deal with sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy, effectively negotiate, and be skilled in the supervision of others, use of computers and data collection/analysis software, budgeting and resource management.  Demonstrated leadership, analytic, problem-solving, sound judgment and decision making and effective communication skills, abilities, and experience will also be evident.

Minimum education and training requirements are possession of a Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning, public administration, urban studies, geography, political science, environmental studies, social work, economic development or related field. Seven years of experience as a planner, project manager or planning manager with three to five years of experience in community, economic, and urban development; finance; marketing and/or real estate, and three years of responsible supervisory experience.   A  Master’s degree in Urban Planning from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) and certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred.

In exchange for quality and dedicated service, the City offers a competitive salary ranging from $76,378 to $101,254, which is negotiable depending on qualifications and experience, and an excellent fringe benefit package inclusive of paid leave, health insurance, and Executive 401(a) Plan featuring day one vesting.  A satisfactory background investigation and post-offer physical examination is required of the chosen candidate.

Refer inquiries to 863-291-5650, 863-291-5617 (Fax) or www.mywinterhaven.com.  Resumes and application materials subject to public records law may be forwarded to the City of Winter Haven Human Resources Office, P.O. Box 2277, Winter Haven, FL 33883-2277, by February 28, 2019.