City of Joliet, Planning Director

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIESJOB POSTING #: 62-24POSTED: 08-23-2024EXPIRATION: 09-20-2024TITLE: PLANNING DIRECTOR (Position Code #1240)SALARY: Full Salary Range: $111,000 – $177,570;Starting salary for this role is anticipated to be $111,000 – $140,000 based on candidate’s abilities and experience.DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTDIVISION: PLANNINGINTRODUCTIONThe City of Joliet, located just 45 minutes southwest of Chicago, is the 3rd largest city in Illinois, with a population of over 150,000. Joliet is a river city with a historic downtown, two casinos, and various attractions, such as the Rialto Theatre, Old Joliet Prison, Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Slammers Baseball Stadium. The City has just kicked off a number of exciting long-range planning activities, including undertaking our first update to our comprehensive plan in over 65 years.The City of Joliet is excited to share the opportunity to be our next Planning Director within the Community Development Department. As a Planning Director, you will be responsible for administrative, managerial, and planning operations of the Planning Division. Joliet is an engaged and dynamic community looking for the right person to help us grow in an intelligent and resilient manner.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Manages the Planning Division, including supervision and ongoing training and development of all employees within the division;• Ensures quality of work by staff planners;• Prepares and presents cases to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Plan Commission;• Oversees work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations;• Assists with preparing the division budget; assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget;• Works with the Economic Development Director to help attract, retain, and/or expand new businesses and industries to the City of Joliet and communicates activities with other departments and agencies as deemed appropriate;• Provides professional and technical information and support to developers and businesses for financial, grant/loan programs, licenses, permits, and compliance with City ordinances and building codes;• Researches statistical data regarding city economic characteristics; analyzes trends, surveys community needs; interprets data and prepares a variety of studies, reports, and related information for decision-making purposes as required;• Networks and maintains professional relationships with realtors, developers, banks, community groups, as well as local, state and federal agencies to support economic development efforts;• Communicates official programs, policies, and procedures to staff and the general public;• Attends professional society meetings; performs public relations work to promote services;• Keeps informed of current developments in the field of urban planning and economic development, particularly new legislation, recent court decisions, and various governmental, administrative decisions which affect divisional operations; oversees division conformance to policies and procedures;• Performs other related duties as required.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSEducation and Experience:Bachelor’s degree in planning, public administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred; Minimum of five years of administrative experience in municipal planning, including some supervisory experience; Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability.Necessary knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:• Considerable knowledge of the modern principles and practices used in the fields of municipal planning, economic development, public administration, realty, business, and public finance;• Considerable knowledge of economic development funding sources and regulations pertaining to those sources;• Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate employees;• Ability to analyze needs of businesses and recommend a course of action;• Good knowledge of computers and electronic data processing, including GIS applications and Microsoft Office software including Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, and PowerPoint;• Ability to prepare plans and reports and effectively and persuasively present technical information/programs to community groups, City officials, and members of the public;• Ability to communicate and develop effective interpersonal relations to professionally and respectfully interact with coworkers, managers, the public, and government officials to exchange or convey information, both orally and in writing.SELECTION GUIDELINESFormal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job-related tests may be required. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.A complete job description is available in Human Resources upon request.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION EMPLOYER #J-18808-Ljbffr