Planning Director

LEE COUNTY, GEORGIA

Classification Specification

Director, Planning (4505)

FLSA: Exempt

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to plan, direct, and oversee operations and staff involved in comprehensive

planning, zoning administration, GIS, and related operations and to direct and manage assigned staff.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude

them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties

may be required and assigned.

Oversees, directs, and evaluates assigned staff: processes employee concerns and problems; directs work; provides

employee counseling and discipline, as necessary; and completes employee performance appraisals.

Directs the activities of department personnel: prioritizes and assigns work activities in order to meet department

objectives; oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; ensures subordinates have

the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects

completed work; and consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations and provide technical

expertise.

Develops, plans, and implements long- and short-term strategic plans, goals, and objectives for the department:

evaluates performance and effectiveness of current services, programs, and systems in relation to growing needs of

the County; and identifies and implements needed changes, modifications, and/or enhancements.

Develops, recommends, updates, and implements policies and procedures for the department: reviews efficiency

and effectiveness of operations, methods, processes, and procedures; designs, and implements new and revised

policies and/or processes; and ensures department activities comply with established policies and standards.

Develops, defends, and administers department budget: forecasts revenues and funding needs for staffing,

equipment, materials, and supplies; prepares budget reports; and monitors expenditures and revenues to ensure

Lee County, Georgia Director, Planning

compliance with approved budget.

Advises County Manager and Board of Commissioners regarding department activities, programs, operational issues,

training, and initiatives: prepares and presents progress and activity reports: attends meetings; serves on

committees; and make presentations as needed.

Directs and administers implementation of current planning and zoning programs, Comprehensive Planning, plans

review, and related programs and projects: researches, analyzes, develops, and implements long- and short-term

policy regarding urban planning, land use, design, and code enforcement, along with review of development permits

and plans; drafts new County policies; directs and conducts local area planning and redevelopment studies, as well

as updates to the Comprehensive Plan; directs the review of plans for all development activity to ensure zoning

compliance; directs the preparation and maintenance of the County’s Comprehensive Plan; and develops and

administers Lee County Hazard Mitigation Greenspace Program.

Directs zoning administration activities: coordinates final approval of developments in the County; prepares staff

recommendation reports for zoning requests, variance requests, and conditional use requests; reviews and signs

approved subdivisions; provides maps, ordinances, and other information to the public and outside agencies;

coordinates County-wide enforcement, including court action; reviews land development plans for compliance with

zoning regulations, including landscape and parking requirements; and reviews cell tower applications.

Directs grant writing and special project administration: oversees and coordinates collection, analysis, and

preparation of data projections; prepares a variety of reports for submission to federal/state agencies; prepares grant

applications and administers approved grant programs; and completes special projects as assigned.

Interprets, explains, and ensures departmental compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations,

standards, policies, and procedures; provides information and technical assistance regarding planning/zoning issues,

comprehensive plan issues, code enforcement, future planning, procedures, documentation, fees, or other issues;

ensures adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to

ensure safety of employees and other individuals; and initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or

violations.

Prepares and delivers oral and written presentations at public hearings, meetings, seminars, technical forums, and

panels: prepares information and reports for agencies and organizations with summary of issues and alternatives;

designs, implements, and coordinates seminars; provides information and answers questions regarding planning,

zoning, and plans review activities and programs; and interprets and explains applicable codes, ordinances,

standards, requirements, policies and procedures.

Serves as a technical resource: assists and advises Planning Commission, BOC, other departments, local governments,

other agencies, and individuals regarding planning and development issues; interprets and advises on development

activities and relevant codes, ordinances, and regulations; coordinates and oversees Planning Commission meetings;

and serves as liaison to city, county, regional, state, and federal government planning contacts and various boards,

as needed.

Analyzes proposed and pending regulations, laws, and programs: recommends revisions to local, state, and federal

entities; identifies and analyzes impact of proposed or pending regulations on department activities, policies, and

procedures; and recommends strategies to ensure compliance with newly passed regulations and legislation.

Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws and regulations: maintains an awareness of latest

trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; and attends

workshops and training sessions as appropriate.

Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated

timeframes and per established procedures: prepares, completes, receives, reviews, processes, forwards or retains,

Lee County, Georgia Director, Planning

as appropriate, various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, time sheets, job applications, purchase orders, invoices,

budget reports, subdivision plats, construction plan reviews, rezoning applications, conditional use applications,

variance applications, wireless communications facilities applications, building permit applications, streetlight

installation applications, codes, ordinances, maps, polices, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials,

staff reports, performance evaluations, budget documents, applications, zoning reports, grant documents, charts,

graphs, and other documentation; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department

reports; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Communicates with County Manager, elected and appointed officials, subordinate staff, other departments,

developers, contractors, government agencies, neighborhood, civic, and environmental organizations, media

representatives, the public, and othe

Operates various equipment and tools necessary to complete essential functions: operates a motor vehicle; operates

a personal computer to enter retrieve, review or modify data, including word processing, spreadsheet, database,

presentation, mapping, Internet, e-mail, or other software; and operates general office or other equipment.

Additional Functions:

Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Planning, Engineering, Public Administration or closely related field required; supplemented by

seven years of experience in community development, comprehensive urban/regional planning, and zoning

administration, to include lead or supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and

experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific Licenses or Certifications Required: Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license; must posses

and maintain American Planning Association certification, Georgia Planning Association certification, and Georgia

Association of Zoning Administrators certifications.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential

functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all County or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary

to function effectively in the position.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in

determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision

of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit;

includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control

the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data

and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to

calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may

include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes,

Lee County, Georgia Director, Planning

weights, and measures.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving

broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control

and planning of an entire program or set of programs.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving

broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control

and planning of an entire program or set of programs.

ADA Compliance:

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert moderate, though not constant physical effort, typically involving

some combination of climbing and balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and prolonged standing, and

which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20

pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds,

taste, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental

conditions.

Lee County, Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the

County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both

prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.