Development Services Manager

The City of Norwalk seeks a highly qualified Community Development Manager to join our esteemed Community Development team. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing, planning, and directing the work of the Planning Division of the Community Development Department, with direct oversight of the development process. This includes the development review, grading, plan check, and inspection processes.

Moreover, you will play a crucial role in coordinating the Planning Division's activities with other City departments, developers, property owners, and public agencies. This ensures that projects are executed seamlessly and efficiently. The ideal candidate should have experience in current and long-range planning and be responsible for administrating, implementing, and monitoring the City's Successor Agency and economic development.

Additionally, the role requires recruitment, retention, and promotion of business and community marketing. You will also perform related duties as required.

This position holds a pivotal role in the City of Norwalk, and the selected candidate may be required to step in for the Director on specific assignments or in their absence. We eagerly anticipate a dedicated and diligent candidate who shares our commitment to community development goals.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Assists the Director of Community Development in the administration and coordination of long-range and current planning activities; administers complex and sensitive activities in areas such as zoning, housing and, advanced planning; develops policies and procedures for the planning division as well as the development process, and stays abreast of current practices in municipal planning to recommend more efficient and effective operations.  This position includes serving as project manager for multi-faceted development applications.

Oversees day-to-day management of the remaining business needs of the City's Successor Agency, including interaction with the Successor Agency and Oversight Board.  Works closely with the Chamber of Commerce to strengthen the City's economic climate and advances business support policies and zoning ordinances.

 Leads and directs ongoing business retention and attraction efforts, ensuring economic growth. Acts as the "ombudsman" for business to help resolve issues that may arise with other City departments.

Provides a variety of problem solving, deal closing, management/organizational analysis, program management and supervision for the City's economic development function; provides expert professional assistance to City management staff on economic development matters; selects, assigns, directs and reviews work of consultants.

Reviews, analyzes, coordinates related activities, consults with relevant parties, prepares oral and written reports, conducts research and special studies; meets with developers, other departments, property owners, and general public to resolve planning issues and create understanding of the planning department policies and procedures.

Assists in selection of planning division employees; plans and organizes work; develops and establishes work methods and standards; conducts or directs staff training and development; reviews and evaluates employee performance; executes disciplinary action. Will have knowledge of principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and training in work procedures.

Directs, facilitates, and implements urban design programs; identifies problems in the urban environment; suggest solutions through design concepts and/or regulatory changes; participates in design team meetings; provides direction and supervision to other planners.  Plans, prepares and communicates schedules and progress records of project activities and expenditures; assists in establishing project schedules and milestones; develops critical path or project flow diagrams to plan, set and evaluate progress on project tasks. Acts as Community Development Director during the Director's absence.

Provides assistance to the Director of Community Development, the Deputy City Manager, City Manager, City Council, and various commissions as requested; responds to inquiries and provides information regarding municipal code interpretation, zoning codes and land use policies/procedures; and provides guidance on property development to facilitate investments.  Serves as advisor to City staff, decision-making bodies and various City commissions on planning and economic development matters. Interprets planning policies and local ordinances; may draft policy statements and ordinances according to general instructions; provides technical assistance to the Director of Community Development, other City personnel, and the public regarding current and long-range planning issues.

Represents the City, as assigned, in relations with the community, advisory committees, local, state, and federal agencies, other planning departments, and professional organizations.

Exhibits a consistently high level of customer service skills by working cooperatively with internal and external customers regarding the division's application and interpretation of codes and regulations.  Addresses service challenges related to the development process and takes or directs appropriate corrective action.

Develops and evaluations Requests for Qualifications, Requests for Proposals, and development proposals. Assists with development and administration of the annual Department budget; actively manages department contracts with on-call consultants in partnership with Department Administration. Projects trends in workload activity and assigns work most effectively and efficiently to maximize productivity.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: provisions, scope and purposes of the State Planning Law and related municipal ordinances, particularly related to the current planning and redevelopment processes; the theories, principles, goals, objectives, procedures, practices, law, and trends in the field of planning; the methods, plans, systems, forms, maps and tools common to a land use planner's work, and sources of information that may are used in conducting planning research; office management; principles of supervision; techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with various agencies, community groups, business, professional, educational and regulatory organizations, and with property owners, developers, contractors and the public.

Ability to: deal effectively with developers, architects, engineers, and the general public; schedule work, set priorities, and monitor work progress; interpret and apply codes, regulations, statutes, and ordinances relevant to city planning and economic development activities, and make oral and written presentations to individuals and groups; prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials; work cooperatively with others; keep current in the fields of planning and economic development; analyze issues and draw logical, supportable conclusions; administer complex, technical and sensitive current planning, development, redevelopment, housing, property acquisition and related programs in an independent and cooperative manner; and provide administrative and professional leadership and direction.

Serve as problem solver, deal closer, advisor and/or negotiator on development projects and confer with City officials, applicants, and community groups on proposed projects. Anticipate and solve for deal complications; remove transaction roadblocks to prevent delays and improve efficiency.

  Provide assistance on short and long-term development plans, as well as gather information and preparation of studies, reports, and recommendations to achieve such goals. This will involve the preparation and maintenance of information on utilities, taxes, zoning, transportation, community services, financing tools, and incentives, in order to respond to requests for information for economic development purposes, and the coordination with other departments and agencies as needed.

The ideal candidate is collaborative, inclusive, committed to exceptional service and possesses extensive experience in the administration of planning and economic development programs and practices across multiple industries, including industrial, retail, downtown development, hospitality, and across multiple functions, including marketing, promotions, contract and project management, policy development, economic trends and analysis, land use and community development.

Education and/or Experience

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, planning, urban design, community development, architecture, or closely related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in professional land use planning work typically performed in public agencies, including two (2) years in a supervisory capacity. Master's degree in a related field can be substituted for one year experience.

Possession of a Master's degree in either city planning or public administration with an emphasis in city planning is highly desirable.

Required Licenses and Certificates

Possession of or ability to obtain an appropriate California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.  An American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification and professional licenses or certificates as an economic development or finance professional are highly desirable.

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

Work is performed mostly in office settings. Some outdoor work is required.

Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and of office equipment.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand or sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

The employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret statistical data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; use math and apply mathematical reasoning and abstract statistical concepts; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new information or skills; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; work under intensive deadlines; and interact with staff and others encountered in the course of work in achieving compliance with standards and requirements.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office, and moderate in the field.

SELECTION PROCESS

Apply online at http://www.norwalkca.gov/city-hall/departments/human-resources.  Employment application and supplemental questions must be completed.

 Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a City application.  Applicant must be specific in describing qualifications for this position on application.  Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration.

 Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.  Faxed materials or postmarks will not be accepted.  Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in the job announcement.

 Candidates with qualifications that best relate to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process.  Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure continuation in the selection process.  The selection process will include an oral interview and other testing processes designed to predict successful job performance.

For a complete copy of the class specification, please click here.

The City provides preference to military veterans under consideration for initial employment. To claim veteran's preference an applicant must submit their most recent DD214 form. An eligible veteran is one who has served in the United States armed forces and who has received an honorable discharge.

Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be requested by calling the Department of Human Resources at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled examination/interview date. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

The City of Norwalk, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, religion, disability, sex, or sexual orientation in its employment actions, policies, procedures or practices.