Director of Planning & Development
City of Garland, TX

As the 13th largest city in Texas, Garland is a destination for any dream. Our nearly 250,000 residents enjoy big-city amenities such as Lake Ray Hubbard, the shops at Firewheel Town Center, Firewheel Golf Park, a historic Downtown, a nationally acclaimed school district, public transit, and easy access to anywhere in Dallas-Fort Worth. Despite Garland’s size, however, our community maintains its friendly, small-town feel.

The City of Garland is looking for a new Director of Planning & Development to lead strategic planning efforts, drive economic growth, champion sustainable development practice, oversee long-range planning initiatives to fostering collaboration with diverse stakeholders and internal departments, and play a pivotal role in building thriving, resilient neighborhoods.  Additionally, the Director will be instrumental in the success of the City’s development process by leading the creation, completion and implementation of a 10-year comprehensive plan Envision Garland and a new development process software.  This role will also be responsible for the Board of Adjustments and Building Property Standards Board.

The new Director will lead the Planning & Development department with an annual budget of $1,231,422 and 10 FTEs and may also oversee the Building Inspection team with an annual budget of $1,728,857 and 16 FTEs, and the Code Compliance team with an annual budget of $3,390,930 and 36 FTEs. 

This role will also work collaboratively with Economic Development, business associations, and/or local stakeholders to identify opportunities for business expansion and retention; Engineering, Building Inspections, Transportation, and other relevant departments to streamline development processes and ensure compliance with regulations; as well as housing agencies, developers, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders to support the production of affordable housing and promote equitable housing opportunities. 

Candidates shall have bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration, or related field of study, along with 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, economic development, and/or housing initiatives, and at least 5 years of management experience at a department head level or higher.  It is preferred for candidates to also have an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification. 

Location: Garland, Texas
Salary: Up to $179,000
Final filing date: Friday, August 9, 2024
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Please make sure to have your Resume, Cover Letter, and List of References ready for upload before you start the application process. One combined document that includes all three items is preferred.