The Director of Community Development plans, supervises, and coordinates professional engineering and planning work in support of a wide range of complex projects for the City: serves as a Director of more complex planning, development and or capital projects engineering projects; directs the work of subordinate and consulting professional and technical engineering staff; responsible for the administration and supervision of Planning and Engineering Departments. The following description outlines the role and its alignment with the City of Liberty Lake’s Mission, Vision and Values. These lists contain the essential job duties, functions and expectations. However, these are not necessarily all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned:

COMPETENCIES:

  • Professional / Inter-Personal Communications: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES: (Note: The duties listed below 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).

  • A. Strategic Planning and Visioning: Develop and implement long-term community development strategies, including master plans for land use, economic revitalization, and sustainable growth. Conduct needs assessments and set measurable goals aligned with city priorities.
  • B. Representation and Advisory: Advise the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, and other officials on community development matters. Represent the department and city at public events, professional meetings, boards/commissions, regional committees, and media interactions to communicate vital information about city priorities, codes, and policies.
  • C. Stakeholder Collaboration and Engagement: Build partnerships with government agencies, businesses, developers, community groups, and other stakeholders. Facilitate public meetings, workshops, and outreach to gather input and foster community buy-in for city initiatives.
  • D. Policy Development and Advocacy: Recommend and draft policies related to zoning, permitting, economic development, and community standards. Advocate for funding and resources at local, state, and federal levels, including grant writing and lobbying efforts.
  • E. Budget and Resource Management: Prepare and manage departmental budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and monitor departmental performance within the city’s priority-based budgeting system. Identify and pursue funding opportunities through grants, public-private partnerships, and other sources to support city initiatives.
  • F. Economic Development: Collaborate on strategies to promote economic vibrancy, business retention & expansion, and redevelopment. Coordinate with other city departments to develop and implement projects that enhance the city’s quality of life, economic vibrancy, and infrastructure.
  • G. Compliance and Regulatory Oversight: Ensure all development activities comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including environmental standards, building codes, and fair housing laws. Oversee code enforcement permitting processes and resolve compliance issues.
  • H. Data Analysis and Reporting: Collect and analyze data on a variety of demographic, economic, land-use, and level of service metrics. Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations for leadership, boards, or the public to demonstrate progress and inform decision-making.
  • I. Resilience Planning and Response: Work collaboratively with other city departments, regional stakeholders, boards, and community groups to develop resilience strategies that meet the city’s emergency management and continuity of operations priorities. Assist in developing response plans and coordinating recovery efforts for emergencies and disasters.
  • J. Team Leadership and Development: Recruit, train, and mentor staff within the department. Promote a collaborative work environment and ensure professional development opportunities to build a high-performing team.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: [Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the education, certification, licensing experience, knowledge, skill and/or ability required. A combination or accumulation of applicable workrelated experience and/or education may be recognized as sufficiently meeting the pre-requisites outlined below.]

Required Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional management experience in planning, economic development, housing, engineering, or real-estate development.

Required Credentials: Graduation from an accredited four-year (4) college or university with a degree in urban/regional planning, architecture, engineering, economics or closely related field.

Required Expertise & Skills:

  • Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Critical Thinking, Sound Professional Judgment and Decision Making: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Excellent Communication Skills (Written & Verbal): Communicating effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience. – – – – Delivers and models the highest level of external (and internal) customer service with all stakeholder interactions.
  • Computers and Electronics: Intermediate working knowledge and skill operating technology/computer-based work programs/software commonly used within professional settings.
  • Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others. Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT [Note: The physical demands 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.] This position is an office environment-based role, there are no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands regularly required of the incumbent outside of a professional office environment. Frequent and continuous physical activities required include: Sitting, typing, writing, hearing, listening, talking, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 25 pounds. This role is mostly protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but not necessarily from the occasional temperature fluctuation.

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