- Jefferson County
- The salary range for this position is $113,928 – $136,036 DOQ
- Regular, Full-time
About this Position:
Jefferson County seeks a talented candidate to build upon the good work of the prior Community Development Director, who was selected to become the next County Administrator. DCD comprises four main teams: Permit Center (Front Staff), Building (with Office of the Fire Marshal), Development Review (with Code Compliance), and Long-Range Planning. The mission of the department is to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Jefferson County by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment. The department engages in long-range planning for rural and urban lands, drafts land use policy and regulations, shepherds’ proposals through the public process, and implements policies and regulations adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. DCD helps individuals, businesses, and communities realize their dreams by administering building and land use permit applications, while ensuring a high quality of life and natural environment. DCD also coordinates with other county departments, state and federal agencies, and tribal nations during permit review. DCD, together with the Planning Commission, forms the county’s Planning Agency.
Reporting to the County Administrator, the Community Development Director will lead a highly energized staff of over 20 FTE with an annual budget of nearly $4 million. The Director organizes and directs the functions of the department; mentors staff and sets the culture and tone for the workplace. The Director is responsible for initiating and sustaining technology and management solutions for effective planning, permitting, and enforcement to maintain and enhance the quality of life in the county. In doing so, the Director will continue Lean-inspired improvement processes to assure efficiency and excellent customer service.
The Community:
With a population of over 33,000 residents, Jefferson County offers everything from a remarkable natural environment to the vibrant arts and cultural center of Port Townsend, the county seat. The City of Port Townsend is a spectacular seaport designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The communities of Port Hadlock, Chimacum, Quilcene, Brinnon, and Port Townsend are as varied as the geography that surrounds them. Historically, these communities formed a major seaport in the 1800s, and most of that era’s unique architecture remains.
Port Townsend is located just 41 miles northwest of Seattle and is the only incorporated city in Jefferson County. The city has a population of approximately 10,500 residents, though the spectacular festivals, vibrant cultural scene, and other unique attractions bring over a million visitors each year. From hiking, camping, rafting, or biking in the Olympic Mountains to drama at the downtown theater in Port Townsend, life here is connected to both the land and to the people. Discovery Bay, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Port Townsend Bay surround the Quimper Peninsula and make the area a center for boating and sailing. Jefferson County is also home to the beautiful Olympic National Park, including the Pacific coastline, the Olympic Mountains, and a temperate rainforest.
The region is home to a diverse community of farmers, artists, long-time residents, boat folks, and those looking to live in an active community offering a choice of urban and rural lifestyles. Many hidden gems in the area have generated a thriving writing, music, and theater scene. The area hosts well over 50 major events each year, including the opening of the award-winning Farmers Market in April; the Rhododendron Festival in May that brings pet parades, bed races, and the “Rhody Run,” and the Steampunk Festival in June. Centrum, located in Fort Worden State Park, hosts nationally renowned, week-long workshops and festivals throughout the summer, including Blues, Fiddle Tunes, Jazz, Voice, Chamber Music, Choro, Ukulele, Dance, and Writers’ Conference. Other events include the Wooden Boat Festival, Port Townsend Film Festival, the Jefferson County Fair, Concerts on the Dock, and many more. A thriving organic agriculture community exists in the county, as well as several award-winning cideries.
The County:
Jefferson County covers 2,183 square miles, stretching from Hood Canal to the Pacific Coast. Elected to four-year terms by the voters of Jefferson County, three County Commissioners comprise the Board of County Commissioners, which serves as the county’s legislative authority. In addition, Jefferson County voters elect their Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, District Court Judge, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Superior Court Judge, and Treasurer to serve 4-year terms. Jefferson County’s General Fund budget for 2025 is $30 million, and the total budget is $84 million. Jefferson County conducts community planning under Washington State’s Growth Management Act. The County has one incorporated urban growth area—
Port Townsend, an unincorporated urban growth area in Port Hadlock, Master Planned Resorts in
Port Ludlow and Brinnon, several limited areas of more intensive rural development, and designated
resource lands for agriculture, forestry, and mining. Unincorporated, yet well-established communities include Port Hadlock, Irondale, Chimacum, Quilcene, Brinnon, Cape George, Gardiner, and the West End.
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior-level public sector professional to lead the Jefferson County Department of Community Development (DCD) at an exciting time. If you are looking to apply your skills to make a lasting impact in a vibrant community, this is the place to be. Jefferson County offers the right candidate a chance to join and work with an excellent management team, Board of Commissioners, and dedicated staff committed to enhancing their community.
Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Western Washington, Jefferson County offers an amazing quality of life: incredible outdoor recreational opportunities both on sea and in the mountains, stunningly beautiful landscapes, and a uniquely vibrant cultural scene. Accessible by ferry or car from around Puget Sound, Jefferson County has maintained a historic character while embracing a progressive and creative way of life.
