Location: Gunnison, CO
Status: Accepting Applications – Position Open Until Filled

Learn more about this position and apply today at GMP Consultants website.

About Gunnison County:

Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Gunnison County is seeking an experienced Planning Director to join this progressive, high-performing organization. County Manager Matthew Birnie has assembled a collegial team of exceptional public sector executives who enjoy working together collaboratively on important cross-cutting issues to maximize organizational effectiveness in delivering results to the community. 

Gunnison County serves 17,000 year-round residents and a booming tourist community who enjoy a mountain culture and almost 2 million acres of accessible public lands offering world-class outdoor recreation opportunities. The County cherishes its sense of community and place, striving to preserve and promote the well-being of the County’s citizens, natural environment, and rural character.

From 2018 to 2021, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) acknowledged Gunnison County’s commitment to data-driven performance management with consecutive awards of their Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management.   Also notable, of the five counties nationwide that achieved this distinction, the next smallest has a population of 270,000 and the others have over one million residents.

Job Description:

Reporting to the Assistant County Manager (ACM) for Community and Economic Development, the new Planning Director will focus on leading current land use planning, code updates and revisions, as well as supporting larger regional efforts related to recovery/resiliency, climate change, and comprehensive planning. The new Director will play an important role in continuing to promote the professional and high-performing organizational culture of Gunnison County.  

The Community and Economic Development Department operates with a 2022 budget of $1,164,640 and a team of eight FTEs. Services include Current Planning (land use permitting); Oil and Gas Projects; Long Range Planning; Building; Environmental Health; and Licensing Marijuana Cultivation, Manufacturing, and Testing.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban/regional planning, or a related field. A master’s degree and AICP certification is preferred. 
  • Three to five years of professional planning experience and demonstration of increasingly responsible related experience in land use planning and local government administration.  
  • Three to five years of experience with direct contact and assistance to the public in a governmental or regulatory context.

Compensation & Benefits:

Gunnison County is offering a salary range of $94,508 to $133,682 for this position dependent upon experience and qualifications. The comprehensive benefits package include:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage & FSA
  • Vacation Leave based on years of service
  • Sick Leave: 8 hours for each month of service
  • 11 paid holidays
  • Dependent Care FSA
  • Life, Supplemental Life, and AD&D
  • County 401(a) Retirement Program
  • 457 Deferred Comp Plan Match Program

For questions about this position, please contact:

Greg Prothman
GMP Consultants 
Greg@gmphr.com  
206-714-9499