Raleigh Planning and Development is seeking a Planning Manager to lead the Operations section within the department’s newly established Project Support and Strategy Division. The division includes three core functional areas:
- Project Support, comprising customer-focused units responsible for project support and customer experience.
- Strategy, consisting of strategic process improvement units, including process improvement, records, finance, and internal learning.
- Operations, encompassing the department’s operational business units, including business operations, communications and engagement, and technology.
This position leads the department’s ongoing operational business needs by ensuring strong alignment and support across internal units, including Business Operations, Communication and Engagement, and Technology, and by coordinating departmental planning efforts to maintain consistency with the City’s Strategic Plan, the departmental Business Plan, and emerging initiatives.
About You
The ideal candidate brings strong business operations skills, a solid grounding in communications principles, and proficiency in GIS and data analytics. Advanced experience with data-driven decision making that guides process change and continuous improvement will help you succeed in this role.
Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills are essential to maintaining effective working relationships with staff, other departments, elected officials and the public. Excellent project management skills, including skill in planning, organizing, evaluating, analyzing problems, making decisions, time management and implementation plans will make you successful in this role.
Qualified candidates will clearly exemplify the City’s organizational values of Accountability, Collaboration, Equity, Ingenuity, and Integrity.
About Us
Raleigh has a long history of planning, from its intentional establishment as the Capital of North Carolina in 1792 to its growth into the second largest city in North Carolina.
We have grown from our initial William Christmas-planned 400-acre grid to over 150 square miles of corporate limits supporting a population of over 500,000. Raleigh Planning and Development oversees the development process throughout more than 180 square miles of corporate limits and planning jurisdiction; from the legislative beginning of the process including maintaining the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Ordinance; through to completion of individual buildings, including site planning reviews, building permit issuance, and inspections.
Planning and Development has a vision “to partner with the community to plan for and develop a safe and sustainable built environment supporting a healthy and prosperous Raleigh.” This vision is supported by the City’s Comprehensive Plan, maintained by our department, as well as our mission “to provide timely, predictable, and customer-oriented services,” which is a key focus area of this role.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
- Lead and manage the Operations section, advancing business operations, communication and engagement, and technology priorities while ensuring alignment with the department’s mission, vision, and strategic plan
- Oversee core business operations functions, including support for internal and external meetings and events; coordination of boards and commissions agendas, minutes, and quality assurance processes; and management of departmental travel and training activities
- Manage departmental human resources and personnel functions, including onboarding and offboarding, position management, and wellness programming; serve as the department’s liaison to the Citywide Human Resources Department
- Oversee communications and engagement functions, including graphic design, website content management, social and digital media, news releases, publications, creative concepts, media information, and other materials designed to inform and engage internal and external audiences
- Organize resources and staff for engagement events and special projects, and represent the department at events as needed. Oversee administration of the department’s Planning Academy, a public education program designed to help community members understand Planning and Development. Manage event coordination, logistics, and course content.
- Oversee departmental technology support, technical system assessments, and system enhancements; manage lifecycle and asset management responsibilities for more than 800 assets; and serve as departmental liaison to the Citywide Information Technology Department
- Manage, prioritize, and fulfill requests for data analytics, GIS analytics and mapping from internal and external stakeholders, including departmental staff, cross-department partners, the City Manager’s Office, and City Council
- Advance the department’s use of data analytics and data visualization to support strategic, business, and operational decision making. Maintain and communicate performance dashboards and reports on timeliness, workload, and customer experience, using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes
- Supervise, manage, and evaluate assigned employees and make decisions about hiring, discipline and/or termination of employees; prioritize and assign work; develop and oversee employee work schedules and approves time away from work; provide and/or facilitate employee training and development; address employee concerns and/or problems; counsel and/or discipline as appropriate; complete employee performance appraisals; determine or make recommendations regarding new hire salaries and salary changes; and act as liaison between employees and management
- Serve as a representative and advisor to management, City officials, boards, commissions, authorities, external agencies, the public, and other organizations on matters related to assigned responsibilities; attend and facilitate meetings
- Contribute to the preparation and monitoring of division accounting, budget, and fiscal operations
- Identify, develop, implement and maintain processes and practices that encourage, support and promote effective, comprehensive and meaningful community engagement.
- Serve as the primary lead or as a contributing team member for departmental or Citywide special projects, initiatives, and cross functional efforts as assigned
- Conducts occasional site visits, community meetings, and interdepartmental coordination activities that require the use of a City vehicle
Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Urban Planning, Public Administration, or related field; 5 to 7 years' supervisory level professional planning experience in an area relevant to assigned department
OR
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.
Licenses and Certifications
- Valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire
Preferred Qualifications
- American Institute of Certified Planners Certification
Knowledge of
- Applicable federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations including development ordinances
- Best practices in community engagement and survey design
- General engineering, landscape architecture, and land development principles and practices
- City planning and urban design principles, practices, history and trends
- Principles and practices of program administration and management
- Principles and practices of project management
- Principles and practices of grant administration
- Principles and methods of qualitative and quantitative research
- Principles and applications of critical thinking and analysis
- Best practices, trends and emerging technologies related to transportation planning and transit
- Principles and practices related to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) implementation
- Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program
- Principles and practices of budget development and administration
- Customer service principles
- Modern office practices and procedures including the use of standard office equipment and computer applications such as word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications
- Supervisory principles, practices and techniques
- Relevant software applications including, but not limited to MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, and ArcGIS
Skill in
- Supervising and evaluating staff performance
- Coaching and mentoring others
- Strategic visioning and planning
- Providing project management, organization and logistics coordination
- Managing project or program finances
- Providing consultation and serving as a program liaison and subject matter expert
- Monitoring compliance with applicable plans, standards, regulations and contracts
- Developing visual, written, and oral presentations
- Researching operational issues and articulating recommendations
- Exercising political acumen, tact and diplomacy
- Monitoring, evaluating and assessing projects, programs and functional operation
- Interpreting and applying applicable laws, codes, regulations and standards
- Utilizing a computer and relevant software applications
Ability to
- Engage with community stakeholders and disseminate information effectively
- Serve as subject matter expert in planning
- Research and assess operational issues and options
- Track and monitor budget approvals
- Oversee project management tasks and deliverables
- Maintain and update project reports and data
- Effectively convey and exchange information
- Prioritize competing demands
ADA and Other Requirements
Work Environment and Physical Effort
Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an office or similar indoor environment. Employees may occasionally work in an outdoor environment or in a vehicle.
Work Exposures
Employees in this role will occasionally interact with individuals who are hostile or irate.
City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
