Division Manager for Entitlement Services

The City of Charlotte’s Department of Planning, Design, and Development is committed to creating great places. The Department is chiefly responsible for collaborating with community partners, guiding growth and sustaining the natural environment, while also advancing a culture of vibrant and inclusive design.

Function: Division Leadership

Job Title: Division Manager for Entitlement Services (Planning, Design and Development Department) 

Summary: The Entitlement Services Division is one of seven divisions in the City of Charlotte Planning, Design and Development Department. The division manages rezoning, annexation, and Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) revision processes. The division has 16 team members, including the manager, planners, technicians, and an administrative professional serving the division. Candidates can expect a fast-paced environment and should excel in communication skills, both internal to the City of Charlotte and external to constituents and partners. Advanced knowledge of rezoning and land use petition processes, annexation, and development regulations is required. Well-developed skills that aid in the strategic direction of division work program items (in partnership with managers within the division) and a proven ability to coach and mentor staff at all levels is expected. The position requires a naturally collaborative, solutions-focused, and adaptable management approach, and a big-picture understanding of zoning, land use policy, and urban form and function. The incumbent will be immersed daily in the minutiae of the Unified Development Ordinance but must concurrently be able to look and think beyond the UDO.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight to rezoning, annexation, and UDO revision staff
• Work with the Rezoning Program Manager on major rezonings and ongoing evaluation of and improvement to the rezoning process and approach
• Work with annexation staff on annexation requests and ongoing evaluation of and improvement to annexation policy and processes 
• Work with UDO revision staff to identify concerns, enhance standards, and address policy changes
• Manage and mentor staff and provide oversight with workload planning, schedule and budgets for the division
• Work with leaders and staff in other divisions, as well as other City Departments, on major rezonings, annexation, alignment of zoning with policy, and UDO amendments
• Provide requested information and support to department leadership, City Manager’s Office, Planning Commission, and City Council
• Establish relationships with community members, developers, designers, and rezoning agents to further the efforts of the division
• Provide leadership in developing, monitoring and implementing the Entitlement Services Division elements of the work program
• Develop, monitor and implement division budget
• Review and approve all division procurement and expenses 
• Participate actively in Department’s Executive Leadership Team and provide guidance for Leadership Team to help set major goals, initiatives and policies

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Demonstrated experience in the rezoning and other land use petition processes, with an emphasis on coordinating staff recommendations with adopted policy
• Significant experience using, evaluating and amending development ordinances 
• Knowledge of North Carolina zoning and land use law 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise multiple programs and personnel
• Ability to maintain a high level of collaboration within and outside of the department and encourages staff to do likewise
• Ability to understand the community’s adopted development vision while understanding the relationship of the regulations needed to implement the vision
• Experience in discussing complex issues with diverse audiences and ability to work comfortably with all segments of the City’s diverse population
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and gain the respect of direct reports, department leadership, City Manager’s Office, Planning Commission, elected officials and the public 
• Ability to facilitate consensus around challenging and controversial issues
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets and contracts
• Demonstrated mentoring and staff development skills

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four-year degree from an accredited college or university in Planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related field
• Eight years of progressively responsible planning experience in multiple planning areas (notably rezoning processes, creation and implementation of development regulations, and policy planning)
• Two years of supervisory experience required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Planning, Architecture, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Political Science, Public Administration, Social Science or related field
• Five years or more of supervisory experience in the Planning function strongly preferred