Planning Director - City of Falls Church

The City of Falls Church, Virginia, is hiring a Planning Director to lead a team in managing land development, transportation, and long-range planning. This role involves overseeing planning services, collaborating with various departments, and ensuring compliance with design standards and community priorities. The position requires in-person presence in West Falls Church and offers a salary range of $172,662 - $189,933.
PLANNING DIRECTOR - City of Falls Church

$172,662 - $189,933

In Person

The City of Falls Church is seeking a Planning Director to lead a team of technical planning experts that facilitate land development, transportation, and long-range planning activities in support of an exciting and growing urban community.

The City of Falls Church, Virginia, located less than seven miles from the heart of Washington D.C., is a unique and historic city. Falls Church is affectionately known as “The Little City” due to its small size and close-knit community atmosphere. Despite its small geographical area, Falls Church boasts a rich history and a vibrant community spirit, and is one of the most densely populated and fastest growing localities in Virginia. Situated between Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Falls Church takes pride in its independent spirit, walkable neighborhoods, and outstanding schools. With a population of approximately 16,000, the City is known as the “Little City” as we confront many of the same challenges as large cities across the country but with strong community involvement and a people first approach to government service.

The City of Falls Church is experiencing transformative growth in its commercial districts, where 1950s-era strip commercial shopping areas are being redeveloped with higher densities, a mix of uses, and walkable, bike friendly design. Falls Church seeks to maintain a high quality of life in established residential neighborhoods adjacent to commercial districts through urban street design, traffic calming, and excellent government services. The Planning Director is responsible for planning and facilitating land development, transportation, and long-range planning activities in support of this community vision. ;

Position Overview: The Planning Director leads, manages, and supervises the City’s current planning, future planning, and transportation planning programs and staff. ; In addition, the Planning Director works in close collaboration with Zoning, Economic Development, Building Safety, Housing, and Public Works to ensure both municipal and private development projects meet applicable design standards, codes, and regulations, as well as the expressed priorities of the community. Serves as technical planning advisor to City Manager, Deputy City Manager, City Attorney, City Council and Planning Commission.

Responsibilities:
• ;Oversees team of 12 employees that provide planning services in support of current, future, and transportation planning activities.
• Current planning includes review of special exceptions, rezonings, site plans, and subdivisions. The Planning Director plays a key role in working with developers to ensure that new development aligns with the Comprehensive Plan, adopted streetscape standards, and the City urban design guidelines.
• Current Planning also includes updates and amendments to the City’s zoning ordinance, site plan regulations, subdivision regulations, and other land development regulations.
• Future planning includes development, adoption and updates of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, small area plans, and special reports and studies. ;
• Transportation planning includes neighborhood traffic calming and multimodal transportation planning, development of the transportation Capital Improvements Program (CIP), and regional coordination activities.
• Exercises oversight over urban design by reviewing CIP and private development projects in the City’s commercial areas, including Revitalization Districts and Planning Opportunity Areas, with authority to sign off on final site plans, approved by the Planning Commission. ; This review and sign off by the Planning Director is conducted jointly with the Director of Public Works prior to construction.
• Coordinates long term and strategic economic planning with City teams, including Economic Development, Public Works, and Housing;
• Oversees the preparation of grant applications and completion of planning-related grant-funded projects;
• Provides professional advice and assistance to the Planning Commission, City Council, and various agencies regarding the general planning and development of the urban areas of the City;
• Is accessible to business leaders and developers seeking information about City land development goals, plans, and regulations.
• Serves as staff support to the Planning Commission and facilitates staff support via team members for the Citizens Advisory Committee on Transportation, Environmental Sustainability Council, Historic Architectural Review Board, and Architectural Advisory Board;
• Provide staff support to City Council on legislative considerations and actions related to special exceptions, rezonings, zoning code amendments and comprehensive plan amendments;
• Supports management of the Planning team through preparation and execution of the annual workplan, operating budget and the hiring, mentoring, and advocacy of personnel;
• Represents the City of Falls Church on Regional Planning groups such as the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Planning Directors Technical Committee; and
• Performs related tasks as required.

Qualifications:
• Graduate of an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning or related field, Master's degree preferred, as well as extensive experience in urban or regional planning, including administrative experience;
• Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred;
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of urban planning with particular emphasis on walkable communities, place making, urban design, mixed use development, and environmental sustainability. ;
• Comprehensive knowledge of land use law, policy, and regulation, and experience in ensuring that land use law and policy are aligned with community values as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan.
• Demonstrated ability to present professional and technical planning reports and papers, plan and direct a current and comprehensive planning programs, deal tactfully and effectively with public officials, community leaders and professional groups, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
• Advanced skills in effective community engagement.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered.

Other Desired Characteristics:
• Displays effective time management, multitasking, and organizational skills.
• Possesses strong teamwork, leadership, and coaching abilities.
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing.
• Solves problems with multiple levels of complexity.
• Exhibits sound independent judgment in fast-paced and potentially stressful situations.
• Understands and maintains safeguards for sensitive and confidential information.

Hours: ;This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week with flexibility during core business hours with occasional night meetings and events.

Location: ; ;

Salary & Benefits: ; ;$172,662 - $189,933 In addition, the City also offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, pension plan, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending account, life and long-term disability insurance, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, free parking, credit union membership, and more. ; See the following link www.fallschurchva.gov/benefits for additional information. ;

Our commitment to an inclusive workplace: ;The City of Falls Church is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because that is what drives curiosity, innovation, and the success of our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the federal, state and/or local laws or regulations. Accommodations may be requested for applicants with disabilities. ; To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department at HRTeam@fallschurchva.gov or 703-248-5127. ; Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. ; The City of Falls Church is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

All City facilities are smoke free.

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