Planning Director - West Virginia

PLANNING DIRECTOR
Planning Department

$46,721 - $74,754 (DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS)
(FULL-TIME w/BENEFITS)

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN THE BERKELEY COUNTY COUNCIL OFFICE UNTIL THE POSITION IS FILLED.

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK:
Performs difficult professional and administrative work directing the activities of planning and GIS. Direction is provided by the County Administrator, Deputy County Administrator, County Council or Planning Commission. Supervision is exercised over all department personnel.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/TYPICAL TASKS:
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.)
1. Plans, organizes, directs and develops short and long range planning activities, services and programs.
2. Works in close cooperation with the Engineering Department to assure that all residential and commercial projects are accomplished as seamlessly and expeditiously as possible.
3. Recommends personnel action (to include disciplinary measures), trains, directs and assigns work. Conducts performance evaluations and recommends revisions to job classifications. Prepares departmental budget and monitors expenditures.
4. Participates in review, sign off or approval of subdivision plats, site plans, variances, forest conservation plans, etc. Oversees the administration, development and amendment of the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, Adequate Public Facility Ordinance and Planning Commission policies.
5. Reviews departmental budgets, personnel evaluations, policies, procedures and programs for delivery of services. Provides a venue for review of actions for complaints by citizens.
6. Develops Annual Activity Report.
7. Assures that all Planning Commission funds are collected and distributed in accordance with statute.
8. Represents the County on or before state agencies, municipal governments, civic groups and organizations and various committees, commissions and boards.
9. Participates in the development and administration of functional land use and development plans.
10. Develops agenda and participates in Planning Commission meetings. Reviews minutes for adoption.
11. Performs related tasks as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices and objectives of local planning and the interrelationship of social and economic problems and comprehensive plans affecting the resources of the County; thorough knowledge of basic statistical and research principles applied in the collection of various economic and planning data and of the methods and procedures involved in the preparation and submittal of comprehensive reports and recommendations. Thorough knowledge of the local, state and federal planning programs and procedures; ability to supervise, give direction to, discipline and evaluate the performance of subordinate personnel; ability to interpret and analyze technical and statistical information and to prepare and present technical oral and written reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, government officials, other agencies and the general public.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in land use planning, engineering or related field. Master's Degree in Planning desirable. Three to five years "hands-on" increasingly responsible experience in planning, land use management, or related area.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This is sedentary work requiring the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects; work requires reaching, standing, walking, and fingering; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual activity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities; the worker is not subject to adverse environmental conditions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Certified Planner; possession of a valid driver's license.

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE:
o An evaluation of training and experience
o One or more interviews
o Employment related reference checks
o Background investigation
o Pre-employment physical to include drug screen (administered after offer of employment).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

APPLICATION FOR THIS RECRUITMENT:
All applications for vacancies with Berkeley County Government must be submitted to the Deputy County Administrator. Berkeley County Council, 400 West Stephen Street, Suite 201, Martinsburg, WV., 25401 on or before the date specified on the front of this announcement. An application may be rejected if it is not complete or is received after the specified closing date (we do honor post-mark date on applications submitted by postal mail). Each applicant will be notified by mail regarding the selection process. Berkeley County normally does not reimburse travel expenses incurred to attend a scheduled interview (unless specific arrangements have been made prior to the interview).

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE:
The kind of examination/screening for positions announced will vary with each position and may include:
o an evaluation of training and experience
o personal and/or group interview
o written and/or spoken examination(s)
o performance test(s)
o a background investigation
o a physical examination*and
o a drug test*.

*These examinations are administered after offer of employment.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Berkeley County is an “At-Will” employer. However, new employees normally serve a probationary period of six (6) months before attaining regular status. The length of the probationary period may vary depending on the position and may be extended depending on performance. The probationary period is considered part of the examination process to determine the employees fitness for the position in which he/she was placed.

COMPENSATION:
Berkeley County employees are paid every two (2) weeks. A new employee ordinarily starts work at the rate specified in this announcement. The Berkeley County Council reviews compensation increases as part of the normal budget preparation process and makes the appropriate compensation adjustments at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1).

ANNUAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS:
(the following is unavailable for part-time and temporary positions)
o Employees earn 1.50 days of sick leave per month/18 days annually with unlimited accumulation.
o Berkeley County observes 12 paid holidays per year and Primary and General Election Days as they occur.
o Employees accumulate annual leave according to the following schedule:

Years of Service Days Per Month Days Per Year
0 – 5 years 1.25 days 15 days
5 – 10 years 1.50 days 18 days
10 – 15 years 1.75 days 21 days
15 years plus 2.00 days 24 days

HEALTH, RETIREMENT & MISCELLANOUS BENEFITS:
(some of the benefits may be available to regular part-time employees)
o Regular employees are required to participate in the West Virginia Public Employee Retirement Plan
o Life Insurance is available to full-time employees, their spouse and eligible dependents.
o Regular full-time employees may elect to join the County sponsored health plan which includes medical, hospitalization, major medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. The County may, depending on budget allocation, pay up to 100% of the employee costs and the employee pays for any dependent coverage elected.
o A deferred compensation program is available.
o Direct deposit is mandatory for all County Council employees.


BERKELEY COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER