Executive Director
Chester County Planning Commission
April 29, 2015
Experience:
More than 10 years
Phone:
610.344.6280
Email:
jobs@chesco.org
Location:
West Chester, PA
The Chester County Board of Commissioners is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the Executive Director for the Chester County Planning Commission, which is the planning agency for the County. The position is authorized in Article II, Section 208 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The Planning Commission is supported by a staff of 38 and an annual budget of $3.5 million.
Our desire is to attract a visionary professional planner who will not only provide leadership to the Planning Commission, but will collaborate with key individuals in our municipalities and planning partners to set a course for growth and preservation in all areas of land use planning, transportation and environmental disciplines. Candidate’s should be creative, innovative, motivated, and have a strong desire to succeed within the organization.
Chester County, Pennsylvania is a large county in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. The County’s population exceeds 501,000 residents. The eastern half of the County is highly urbanized, containing major employment centers for the Philadelphia Region. The western half of the County is rural, with the second largest agricultural economy in the State of Pennsylvania. The County is highly historic and includes portions of Valley Forge National Historic Park, the Brandywine Battlefield National Historic Landmark, and the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. The Brandywine Valley is known for its scenic and cultural values including Longwood Gardens, museums and art. The County is a leader in open space preservation, with over 26% of the County being preserved as permanent open space or farmland.
Responsibilities:
• Provide overall leadership and management to the Planning Commission and its staff.
- Oversee the development and implementation of the County’s comprehensive plan and administer programs intended to ensure consistency by municipal governments and other agencies with the plan.
• Assist in the development and execution of the County Commissioner’s strategic plan
• Play a key role in the organizational design of the Commission’s staff including but not limited to recruitment, training, mentoring, and supervising.
• Manage large-scale and/or high-profile projects, including federal and state grant work programs
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on all metrics associated with project financial performance, as well as prepare and execute the annual budget
• Oversee administration of County-funded grant programs for municipal governments for development or amendment of municipal comprehensive plans, zoning and subdivision ordinances, revitalization strategies and other planning documents
• Oversee contracts with municipal governments to prepare plans and ordinances for adoption and supervise project managers, land use planners, environmental planners, historic preservation specialists, transportation planners and other specialists.
- Integrate the County’s planning activities with those of the regional metropolitan planning organization, and coordinate with the MPO, other counties and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the development of long range plans and transportation improvements programs.
Requirements:
• Bachelor of Science degree in City or Urban Planning, Environmental Science, or an equivalent discipline; Master of Science preferred
- Accreditation by the American Institute of Certified Planners preferred
• 10 years of progressive experience in the field of county, municipal, regional or urban planning
- 10 years of progressive experience in a direct supervisory capacity
• Experience with managing large budgets
• Strong skills in communication and planning application, with a background in the use of planning technology such as GIS, web development, and social media
• Knowledge and experience with laws and regulations applying to planning, zoning and land development, and with structures within local, regional, and state agencies
• Extensive experience in authoring planning documents or performing development reviews, including those related to controversial projects
• Strong public speaking skills with an ability to present at and/or facilitate public workshops
Information:
Website: www.landscapes2.org
We offer competitive compensation and competitive benefits, including a retirement program and medical, dental, vision, long term disability, and life insurance packages.
Position Type: Full-Time / Exempt
Salary range will be based on education and experience.
Shift: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with a significant number of early morning and night meetings.
Weekly Hours: 35
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Applications can be submitted at: http://pa-chestercounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=232
Contact Information:
Chester County Human Resources
313 West Market Street, Suite 4302
West Chester, PA 19380