Development Services Director

Job Title: Development Services Manager

City of Green Cove Springs

$90,398.91 - $144,638.26 Annually

Location: Green Cove Springs, FL

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 00392

Department: Building and Development Services

Division: Development Services

Opening Date: 06/30/2025

Job Summary

This position performs highly responsible managerial, administrative, and supervisory work overseeing the Development Services Department, which includes the functions of planning, zoning, building, code enforcement, community, and economic development services and activities for Green Cove Springs. Works closely with the City Manager to attract new business and industry and maintain existing local businesses in the community through a proactive approach.

Essential Job Functions

Directs all activities in the Development Services Department in its effort to provide courteous, efficient, and responsive comprehensive planning, zoning, land development regulatory review, downtown development, and business revitalization efforts.

• Develops and assists in the implementation of short- and long-term elements in the Comprehensive Plan and Vision Plan goals and policies.
• Monitors Comprehensive Plan and its implementation and the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) process.
• Tracks Concurrency Management System utilized in site plan and subdivision plat development reviews.
• Receives development applications, schedules and coordinates the development review team process, and notifies applicants of decision.
• Maintains official Zoning Atlas and Future Land Use Map series.
• Serves as liaison to Planning and Zoning Board and Vision Committee.
• Maintains working relationship with County Building Official and Building Inspectors pursuant to Interlocal Agreement.
• Reviews variance, rezoning, and special exception requests and recommends approval or denial.
• Assists with designation of historic properties pursuant to City Council policy.
• Evaluates applications for Local Business Tax and confirms use is consistent with Land Development Code.
• Assumes role as City's Land Development Code Administrator and issues land development code interpretations.
• Monitors Development Review Fees for services and recommends changes for City Council adoption.
• Coordinates grant proposals that include but may not necessarily be limited to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Programs and others and ensures grants in these disciplines remain compliant with grant award agreements.
• Seeks grants that provide funding sources for capital projects in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that maintain Concurrency and assists department directors in that regard as appropriate.
• Updates statistical indicators such as, but not necessarily limited to, population, socioeconomic, and other demographic data and ensures City's timely participation in US Census boundary and annexation updates as a result of geographical changes.
• Researches industry trends for business attraction and retention.
• Prepares and submits with justification the annual budget request for the Department to the City Manager.
• Prepares and updates Capital Improvement Element (CIE) based on adopted CIP.
• Fulfills requests for voluntary and referendum Annexations, compiles necessary background materials, and assimilates annexation packages for City Council consideration.
• Establishes departmental policies and procedures, trains and evaluates departmental personnel.
• Oversees issuance of building permits in conjunction with Building Official.
• Facilitates downtown development and revitalization activities within the Form Based Code District and Gateway Overlay Corridor based upon financing mechanisms and incentives established by the City Council.
• Serves as staff liaison to the Green Cove Springs Community Redevelopment Agency.
• Prepares Ordinances and Resolutions on a variety of topics.
• Represents and attends meetings of local civic and community organizations and associations explaining City's development processes and interacts with businesses.
• Attends Department Director and City Council Meetings.
• Prepares staff reports and recommendations on a variety of subject-matter and presents findings to boards and committees and City Council.
• Oversees special projects as assigned by the City Manager.
• Meets with engineers, consultants, and other professionals.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in urban planning, land planning, management, public administration, or a related field, (Master's degree preferred) and eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in the public sector in urban planning or closely related field, including some direct supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Licenses or Certifications: Possession of a valid Class "E" Florida Driver's License and compliance with vehicle use policy requirements, Section 8.15(c) in the City's Personnel Manual. Possession of an AICP (American Institute Certified Planners) Certificate. Special Requirements: None. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and codes related to planning, land use regulations, and zoning matters. Knowledge of the principles and methods of budget preparations and administration. Knowledge of City operations and procedures. Skill in managing in a Public Service Environment. Skill in using personal computers utilizing software programs such as, but not necessarily limited to, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Skill in using Arc Pro GIS system to prepare and print zoning and land use maps, and other documents on a plotter. Ability to direct and supervise professional, clerical and assigned personnel. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, department heads, general public, and professionals such as engineers, various types of consultants, business owners, and representatives from other governmental agencies. The nature of this position requires attendance at evening and on occasion weekend meetings. Flexibility in work schedule is essential.

Physical Demands

The work is light and requires the ability to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Also requires the following physical abilities: manual dexterity, grasping, mental acuity, reaching, speaking, auditory acuity, visual acuity, driving, walking, and bending. Work is performed inside an office environment but must be able to conduct outside site visits on proposed development and is subject to varying environmental conditions.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. The City of Green Cove Springs, FL commits to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees, complying with local, state and federal laws. The City's policy is to employ qualified persons without discrimination regarding race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, country of national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political affiliation, ethnicity, or status in any other group protected by federal/state/local law.