Assistant Planning Director
The Assistant Planning Director shall be knowledgeable in the theory and practice of land use planning, zoning, and other matters pertinent to the local government environment. The position collaborates closely with the Planning Director, Department Heads, and other Town employees. The Assistant Planning Director must be skilled in working with the public and their concerns and be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
ü Performs development review of subdivisions, site plans, architectural review, zoning appeals, and Historic District applications.
ü Oversees application reviews by the Town’s consulting engineer and works closely with the engineer to coordinate application reviews, inspections, and field reports.
ü Manages the Town’s Plan Review Committee, ensures application materials are distributed to all relevant Town personnel and that comments are documented and clearly communicated to applicants and their representatives.
ü Serves as liaison to Planning Board and Historic District Commission. Prepares agendas and advises boards at meetings. Presents plans at public meetings and makes recommendations on applications under consideration.
ü Holds meetings with the general public, engineers and developers to advise and guide development proposals and works collaboratively with applicants and others to problem solve and arrive at solutions to conflicts and other challenges
ü Assists the public with inquiries about demographics, economics, and a wide variety of planning, zoning, development, conservation, transportation, and other municipal matters.
ü Manages consulting and design services contracts, special projects and/or serves as Planning Department liaison on special projects as requested by the Planning Director/Zoning Administrator.
ü Assists with long-range community land use planning, including corridor studies and neighborhood plans.
ü Prepares reports, maps, and presentations on land use changes and zoning changes before the Planning Board, Town Council, and Town Meeting.
ü Works with the Planning Director to coordinate projects with the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and assists the Director with Department operations and supervision when necessary.
ü Prepares grant applications and presents to awarding agencies.
ü Inspects completed commercial/industrial sites to verify that drainage, pavement, lighting and landscaping are in compliance with approved plans and works closely with the Building Department and other personnel to coordinate pre-construction meetings and Certificates of Occupancy
ü Performs the duties of the Planning Director/Zoning Administrator in his or her absence.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants should have five (5) years of experience in public planning or a related field. A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in public planning or a related field. Master’s degree and AICP is desirable. Applicants should be proficient with Microsoft Office products and have the ability to learn additional software programs. Applicants with any combination of education, training, and experience which demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities comparable to the above qualifications will be considered.
Applicants should be comfortable working in a very public and highly visible role and communicating information clearly and concisely. The person who fills this role will work closely with the Planning Director and all Planning Department staff to help coordinate the operations of the Department. Applicants must be comfortable working in a highly collaborative team-like atmosphere. This position is very hands-on in nature and the person selected will often work on projects directly from the concept phase to project completion.
The Town of Bedford highly values professional development and will work with the person who fills this role to participate in career training and professional advancement opportunities. Applicants must be comfortable attending evening meetings. The Town of Bedford promotes a healthy work-life balance and may provide opportunities for remote or flexible work arrangements when possible.
(This job specification should not be construed to imply that these duties are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties, as needed.)
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
The required application may be obtained online at https://www.bedfordnh.org/230/Employment-Opportunities. Completed applications and cover letters may be submitted to jobs@bedfordnh.org, or by mail to:
Human Resources Department
Town of Bedford
24 North Amherst Road
Bedford, NH 03110
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 4, 2021 or until filled.