Director, Planning

Director, Planning

Salary

$128,174.00 - $143,989.00 Annually

Location

110 SE Watula Ave, 3rd Floor, Ocala, FL 34471, FL

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

101326

Department

Growth Management

Opening Date

10/13/2026

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

This is highly responsible, professional, and administrative work in planning providing direction for all phases of community growth and physical development activities of the city. This position reports to the Growth Management Director.

Examples of Duties

• Plans, evaluates, and directs departmental policies, programs and operations.
• Directs and supervises all aspects of comprehensive, current, and historical preservation planning for the City.
• Supervises and evaluates department staff.
• Responsible for Divisional preparation and implementation of the annual budget as part of the Growth Management budget. This duty is performed annually.
• Develops and presents recommendations and strategies to the Growth Management Director, City Manager and City Council as needed to further the goals, objectives, and policies of the Citys planning programs, including the Comprehensive Plan.
• Directs staff in assisting various advisory boards in making decisions and recommendations in the development of the City.
• Provides planning advisory service to other departments and service groups.
• Make presentations to City Council, local civic groups and professional organizations.
• Works with the Growth Management Director, City Manager, and various departments and boards to help define economic development and redevelopment programs, projects, and initiatives, including funding mechanisms, land acquisition, regulatory issues, and coordination with other entities as necessary.
• Works with the Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP). Provides procedural and entitlement information for prospective development proposals.
• Oversees long range analysis for assigned projects including revenue and expenditure projections. Makes recommendations to the Growth Management Director, City Manager and the City Council regarding proposed public/private partnerships and City supported projects.
• Coordinates and networks with county, state, regional, and national agencies; establishing and maintaining cooperative-working relationships at all levels and in a variety of locations.
• Establishes and maintain a project management system to effectively and continuously monitor project status. Coordinates and presents regular progress reports on projects.
• Works with various departments and advises those that are responsible to timely update the Citys vision, comprehensive plan, and other master plans.
• Attends meetings and conferences.
• Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography or public administration. Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of related experience, including supervisory experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida operators drivers license with an acceptable driving record.
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Supplemental Information

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT

Annual Budget Authority: $1,800,000+/-

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises up to 5 subordinate supervisor(s) who supervise(s) up to an additional 25 employee(s). Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organizations policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to write is critical for this position to include by not limited to staff reports, memorandums, presentations, speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format; Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane, algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Under administrative direction, setting up own standard of performance. Virtually self-supervising. Reports to the Growth Management Director

PLANNING

Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work, in addition, the organization and delegation of work operations for a division of employees engaged in widely diversified activities.

DECISION MAKING

Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision-making of major importance which would have considerable effect on the final attainment of multiple major activities and the organizations projects of a large organization component and organizations clientele. Organizations final decision maker and authority.

MENTAL DEMAND

Highly intense mental demand. Continual involvement with strategic and operational management functions which relate to both the short-term and long-term time periods.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING

General oversight. Activities covered by general organizational philosophy and objectives. Solving problems in novel, non-recurring or swiftly changing situations in which the approach is not fully defined.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS

Regular personal computer support, technical help, and/or basic software support, database analysis, level I technician, project coordination, installation and help desk.

ACCURACY

Probable errors would normally not be detected in succeeding operations and may have serious effects in relationships with patrons and/or with the operations of other segments of the organization. Frequent possibilities of error would exist at all times, since the above mentioned areas are inherent in the job.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Extensive contacts with various diversified sectors of the public environment; wherein, the contacts are of major importance and failure to exercise proper judgment can lead to substantial losses to the organization.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT

Continuous contacts frequently involving difficult negotiations which require a well-developed sense of strategy and timing. Involves contacts with senior level internal officials.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Not indicated.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED

Advanced: Presentation/PowerPoint, Spreadsheet, Word Processing/Typing

Intermediate: Accounting, Database, Payroll Systems, GIS

Basic: Contact Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Human Resources Systems, Programming Languages

ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE SKILLS

Not indicated.

OTHER SKILLS

Not indicated.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions and expectations.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to talk or hear; regularly required to stand, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and frequently required to walk, reach with hands and arms; occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Knowledge of all aspects of the planning process including current and long range planning functions is essential.

Understanding of the planning process including planning theory, principles, and state and local regulatory procedures is required.

Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques or urban planning.

Thorough knowledge of comprehensive land use planning and development regulations.

Ability to use sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees, officials, the public, and the media through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle or feel objects and controls.

Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of supervision, organization and administration.

Ability to plan, implement, and coordinate technical and administrative programs.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to use various office equipment including, but not limited to, telephone, personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, and elected and appointed officials.

Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule.

The City of Ocala provides a competitive, comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees.

Health Insurance

We offer both single and family coverage, for employees working 30 or more hours per week.

Dental Insurance

For full time employees, we offer both single and family dental coverage.

Vision Insurance

For full time employees, we offer both single and family vision coverage.

Life Insurance

For full time employees, the City of Ocala provides Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberments policies as an employer paid benefit. Employees can opt for additional coverage such as supplemental voluntary life, spouse life, dependent life, and child life. For full time employees, the City of Ocala provides Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberments policies as an employer paid benefit. Employees can opt for additional coverage such as supplemental voluntary life, spouse life, dependent life, and child life.

Short Term and Long Term Disability

Offered to full time employees, STD and LTD coverages are income replacement benefits that assist policyholders who are unable to work for an extended period of time due to sickness or accidental injury.

Medical FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and Dependent Care FSA

Flexible spending accounts allow employees to pay out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses using pre-tax dollars.

Pet Insurance

We also offer special pet insurance for your pets in the case of illness or accidents, as well as preventative care.

Employee Health & Wellness Center

The City of Ocala offers the use of the City Clinic for those employees, and covered dependents over the age of 8, which have elected one of our health insurance plans. Services offered by the City Clinic include primary care, chronic disease management, labs, x-rays, and wellness coaching.

Voluntary Cancer Insurance

For full time employees, the cancer insurance policy can help provide security if you, or a covered dependent, suddenly become diagnosed with cancer.

Supplemental Critical Care Insurance

Our full time employees have the option of electing critical care insurance that is available to help with medical expenses that could arise from things such as a heart attack or stroke.

Supplemental Accident Insurance

Also available to full time employees, is our Accident Coverage. This supplemental plan can be used to help with expenses like MRIs, physical therapy, and hospital admission.

Legal Plan Insurance

Full time employees can have access to local attorneys for a monthly fee and receive discounts on services such as legal consultation, wills, traffic violations and the purchase or sale of your home. The carrier also has a separate policy assisting with the matter of identity theft and social media monitoring.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Deferred compensation is available to all full-time employees at the time of employment. This benefit allows the employee to defer income without paying taxes until money is withdrawn. Current plan is administered through MissionSquare.

Direct Deposit

Direct deposit automatically deposits your net pay each pay period to your checking or savings account at your own financial institution. Direct deposit is a condition of employment for a person hired by the City.

Each pay period the employee receives an earnings statement showing gross pay, taxes, other deductions, accruals and net pay. Enrollment forms are available at Human Resources or Payroll.

Discounts - Theme Park

Discounts are available to all non-temporary employees at the time of employment.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program is available to all full-time employees and members of your household as an employer paid benefit. The EAP offers emotional wellbeing support in the form as counseling sessions and all sessions are confidential. The EAP also provides daily life assistance, legal services, and financial services.

Holidays and Paid Time off

The City provides paid holidays and paid time off for full-time employees. Refer to the Employee Handbook for details.

Retirement Plan

All full-time employees hired after 10/01/2013, apart from Sworn Police Officers and Firefighters, are enrolled in the 401a Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with MissionSquare. All contributions to the 401a Defined contribution plan are pre-tax and earnings grow tax-deferred. The City contributes 8% and employees contribute 3%. City contributions are 100% vested after one year of employment. You will be enrolled automatically and should take time to review your investment options at your earliest convenience.

Training Programs

The City is committed to provide training programs for all departments and all positions. Risk Management conducts classes in Defensive Driving, Safety, and Insurance. With rare exceptions, classes are offered during working hours, and are open to all eligible employees.

Tuition Reimbursement

All regular, full-time employees are eligible to participate in the tuition reimbursement program.

01

Do you possess a valid State of Florida Operator Drivers License with an acceptable driving record OR If you possess a valid out of state license, do you have the ability to obtain a Florida Drivers License prior to employment?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a high school diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

03

Please select the highest level of completed education you possess from an accredited college or university with major coursework in urban planning, geography or public administration.

• None
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree

04

Please select the amount of related experience you possess, including supervisory experience.

• None
• 1 year
• 2 years
• 3 years
• 4 years
• 5 years
• 6 years
• 7 years
• 8 years
• 9 years
• 10 years
• 11 years
• 12 years
• 13 years
• 14+ years

05

Do you currently possess active American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification?

• Yes
• No

06

If you feel you qualify for this position due to an equivalent combination of training, education and experience, please explain below:

07

I understand that all information I provide regarding my background, education, certifications, licenses, and work history is subject to verification once an offer of employment has been extended and accepted. I further understand that any false, misleading, or incomplete information, or the omission of relevant information, may be grounds for disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an employment offer, or dismissal from employment if discovered after I begin work.

• Yes
• No

08

I understand that, as a condition of employment with the City of Ocala, I will be required to review and electronically sign a Policy and Consent form related to the Lytx in-vehicle safety system. I understand that this consent includes acknowledgment of the collection and use of video, audio, location, and, where applicable, biometric data for safety, compliance, and operational purposes. I further understand that on my first day of employment, an email from noreply@lytx.com will be sent to my City of Ocala employee email address with instructions, and that the form must be completed within twenty-four (24) hours of my official start date.

• Yes
• No

09

Have you provided a complete employment and education history covering the past ten (10) years, or dating back to high school graduation, whichever period is shorter, within your NeoGov application and/or master profile? Please note: Resumes are welcome; however, they do not substitute for a completed application. Applications that do not include the required employment and education history, or that are otherwise incomplete, will be rejected and will not be considered for further review.

• Yes, I have provided a complete employment and education history and understand that incomplete applications will be rejected.
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Ocala

Address 110 SE Watula Ave

City Hall, 3rd Floor

Ocala, Florida, 34471

Phone 352-629-8359

Website https://www.ocalafl.gov/