Job Description

About Our Job

The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is seeking a talented leader who exemplifies the characteristics of a collaborative and energetic work environment to fill our Director – Zoning Administrator position.  We are looking for an individual who desires to be an integral part of a forward thinking and problem- solving senior CPD leadership team, who is an excellent communicator, will provide strong leadership skills, is willing to embrace and implement new technology and new ways to perform, while providing exemplary customer service.

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver (CCD) means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. Click here to find out about all the amazing benefits and reasons to work for CCD!

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The starting salary range for this position is expected to be $155,000-178,000/year, based on education and experience. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but is not limited to:

• Five Medical Plans, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Pension Plan for Life (Employee contributes 8.45%, Employer matches at 17.95%)
• 457 (b) Retirement Plan (no early withdrawal fee!)
• PTO (over 3 weeks in your first year) and 13 paid holidays
• Yearly Merit Increase
• STD, LTD, HSA, FSA, Life Insurance
• CARE Bank, Family Leave Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program, Employee Volunteer Program
• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $2000/year), We Qualify for Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Learning and Development Opportunities; Courses and Career Development Resources
• EcoPass (unlimited free RTD bus/train rides)

Location

This position is located at the Wellington Webb Building, located at 201 W Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80202.

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model, which is subject to change. Employees’ physical work location is based upon the position’s job duties and requirements, customer service and responsiveness, team and individual performance, and business needs and requirements. Our current practice requires in-office work for all employees for a minimum of three days per week. Business needs and initial onboarding may require additional days in the office.

Please note: Downtown parking expenses are the responsibility of the employee. We offer a flexible spending account option specifically for parking; if you elect this option, you can use pre tax dollars for parking. We also offer an RTD ‘eco pass’ to all City employees– allowing the use of public transportation for free as a City Employee.

What You’ll Do

At Community Planning and Development, we envision, enable, and ensure a better Denver. Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. Community Planning and Development plays a role in growing our world-class city, while keeping its beloved features intact. From the skyscrapers of the central business district; to the walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods of Stapleton; to the charming Victorian effects of the Baker district, the staff at Community Planning and Development works to make Denver a great place to live, work and play. The Department’s three primary functions are Planning, Permitting and Inspection.  Learn more about how we’re BUILDING COMMUNITY at www.DenverGov.org/CPD and www.DenverGov.org/DS

Please note that Community Planning and Development (CPD) is in the process of finalizing and implementing an exciting structural reorganization, intended to provide smaller supervisor-to-employee ratios and better career pathways, while improving permit plan review/issuance turnaround times, reducing bureaucracy, and enabling stronger collaboration with other departments. The transition to the new org chart is anticipated to begin in Q1 2025. While the responsibilities of this position are subject to modification through this effort, the core functions related to leadership and regulatory oversight are not likely to change significantly.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop annual and multi-year work plans and strategies to meet business needs. Develop and direct the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards to ensure success.
• Communicate business and work area plans and goals to managers and/or supervisors to secure buy-in. Review, approve, and implement recommended changes to plans and lead the development of process and/or operational improvements.
• Prioritize and allocate resources to achieve strategies. Utilize resources to develop or expand services and/or operation. Ensure resources are utilized appropriately and do not exceed the established budget without approval.
• Create and administer zoning code interpretations, determinations, and policies and integrate work group procedures and subject matter expertise across departmental and inter-agency work areas for consistency.
• Resolve sensitive, controversial issues by making decisions that are inclusive of multiple perspectives.
• Represent the department in meetings with elected and/or appointed officials and other city entities. Serves as the city representative with a variety of public, business, and community organizations. Fosters collaborative relationships to the benefit of the organization.
• Create performance metrics for direct reports, and review and approve performance metrics established by managers/supervisors in conjunction with department leadership with the assistance of the data team. Assist managers and supervisors in the achievement of performance standards while identifying opportunities for continual performance-, project- and process improvements.
• Provide resolution for complex citizen complaints that have been escalated to the Director level including long-term resolutions in problem areas.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to other managers and supervisors involved in zoning code development, review, implementation and enforcement.
• Additional duties as assigned.

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You’ll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

The City and County of Denver values leadership that influences the commitment, ability and willingness of employees to provide quality service to the citizens of Denver.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:​

• Ten (10) years of professional planning experience or experience developing and/or implementing land use regulations which must include two years of experience managing professional planners or other land use professionals.
• Strong command of and familiarity with:  Form-based and use-based zoning codes; urban design standards and guidelines; application of zoning to specific project review; zoning inspections and enforcement; and public and internal requests for clarification or interpretation.
• Familiarity and knowledge of the Denver Zoning Code a plus.
• Experienced and proactive manager with strong leadership skills and proven record of success.
• Effective communicator committed to inclusive and transparent processes.
• Skilled in fostering broad consensus and translating zoning to clear strategies for implementation
• Creative, visionary, collaborative, and practical.
• Big picture thinker who understands the importance of balancing regulatory requirements with supporting a business friendly Denver.
• Dedicated to high quality and sustainable city development and customer friendly processes.
• Able to work with customers and across disciplines to find creative ways to solve complex regulatory challenges in a manner that helps to advance CPD and citywide goals and objectives.
• Highly proficient and knowledgeable in best practices in legislation and code drafting and in policy implementation through regulatory initiatives and reform.
• AICP certified (preferred)
• Experienced in a public or regulatory environment

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in City or Regional Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Public Administration, or a related degree.
• Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of professional planners.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: Two (2) years of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirement

Application Deadline

To be considered for this position, you must include the following with your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than Sunday, March 9th, 2025, at midnight to ensure consideration.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 100,000 and above.

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