WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MCKINNEY

Working for the City of McKinney is more than a job.  It is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.  It is also an opportunity to have a hand in the development of one of the fastest growing communities in the nation.  In 2014, our community was named “The #1 Best Place to Live in America.”  Although proud of that honor, everyone on our team is committed to making McKinney an even better place to live, work and raise a family.  That’s why we exist.

OUR CORE VALUES

City of McKinney employees work hard and at a very fast pace.   However, we also look after and support one another.  All of us are guided by four employee-inspired values – Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (RISE).  We are also supported by servant-based leaders who foster and support a healthy, family-oriented culture.  All new employees are expected to embrace and live by our core values and commit to helping us sustain our exceptional work environment as a high performance organization.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Planning Manager should be a confident, self-disciplined person who can work closely with the Department Director, elected and appointed officials, other city departments, public agencies, developers, and the public to ensure that the planning and development goals of the city are met. Depending on the area assignment, this may include responsibility for carrying out development and zoning activities; overseeing comprehensive planning and research efforts; recommending growth and development policies; neighborhood planning; downtown planning; and/or various historic preservation activities. In order to be successful, the person in this position must be able to motivate and inspire staff to strive for excellence while thriving in an innovative, fast-paced, and competitive environment.

Essential Functions/Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES 

In order for us to continue to achieve our primary function of making McKinney a better place to live, work, and raise a family, we hold these expectations for all employees. 

• Learn and demonstrate an understanding of how team, department, and City goals are interconnected.
• Contribute to a positive work culture.
• Ability to assess his/her work performance or the work performance of the team.
• Contribute to the development of others and/or the working unit or overall organization.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team, to demonstrate team skills, and to perform a fair share of team responsibilities.
• Ability to continuously learn and develop through a mix of internal and external training opportunities, and if applicable, encourage subordinates to do the same.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Exemplifies respect, integrity, service and excellence in all actions, speech, and decisions. 
• Develop and maintain a knowledgeable, service-oriented and productive work group. 
• Manages professional and technical personnel including, but not limited to: instructing; assigning, reviewing and planning the work of others; monitoring standards; coordinating activities; allocating resources; and recommending employee transfers, promotions, and salary increases as appropriate. 
• Utilizes data and other analytical information to improve efficiency, manage resources, improve services and improve decision-making. 
• Represent the City on multi-agency committees. Attend professional conferences and seminars to stay abreast of changes and trends in the planning and development field. 
• Attend department, public, boards and commissions, and City Council meetings, as needed. 
• Provides excellent customer service; responds to concerns and inquiries.
• Maintains department and project files and documents.
• Assists in the preparation and maintenance of annual department budget, including projections, fiscal responsibilities, and resource management.
• Provides timely, accurate and thorough performance evaluations for managed employees.
• Adheres to assigned work schedule as outlined in City and department attendance policies and procedures. 
• Complies with all written City policies and procedures.

Specific responsibilities when managing the Comprehensive Planning and Research Team:

• Provides leadership and management for the department’s comprehensive planning and research efforts. This includes managing a team whose day-to-day activities involve administration of the city’s Comprehensive Plan; research and analysis of spatial data; performing special studies and public outreach; developing and implementing policies and programs related to growth and development; and frequently interacting with public stakeholders, the development community and city officials.
• Manages and interprets the Comprehensive Plan and applies its goals and policies for proposed development analysis and decision making.
• Develops and implements the Roadway and Utilities Impact Fee Ordinances.
• Presents and manages the presentation of long-range planning studies to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Manages the recruitment, selection, and coordination of consultants which are contracted to provide professional services.
• Manages the design and organization of databases for demographics, development monitoring, and other planning related files, including any necessary public interface(s) and reporting. 
• Manages the development and implementation of public outreach and education opportunities related to planning and development in McKinney. 
• Researches new trends in planning and development that may impact the city, including legislative issues. 
• Advises developers, property owners, and the public regarding planning issues.
• Resolves citizen and developer complaints.
• Prepares ordinances, resolutions and/or policies for the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council consideration.
• Conducts organizational and operational studies and recommends modifications to affected programs, policies, and procedures.
• Performs public relations and outreach work related to planning and development activities.
• Assists in ensuring that the City Council’s goals and focus areas are being satisfied and properly addressed.

Specific responsibilities when managing the Development Review Team:

• Provides leadership and management for activities related to the development process (i.e., platting, zoning, site planning, annexations). This includes managing a team whose day-to-day activities involve the processing of all current planning applications, including staff review, staff reports to Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council, legal notification requirements, case assignments, resource allocation, and frequent interactions with public stakeholders, the development community and city officials.
• Performs and manages the performance of field inspections of development property, from site visits during application review to final Certificate of Occupancy inspections and/or performs area studies including windshield surveys, neighborhood and area surveys, and other field work.
• Meets with and manages others’ interactions with key City Staff to coordinate development and/or implementation of City development standards and policies including:  coordination of the Development Review Committee meeting; and meetings with the City Engineer, Fire Marshal, City Attorney, City Manager, City Secretary, Chief Building Official, Parks, Recreation and Open Space Director, etc.
• Coordinates the negotiation, execution, and implementation of developer and facilities agreements.
• Presents and manages the presentation of staff reports to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Conducts organizational and operational studies and recommends modifications to affected programs, policies, and procedures.
• Advises developers, property owners, and the public regarding planning issues.
• Resolves citizen and developer complaints.
• Interprets and explains the zoning ordinance, including permitted uses, development standards, definitions of uses, and zoning maps.
• Interprets subdivision plats for compliance with conditions of approval, prior to filing for public record at the county.
• Assists in ensuring that the City Council’s goals and focus areas are being satisfied and properly addressed. 

Specific responsibilities when managing the Downtown Development and Preservation Team:

• Ensure the success of McKinney’s Historic Town Center through leadership and management of activities related to historic preservation, revitalization, economic development, and neighborhood empowerment. This includes managing a team whose day-to-day activities involve the administration of the City’s Historic Preservation Overlay District, the McKinney Town Center form-based code, the Historic Neighborhood Improvement Zone, the Neighborhood Empowerment Zone, and the Tax the Increment Reinvestment Zone.
• Manages implementation of the Historic Preservation Overlay District, including presentations to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board (HPAB). 
• Manages implementation of the TIRZ district(s), including presentations to the TIRZ Board(s).
• Performs the duties of the Town Center Development Coordinator as established by the “MTC” – McKinney Town Center zoning district which includes processing of development applications within the district.
• Manages the recruitment, selection, and coordination with consultants which are contracted to provide professional services.
• Advises developers, property owners, and the public regarding planning issues.
• Resolves citizen and developer complaints.
• Conducts organizational and operational studies and recommends modifications to affected programs, policies, and procedures.
• Performs public relations and outreach work related to planning and development activities.
• Reviews State statutes for local government responsibilities regarding land development issues to ensure that the City is following proper processes.
• Performs and manages the performance of field inspections of development property, from site visits during application review to final Certificate of Occupancy inspections and/or performs area studies including windshield surveys, neighborhood and area surveys, and other field work.
• Assists in ensuring that the City Council’s goals and focus areas are being satisfied and properly addressed.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Perform other duties as assigned or directed.                           

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND BEHAVIORS

• Ability to embrace and embody the City’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (R.I.S.E.).
• Ability to communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, subordinates, and people to whom service is provided. 
• Ability to produce desired work outcomes, including quality, quantity, and timeliness.
• Ability to plan and organize work, time, and resources, and if applicable, that of subordinates.
• Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in a managerial capacity. 
• Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions. 
• Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.
• Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
• Requires the ability to develop spatial data analysis using GIS software.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Requires the ability to perform simple movements requiring moderate coordination, such as those required to operate office equipment or computer equipment. Requires the ability to perform semi-skilled coordinated movements, such as those required to operate motor vehicles. 
• Requires the ability to work in a team environment; contribute as a team member and treat co-workers, subordinates and customers with respect.
• Requires the ability to build professional relationships with internal staff and customers.
• Requires the ability to offer flexibility and adaptability, especially during times of change.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with citizens and elected and appointed officials.  
• Requires the ability to focus on minute details in an attempt to ensure error-free, high-quality results while simultaneously motivating employees to achieve the same error-free, high-quality results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Geography, Sociology, Urban Studies, Historic Preservation, or closely related field and five (5) years previous experience. 

OR

Master’s degree in Planning, Geography, Sociology, Urban Studies, Historic Preservation, or closely related field and three (3) years previous experience and/or training involving the review and development of planning recommendations.

Any work related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the above Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the above specified education and experience requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in Planning, Geography, Sociology, Urban Studies, Historic Preservation, or closely related field.

AICP certification.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must pass a drug screen and background check.
• Must have Class C Texas Driver’s License
• Must maintain a minimum 48 hours of continuing education/professional development per year. 

Physical Demands/Supplemental

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (25 pounds).  Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.  Some tasks require visual and sound perception and discrimination and oral communications ability.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Tasks are generally performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed as of the date of preparation and approval.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position.  Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and all requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

The City of McKinney is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to an alcohol / drug free workplace and to providing equal opportunities regardless of age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.