Salary: $84,282.00 - $105,566.00 AnnuallyLocation : Goochland, VAJob Type: Full-TimeJob Number: 202400196Department: Community DevelopmentOpening Date: 12/13/2024Closing Date: 1/10/2025 11:00 PM EasternFLSA: ExemptGoochland County is located in the heart of Central Virginia. Just over 289 square miles of rural countryside, our County is home to just over 26,000 residents and is ideally located within a short drive to beaches or mountain tops. We have great proximity to major cities including Charlottesville and Richmond. Our quality of life is unsurpassed, and our active community welcomes one and all. A community rich in history, the Goochland County Courthouse is widely considered to be the most well-maintained Jeffersonian courthouse in Virginia. Goochland County is the smallest county in the United States to have earned the highest rating from all three credit rating agencies which reflects the County's exceptional financial resilience and is home to an award-winning public-school system. Description This position oversees the Planning Department which manages the long-range planning efforts, and current land development processes. The position supervises Planning and Zoning staff and provides staff support to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Design Review Committee. Essential Functions
- Lead and manage Planning Department staff engaged in professional planning activities such as Comprehensive Planning, Development Review and Zoning Administration.
- Deliver public presentations on community development, planning and zoning matters.
- Inform the public of planning programs and activities.
- Recommends,implementsandinterpretspolicies,procedures,andprograms.
- Draft County ordinances relating to planning and zoning.
- Prepare and present data and reports to the County Administrator, Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission.
- Participate in the coordination of planning activities with citizens, attorneys, engineers, agency heads, and other officials of local, regional, state and federal governments.
- Attend meetings and hearings of boards, commissions and committees, serving as a technical and/or management advisor or participant and the lead for guidance in land use decisions and applications.
- Serve in various capacities on local and/or regional technical committees and boards as the representative for the County.
- Meet with individual citizens and with citizen groups regarding planning matters to elicit information for planning studies and plans.
- Manage comprehensive planning activities, including preparation of special studies as well as periodic updates.
- Provide quality control/quality assurance reviews for planning work products including proposed comprehensive planning documents and staff reports to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for rezoning and conditional use permit applications.
- Represent the Planning Department at community meetings and provide information on County interests and processes to meeting attendees.
- Oversees processing of applications for rezonings, conditional use permits, and comprehensive plan amendments.
- Provides information on planning and land use policies in response to questions from Board and Commission members.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of Urban and Regional Planning including an understanding of the general legal framework of comprehensive planning and zoning.
- Thorough knowledge of various ordinances and codes, and regulations pertaining to planning, zoning and subdivision practices, required.
- Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing.
- Ability to compile and analyze technical and statistical information and prepare reports, plans, policies, ordinances, and other planning documents.
- Ability to prepare and present technical information clearly to large groups and the public.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional colleagues, employees, representatives of other public agencies, and the public.
- Ability to negotiate effectively.
- Ability to work as a team leader and team member.
- Ability to read and interpret site plans, conceptual plans, and subdivision plats.
- Ability to plan, organize, supervise, and carry out complex research projects and to present results effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
- Ability to supervise professional and technical personnel engaged in comprehensive planning and zoning work.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and professional piers, elected and appointed officials, registered professionals, legal professionals, and the general public.
- Thorough knowledge of various ordinances and codes, and regulations pertaining to planning, zoning and subdivision practices, required.
Education, Experience and Training
- Bachelor's degree, required. A master's degree in urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration, or other comparable graduate degree preferred. Membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners, or qualifications necessary for membership, and a willingness to apply and sit for the certification examination is required. Must have at least six (6) years previous related experience, to include three (3) years supervising professional staff, managing projects, or other combination of comparable work - OR - Any equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities is acceptable.
- Valid State of Virginia Driver's License with a driving record that meets HR Policy requirements.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:Work is sedentary work, which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Tasks may require the ability to walk or stand for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, the following physical abilities may be required: climbing, bending, reaching, handling, and grasping.WORK ENVIRONMENT:Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment, but would be expected to travel to various meeting settings and to visit sites of planned development, which may include outdoor environments with natural or undeveloped conditions throughout the seasons of the year. As part of employment with Goochland County, all employees are required to complete Emergency preparedness and incident management training courses as directed or requested.Goochland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, family medical history or genetic information, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state or local laws.Goochland County Government offers an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental and vision, vacation and sick leave as well as retirement benefits for all regular full-time employees. Goochland County participates in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) which requires a 5% mandatory contribution by employees.PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: As a prospective employee of Goochland County, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website atore information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at Please visit our web page for additional information.