Manager of Community Planning and Development

Location: City and County of Denver Download: City and County of Denver - Manager of Community Planning and Development Brochure

The City and County of Denver is a world-class municipal government that is leading the way with innovative programs and forward-thinking initiatives such as Denver's Road Home, the City's 10 year plan to end homelessness and the Greenprint Initiative, an action agenda for sustainable development in Denver.

The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver, the capital of Colorado, is a consolidated city and county. It serves as the financial, transportation, and distribution center of the Rocky Mountain region. Denver is nicknamed the "Mile-High City" because its official elevation is exactly one mile or 5,280 feet above sea level. The 105th meridian west of Greenwich passes through Union Station and is the temporal reference for the Mountain Time Zone.

The Community:
The City of Denver is home to an active and historic downtown area with lofts and high-rise housing options, as well as tree-lined neighborhoods that also have historic roots.

A city of distinctive neighborhoods, Metro Denver's cost of living remains affordable. Living here is easier on your wallet than living in California or East Coast cities, as well as Chicago, Minneapolis or Portland.

Colorado's focus on low taxes, coupled with the region's high household incomes, has kept the region's cost of living at or near the national average. Metro Denver ranks slightly above the national average for cost of living, but well below many other major cities.

Culture:
Culture abounds and thrives in metro Denver-a place for energetic minds. The area's diverse population supports culture through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique regional funding system for venues such as The Denver Performing Arts Complex and the Denver Art Museum. Each year, the SCFD distributes millions of dollars in tax funds to local arts and culture organizations.

Sports:
Metro Denver is truly a "sports city," with the fans and facilities to prove it. In the past 15 years, new facilities have been constructed for the area's major sports franchises. More than six million fans attend sporting events in the area each year.

Denver is home to seven professional sports teams and hosts some of the world's top sporting events, such as the 2005 NCAA Final Four, the 2005 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship, and the 2008 NCAA Frozen Four Hockey Tournament.

Shopping:
There are 13 major shopping centers (500,000 square feet or larger) and numerous shopping districts located throughout the area, with several new projects planned. Downtown Denver's 16th Street Mall is a popular tourist attraction; the 16-block pedestrian and transitway serves as downtown Denver's retail core and includes the Denver Pavilions.

Parks:
The City of Denver has the largest public parks system of any city in the United States. Thousands of acres of open space dot the area, allowing citizens to hike, bike and snowshoe right outside their backyards. The spectacular Rocky Mountains, with their world-class ski resorts and scenery, are only minutes away.

Climate:
The Metro Denver area is situated on the high plains at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Moderate temperatures, low levels of humidity and abundant sunshine provide an ideal climate for year-round activities.

Government:
A non-partisan elected mayor, auditor, and 13-member city council govern Denver. Nine main departments carry out the functions of city government. All elected officials have four-year terms, with a maximum of three terms.

Community Planning and Development Department:
The mission of the Community Planning and Development Department is to guide and promote the planning, building and maintenance of an outstanding Denver.

Vision Statement:
Denver's Manager of Community Planning and Development will continue to lead the public discourse regarding the implementation of the policies and politics embodied within Blueprint Denver and the new Zoning Code; employing physically, fiscally and environmentally sustainable systems to fully realize Denver's human, natural and economic opportunities. The candidate will have a proven ability to successfully advocate and integrate bold 21st Century infrastructure, linking public investment in streets, sidewalks, storm and wastewater systems with civic and private investment.

Community Planning and Development: The Opportunities
From Mayor Speer and the City Beautiful Movement at the turn of the last century to recent administrations' emphasis on urban living, parks, and transportation connections, Denver has a great story to tell; we truly are the land of opportunity and our city's short and midterm possibilities will be transformational and set new standards for best practices. From our downtown and close-in urban neighborhoods, like the redevelopment of the Arapahoe Square Neighborhood, to the many transit-oriented development nodes throughout Denver, a new sense of urban place making will continue to transform our urban landscape. Denver's understanding of land use and transportation will create new housing, affordable and market rate, as well as mixed use projects.

Community Planning and Development's primary functions work in concert to improve Denver's built environment.

Planning is responsible for preparing plans and regulatory tools to guide Denver's future growth, enhancement and preservation.

Permitting provides services for home improvements and commercial development, including building and zoning permits.

Inspection provides construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections, as well as neighborhood zoning inspections.

Facts:

Community Planning & Development ("CPD") formed as a department by vote of the people in 2002
CPD is one of ten cabinet-level departments
Manager of CPD is appointed by and reports to the Mayor
Development Services ("DS") formed as a program by Executive Order in 2009
DS is a sub-cabinet position and resides within the CPD departmental structure
Director of Development Services is appointed by and reports to the Mayor
Total staff CPD/DS: 184 (est.) w/ a budget approaching $15.8 million (2012 figures)

Position:
The Manager of Community Planning and Development is an appointed, cabinet level position in one of the most vibrant cities in the United States. Denver has provided and will continue to provide world class planning. We are now focused on the implementation of existing plans, creating jobs and economic impact and producing great urban spaces and places. The Manager of Community Planning and Development ("CPD Manager") must possess the skills to accomplish the implementation of these plans. The CPD Manager should have a planning and/or architectural background with real world development experience. It is critically important that the CPD Manager have an understanding of the risks and factors involved in the development process in order to truly facilitate and partner with quality developers on quality projects. A diverse and deep experience base will help the CPD Manager understand the complicated mix of influences and pressures on quality development.

Any candidate for the position should also be able to set high standards for development and creativity while recognizing and appreciating the difficulty and complexity of the development process.

The Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible administrative and managerial experience in providing direction and supervision of planning department programs and operations. The ideal candidate will possess a record of accomplishment and success in economic development and land use planning. This individual should also have experience with urban development and redevelopment and be well versed in managing the challenges that may occur in both areas. Experience with light rail/Transit Oriented Development (TOD) will be beneficial. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of current trends, issues and strategies that affect and influence all aspects of economic and community development. The successful candidate will demonstrate innovative thinking that promotes an environmentally sustainable future and understand the current concepts of conservation and sustainable development.

The ideal candidate should be able to get up to speed quickly with the Denver design, construction, development, political and neighborhood communities and have the ability to communicate effectively with the wide range of constituents in these areas. This individual should be an advocate for Denver in representing our community and the vast opportunities that are available here for development and place making, both within the city and the broader Front Range as a key regional partner. The ideal candidate should have skills to continue to drive forward job creating developments, for example new R & D facilities. The ideal candidate should have management experience to direct the staff of CPD toward the goals of our city and of Mayor Hancock, hold CPD staff accountable for achieving the city's goals and be able to partner with economic development efforts to create intentional place-based development.

The ideal candidate must be able to adhere to the highest ethical and moral standards and be able to display transparency. The successful candidate must be able to set a positive example of competence, professionalism, energy and work ethic to the organization and community. Advanced written and oral communication skills are imperative for this position.

Education and Experience:
Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college with major coursework in public administration, urban planning, architecture or a related field. A combination of education and experience will be taken into consideration when reviewing applicants. An American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) designation is preferred.

Salary:
This position is an appointed cabinet level position within Mayor Hancock's Administration and the salary is set by statute at $133, 562.

How to Apply:
Applicants should forward a cover letter and resume to:

resumes@affionpublic.com
Reference: DENVER

Affion Public
20 North 2nd Street, Suite 200
Harrisburg, PA 17101
888.321.4922
Fax: 717-214-2205
www.affionpublic.com

*Deadline to receive resumes: June 18, 2012

Posted: 03/22/2022