Salary : $93,720.00 - $140,592.00 Annually
Location : McMinnville, OR
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY2025-00158
Department: Community Development
Division: Planning
Opening Date: 09/24/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Summary
The City of McMinnville is looking for a Planning Manager. This is a new position that will be responsible for leading the Planning Division. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both current and long-range planning, as well as staff management, program development and leadership. Our Planning Department is responsible for both near-term and long-range planning initiatives to ensure McMinnville grows mindfully, maintaining its small-town charm while responding to growth in a measured and responsible way. The City of McMinnville is in the midst of planning for the development of a recently amended urban growth boundary by updating all of our public facility plans and adopting area plans for the expansion areas prior to annexation, as well as implementing a much-needed Housing Production Strategy to address our current housing deficiencies especially for affordable and workforce housing, updating our Downtown Master Plan, and implementing a Natural Resources and Natural Hazards planning program. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to make meaningful impact in an award-winning community leading a planning program with a dedicated tight-knit team of planning staff and permit technicians. The Planning Manager will report to the Community Development Director.
The Planning Manager leads planning staff and performs advanced and complicated professional planning and assists the Community Development Director with the development of the planning program. This position reviews, advises, and evaluates land use permits, community and regional planning projects, area planning, urban design, and land use code improvements. The Planning Manager works with and advises numerous internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to building and engineering staff, Community Development Department leadership, Department Heads, and the City Council. This position is responsible for implementation of policies and procedures for planning programs and ordinances. The Planning Manager also recommends city policies related to land use planning and compliance, to the Community Development Director and City Manager and has supervisory responsibility for the Planning Division. This position acts as backup to the Community Development Director when required.
In addition to a cover letter and resume, please submit a copy of a staff report and a decision document as attachments.
This recruitment will remain open until filled with a first review of application on Thursday , October 31st.
Essential Job Functions
Planning Program Oversight

1. Manages daily functions of the City's Planning Division; organizes and directs all activities related to the management of the division.
2. Manages department activities and workload with other departments and agencies as needed.
3. Manages developing work plans and project schedules for assigned projects and coordinating activities of other professionals to accomplish a variety of planning and management projects.
4. Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for decision-making purposes.
5. Prepares, negotiates, administers, and monitors contractual agreements for planning projects, including reviewing grant programs and other sources of funding, drafting applications for grants or other sources of funding, and interviewing and managing planning consultants for various planning projects.
6. Prepares reports for review by department and City management indicating how State and regional goals, policies, and regulations affect the City, including suggesting appropriate courses of action.
7. Acts as the staff liaison to the Planning Commission and various other commissions and committees, including City Council, as needed and assigned.
8. Prepares planning reports and supporting data, including recommendations on various land use proposals. Includes presentations to City Council.
9. Identifies grant opportunities & grant application components.

Supervision

1. Manages, coordinates, and supervises the work of direct reports.
2. Interviews and recommends hiring, disciplinary, and termination actions.
3. Establishes department goals, priorities, and metrics in alignment with the city's goals and objectives.
4. Establishes individual performance expectations and objectives for direct reports.
5. Selects, supports, and motivates staff.
6. Provides and coordinates staff training and supports professional development goals.
7. Oversees workplace safety programs and policies.
8. Conducts performance review meetings and produces written performance evaluation documents.
9. Provides coaching for performance improvement and takes appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination, to address performance deficiencies.

Current Planning

1. Evaluates land use applications and site plans for compliance with applicable local, state or Federal laws.
2. Manages land use applications through the approval process, prepares reports and related data as required, and conducts inspections.
3. Ensures that the City is meeting all applicable deadlines.
4. Coordinates application review as necessary with internal and external partners.
5. Reviews all final land-use decisions for quality control and compliance.

Long-Range Planning

1. Develops short- and long-range plans; gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations.
2. Conducts and oversees research and drafts revisions, amendments, and additions to City comprehensive and community plans and codes, including implementing work programs, collecting relevant information, and presenting proposed amendments at City Council, boards, commissions, and public meetings.
3. Drafts City land use ordinances and Community Development policies, including obtaining input through public involvement, making revisions as necessary, performing research and analysis, and presenting findings and resolutions.
4. Manages long-range work plan maintaining deadlines.
5. Oversees public engagement programs for long-range planning striving for diversity, equity and inclusivity.

Customer Service

1. Interprets, explains, and applies state, regional, and city planning policies or development codes to the public, including answering complex planning policy and zoning questions upon request.
2. Provides guidance on land use applications, ordinances, codes, plans and related planning programs, services or regulations to architects, engineers, developers, contractors, owners, community groups and interested persons.

GENERAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other agencies, and the public.
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the classification.
• Participate in committees when requested.
• Maintain proficiency in job requirements which may include attending training and meetings, reading materials, and meeting with others in areas of responsibility, which may require travel.
• Maintain work areas in a clean and orderly manner.
• Maintain confidentiality, data integrity, and comply with all related city, state, and federal standards related to confidentiality.

Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS :
Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties as described. A typical way to qualify would be an advanced degree in land-use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture or another closely related field and at least eight (8) years of municipal planning experience, which should include at least four (4) years of supervisory experience. This position also requires:
Knowledge of:

• The principles and practices of urban, community development and natural resource planning.
• The mathematical and statistical analytical methods and techniques applied to planning.

Skill and Ability to:

• Apply the principles and practices of urban, community development and natural resource planning for quality of life and economic development initiatives.
• Lead a project team and manage a project from concept to product delivery.
• Advise, assists, and participate in Planning Commission hearings.
• Perform research, compile information, conduct analyses, and compose comprehensive and detailed administrative and community planning reports.
• Communicate orally and in writing complex ideas and information to a variety of audiences, in a clear, comprehensible, effective, and professional manner, including public speaking and planning, facilitating and leading public meetings.
• Develop and maintain productive, harmonious relationships with community groups, officials, other City departments, and the general public.
• Exemplify traits that reflect the City's culture, including integrity, a customer service orientation, cultural competency, trustworthiness, flexibility and a willingness to change.
• Apply computerized and non-computerized analytical methods and techniques to such information and data.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OR LICENSES :

• Driver's license valid in the State of Oregon.

Supplemental Information
WORKING CONDITIONS :
The position requires regular (80%+) ability to use dexterity and fine motor skills. Continuous (81% of the time) use of office equipment. The position requires some (20-40%) physical effort such as lifting, carrying, or movement, etc. Movements required to complete work require continual speed, agility, hand eye coordination and equipment operation. The work environment is well protected, with virtually no hazards or obstacles (0-5%). There is very little element of personal risk or hazard. Job conditions are usually stable, with virtually no (0-5%) issues of confinement, temperature change, incident of noise, or interactions of a disagreeable nature, inside/outside work, dirty conditions, exposure to contagious disease, etc. Driving is a regular responsibility for this position.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :
Responsible for the direct supervision of approximately 4 FTE employees.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED :
Works under the general direction of Community Development Director.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Required documents must be provided at the time of application. Please remove any personal information such as photographs, date of birth, gender, social security number, and other protected information from your documents. Documents containing protected information will be considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Finalists for this position will be subject to a computerized criminal history check, driving record check (if driving is required for position), and education/certification verification. Adverse background information will be reviewed and could result in withdrawal of a conditional job offer or termination of employment.
• The City of McMinnville does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.
• Positions are subject to budget consideration and approval. For the candidate who is hired into this position, salary placement will be based on guidelines in the handbook or association agreement (as applicable) to assess education and experience. For this reason, please be sure to include everything in your application that you want considered towards placement.

The City of McMinnville only accepts applications through our online application system at We want you to be successful in applying with us. We highly encourage you to complete and submit your application in advance of the deadline. For technical assistance, please call (855) 524-5627.
The City of McMinnville is an equal opportunity employer.
Applicants with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation (e.g., assistive listening devices)
to participate in the recruitment and/or selection process should contact Vicki Hedges, Human Resources Manager.
The City of McMinnville is proud to hire veterans.
Applicants are eligible to use Veteran's Preference in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230 and 408.235; and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Military personnel who expect to be honorably discharged from the military within 120 days of certifying veteran status on this job application, may also request preference. Preference will only be given if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the position and they electronically attach the required documentation at the time of application.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) - OR - Letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating a non-service connected pension. If you need to request a copy of your DD-214, click here.
• Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For information regarding Veteran's Preference qualifications, visit the following website:
The City of McMinnville prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at the City of McMinnville are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, age, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, ability, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state and federal law. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
The City of McMinnville offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health/dental/vision insurance, Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (HRA-VEBA,) Flexible Spending Account, life and long-term disability insurance (city-paid and supplemental,) paid holidays, floating holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, an Employee Assistance Program, 457(b) deferred compensation plans, and employer-paid participation in the State of (PERS.)
These benefits packages may vary between bargaining unit members (union) and general service (non-union) employees. McMinnville police officers are represented by and McMinnville firefighters are represented by the
Sick leave is available to all City of McMinnville employees, regardless of their classification.
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In addition to a cover letter and resume, please submit a copy of a staff report and a decision document as attachments.
Required Question