<p>The Town of Ashland is seeking qualified applicants for the Director of Planning & Economic Development. Join our team as the Director of Planning and Economic Development, where you'll play a pivotal role in guiding the future of our town. Reporting to the Assistant Town Manager of Community Development and Community Affairs, youll lead a talented planning team in crafting and executing innovative land use strategies, development plans, and community policies. From shaping long-range visions to tackling current planning challenges, this is your chance to make a lasting impact on how our community grows and thrives.</p> <p>Annual Salary: $120,000 - $130,000</p> <p>ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS</p> <p>Planning</p> <ul> <li> <p>Manages and supervises planning operations to achieve goals using available resources.</p> </li><li> <p>Provides leadership and direction in the development of short and long-range plans.</p> </li><li> <p>Gathers, interprets and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinated department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.</p> </li><li> <p>Provides professional planning and land use advice, including presentations, to planning board members, other public officials and the general public;</p> </li><li> <p>Evaluates land use proposals for conformity with established plans and bylaws.</p> </li><li> <p>Evaluates land use proposals to ensure compliance with applicable Town, State or Federal laws.</p> </li><li> <p>Resolves complex and sensitive customer service issues for residents, developers and the general public.</p> </li><li> <p>Serves as a liaison to various local and regional staff committees on behalf of the Planning Board.</p> </li><li> <p>Negotiates, coordinates and manages planning consultant contracts, including engineering plan review, construction inspection and public infrastructure reviews.</p> </li><li> <p>Reviews various permits and plans/proposals within scope of authority and responsibility.</p> </li></ul> <p>Economic Development</p> <ul> <li> <p>Plans and implements economic development initiatives to include administration of the Business Incentive Program for the Town of Ashland</p> </li><li> <p>Serves as liaison to the Economic Development Advisory Group</p> </li><li> <p>Responsible for updating and managing business databases as well as tracking systems for new business leads.</p> </li><li> <p>Provides leadership and vision for long range planning of community Development to include permitting services, comprehensive plan, and economic development.</p> </li><li> <p>Provide technical assistance, research services, and conduct economic development studies concerned with encouraging economic development in accordance with Town policies.</p> </li><li> <p>Identify economic development opportunities and assess the impact of these opportunities on the Town and the potential revenue which will be generated for the Town.</p> </li><li> <p>Work with the local business community to support growth and participate in the local and regional business organizations.</p> </li><li> <p>Prepare website information and updates to include the annual budget for the Economic Development Department.</p> </li></ul> <p>SUPERVISION RECEIVED</p> <p>Under administrative direction from the Assistant Town Manager, the incumbent works from municipal policies goals and objectives; establishes short-range plans and objectives, Town performance standards and assumes direct accountability for department results; consults with the Community Development team and Assistant Town Manager where clarification, interpretation, or exception to municipal policy may be required or as requested by the Community Development team, Assistant Town Manager, Town Manager and the Planning Board.</p> <p>The incumbent participates in the development of departmental policies, goals, objectives and budgets and is expected to resolve all conflicts, which arise and coordinate with others as necessary. Results of work are normally accepted for technical accuracy. Federal, State and local laws and regulations relating to this work must be observed and followed.</p> <p>SUPERVISION EXERCISED</p> <p>Employee, as a regular and continuing part of the job, is accountable for the quality and quantity of work done by subordinates, including the Assistant Town Planner, architects and engineers, and assures the accomplishment of the assigned work in the prescribed manner. Supervisory functions typically consist of most of the following: plans, schedules and coordinates work operations to meet schedules, deadlines and priorities; revises work schedules to meet changes in workload or availability of manpower; recommends and justifies to higher levels of management changes in the organization of work, work methods or assignment of functions to positions that may affect staffing patterns, costs, work standards, etc.; assigns work based on varying capabilities of employees; assures that completed work meets the required standard of quality, timeliness and cost, taking corrective actions as necessary, including rejecting the work; gives advice and instruction on both administrative and work matters; informs subordinates of organizational policies, goals and procedures, has substantial responsibility for technical soundness of subordinates work.</p> <p>EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE</p> <p>Bachelors degree in land use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture or a closely related field with five years of experience; Masters degree preferred; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification preferred.</p> <p>Must have a valid Massachusetts Drivers license.</p> <p>KNOWLEDGE ABILITY AND SKILL</p> <p>Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of the legal and procedural aspects of planning, zoning and other land use regulations. Working knowledge of personal computers, GIS applications, and OpenGov online permitting system.</p> <p>Abilities: Ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records relating to licenses, permits, maps, blueprints, overlay, and sketches pertinent to urban planning and development programs and projects; ability to deal appropriately with external clients of the department, Town employees, Town officials and other state and federal governmental agencies. Ability to manage multiple tasks in a detailed and effective manner in accordance with time constraints.</p> <p>Skill: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Proficient data processing skills. Excellent personnel management skills. Skill in the area of drafting and designing.</p>