Job Details

Duties:      

• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.
• Promotes and maintains positive and effective working relationships through collaboration with other political and organization entities by providing synergistic public relationships as a representative of Licking County Government.
• Provides leadership in the development of long-term sustainable growth strategies.
• Ensures work assignments are complete, provides training and evaluates employee performance; receives and resolves employee issues according to established guidelines; approves timesheets and leave requests; issues corrective action as necessary. In coordination with the Planning Commission, interviews and hires candidates for employment. Actively involved in employee and/or labor relations.  
• Resolves more complex problems that arise due to department activities (internal and external). Works on projects involving Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS), Planning, Economic Development and Annexation activities. Receives inquiries, applications and/or complaints from the public and officials concerning areas under the Planning Division; obtains relevant data and prepares answers or resolutions to the inquiries and/or complaints; and ensures resolution.
• Reviews documentation and status reports for future actions; reviews staff reports (e.g., project status, violations, grant status, etc.); oversees a variety of planning activities (e.g., zoning resolutions; subdivision regulations; subdivision applications and lot splits; land use plans, comprehensive plans, area studies; etc.).
• Develops and manages the Planning & Development Division budget. Recommends contracts/agreements to the Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners for review /acceptance.
• Oversees various state and federally funded Community Development projects; assists in and / or develops new community development programs and projects; supervises and assigns the preparation of grant applications to state or federal agencies; monitors project time frames; conducts on-site inspection of community development projects to ensure that all phases of the project meet the established guidelines and constraints as determined by the grant or project plans.
• Performs a variety of administrative functions to ensure efficient operation of the division; formulates/recommends, implements and administers new and revised policies and procedures; prepares reports and presentations.    
• Serves as the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), as LCPC Director, and as a member of the Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS) Technical Advisory Committee.
• Complies with and promotes the Licking County Board of County Commissioners, Licking County Planning Commission, Licking County Area Transportation Study, and the Licking County Planning and Development Department policies and procedures at all times.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to the essential functions of the position and all agency safety procedures.
• Remains informed of current developments and procedures pertinent to duties; may be required to attend seminars/training.

Summary:

Provides leadership and direction for overall operations of planning. Ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to Planning. Acts as a visionary and identifies issues and recommends plans of action to improve and enhance the quality of life for the inhabitants of Licking County on behalf of the Planning Commission and the Licking County Board of Commissioners.

Reporting Relationship:

This position reports to the Licking County Planning Commission (LCPC) through the Chair Person of the LCPC. This position has a “dotted line” responsibility to the Licking County Board of County Commissioners. The position will operate under the administrative policies and procedures of the Licking County Board of County Commissioners but serves at the pleasure of the LCPC.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from a four-year college or university; and six (6) to eight (8) years related experience and/or training; a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s Degree in a related field is preferred.

Additional Qualifications (Agency/Dept. Qualifications):

Valid Ohio Driver’s License and American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) Certification.

Application Procedures: Submit completed application, resume and cover letter (including salary requirements) to the Licking County Human Resources Department, 20 South Second Street, 3^rd Floor, Newark, Ohio 43055. Applications can be obtained in person in the Human Resources Department between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily or printed from the web site at www.lcounty.com. Successful candidates will be subject to Licking County’s pre-employment drug screen and background check. Licking County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary:           Commensurate with Experience

Licking County Planning Commission (LCPC)(Ohio) is seeking candidates for the position of Planning Director. In addition to leadership of the Planning Department, the successful candidate will be the Executive Director of Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS, a federally recognized regional MPO), serve as the county (and several villages’) floodplain administrator and subdivision administrator. The Director may also serve as the Development Director through a memorandum of agreement between LCPC and the Licking County Board of Commissioners and thus have oversight of the Community Development Department.

Licking County is located in the fast growing Columbus Ohio Metro and is one of six counties bordering the State Capitol and Franklin County. It is a county of 170,000 and growing and is the third largest ‘land area’ county in Ohio. Licking County has a strong economy based on traditional manufacturing, the tech industry and agriculture which remains strong and is diversifying. The traditional industry includes Owens Corning Fiberglas with both their Research and Development Center in Granville and major manufacturing plant in Newark and other industries, large and small, in several industrial parks.

Recently, the community has gained a major Amazon Distribution Center in Etna Township and an Amazon data center in New Albany, and in recent weeks Facebook announced similar data center plans in western Licking County. Licking County benefits from having access to abundant and redundant electricity from the grid of American Electric Power and the regional electric supplier, the Energy Cooperative. The reshoring of businesses back to the United States is also found in this county.

The Licking County Seat is the centrally located City of Newark; and Newark is joined by the cities of Heath, Pataskala and parts of New Albany and Reynoldsburg. Villages include Granville (home to Denison University), Johnstown, Utica, Hartford, Buckeye Lake, Saint Louisville, Alexandria, Gratiot, Hebron, Kirkersville and Hanover. Newark is also the home of the Central Ohio Technical College and the Newark regional campus of the Ohio State University.

Among the challenges in the next decade is projected growth to 200,000 as part of the expanding Columbus Metro, which is the growth engine of Ohio. Transportation, utilities and public infrastructure remain projects to be coordinated with various other jurisdictions including at the state and federal level.

Licking County is seeking a certified and qualified leader, planner and manager who can discern, demonstrate sound judgment and extend the community’s plans to protect the past and better the future while balancing the interests and needs of a diverse population, business and residential interests.

The salary to be offered will be commensurate with certification, education, experience, planning skills and demonstrated leadership ability. We are looking for a solid citizen who is career oriented and looking to become an integral part of this growing and attractive community. Finally, we believe this Planning Directorship is a desirable career opportunity and we look forward to hearing from qualified candidates.

A career in public service with Licking County Government presents an opportunity to make a difference in the community. As Licking County’s second largest employer, we currently employ approximately 1,100 individuals, offering a variety of staff, managerial and professional positions in a wide range of career areas: information technology systems, human services, social services, criminology, law, planning, environmental sciences, recycling / litter prevention, safety, health and maintenance.

Candidates are encouraged to learn more by visiting the County website www.lcounty.com and specifically the County Planning and Development Division (https://www.lcounty.com/depts/planning/default.htm) as well as the websites for Grow Licking County (economic development) (http://www.growlickingcounty.org) and Explore Licking County (quality of life) (https://explorelc.org/) to learn more about Licking County Ohio.

Successful candidates will be subject to Licking County’s pre-employment drug screen.

Licking County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.