Community Development Director

Benton County, Oregon, is seeking a strategic problem-solver who has a passion for public service, expertise in community development, and an aptitude for building relationships to join us as the Community Development Director!

JOB SUMMARY

The Community Development Director is responsible for the operations, strategic direction, and personnel of the Community Development Department. The department is comprised of the County’s land use planning, building permitting, code compliance, solid waste management, and water quality programs. The Director oversees policy initiatives and program development of assigned programs while ensuring program outcomes, advancement of Board of Commissioners priorities, and accountability to the public. This position is responsible for decisions that significantly impact individual property owners, environmental quality, and community livability.  Additionally, the Director will oversee the activities of both the County’s Planning Official and Building Official, to ensure compliance with state standards, rules, and regulations. This position collaborates and works closely with other County Directors in assuring delivery of integrated services. The Community Development Director is an at-will position and serves at the pleasure of the County Administrator and reports directly to the Assistant County Administrator.  

Community Development builds on a history of innovative programs and initiatives, and this position is critical in continuing that effort by leading key initiatives such as:

• Shifting from a solid waste management approach to one that focuses and prioritizes full life cycle materials management; 
• Evolving the code compliance program into a pro-active, community-based, problem-solving program; and 
• Re-evaluating and improving critical community development business and program functions to meet the needs of the community more efficiently and effectively.    

BENEFITS

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our employees and their families. Competitive benefits and an active employee wellness program are top priorities for the County. See the "Benefits" tab for details. 
• Annual salary range of:
  • $142,700.06 - $204,968.61
  • Note: salary placement will be based on your level of directly related experience and education consistent with Oregon's pay equity law.

 The strength of our organization lies in the diversity of our workforce and the perspectives our employees bring to their work at Benton County.

We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ community members. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in land use planning, geography, public administration, or a closely related field.; AND
• 7 years of experience in management, land use planning and/or building code regulation, including 5 years of experience supervising professional level (exempt) staff. (Supervisory experience includes the authority to hire, terminate, assign, reward, and discipline other employees.) 

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

This position requires driving and may require use of a personal vehicle. 

Special Requirements

• A cover letter is required to be submitted with your application. It should be no more than two pages in length and describe your experience related to the minimum qualifications listed above, as well as experience establishing and maintaining positive, professional, collaborative relationships with a variety of internal and external partners, stakeholders and community members.

Ideal Candidate
Benton County’s next Community Development Director will be an adaptable, strategic, service-oriented, unconditional team player, and an open communicator.  The ideal candidate must be collaborative, inclusive, consistent, fair, and thoughtful but decisive in decision-making and problem resolution as well as committed to stewardship of County resources.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess experience in many of the following areas:

• Certification from American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
• Strategic planning, program development and administration
• Municipal budget preparation and administration
• Economic development and small business development and retention
• Real estate finance and development
• Oregon Building Codes and Construction
• Pertinent Federal, State, and Local laws, codes, and regulations
• Significant knowledge of Oregon's land use planning system.
• Skill in public speaking.

Working & Living in Benton County
Established in 1847, nearly 12 years before Oregon became a state in 1859. Benton County (pop. 93,053; 679 sq. mi.) is in the middle of the Willamette Valley, with Corvallis (pop. 61,027) as the county seat. The County is the state’s fourth smallest in terms of area and medium-sized with respect to population. Corvallis is home to Oregon State University (OSU), the city’s largest employer. Most of the rest of the county is farm and forest land, reflecting a much treasured rural heritage.

The quality of life here is very high, a perfect blend of rural, urban, and small town living, with unlimited access to Oregon’s coveted outdoor lifestyle. Corvallis is dynamic, safe, and friendly, a thriving college town with many cultural offerings. Portland’s world-class urban amenities, major sports venues, and Portland International Airport are 90 minutes to the north, and Eugene and its airport are less than an hour south.

The area offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities year-round, with easy access to the mountains, ocean, rivers, streams, and wilderness. The Oregon Coast is an hour away. Corvallis is a gold-level Bike Friendly Community with bike lanes on 98 percent of the collector and arterial roadways and eighteen miles of multi-use paths. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Benton County as one of the top three healthiest counties in Oregon.