Planning Director



Job Details

Planning Director

This listing closes on 7/11/2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada).

Employer

Carrboro, Town of (NC)

Salary

$110,000.00 - $130,444.00 Annually

Location

Carrboro Town Hall

Job Type

Full-Time

Department

Planning, Zoning, and Inspections

Opening Date

05/20/2025

Closing Date

7/11/2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

FLSA

Exempt

General Definition and Conditions of Work

The Town of Carrboro seeks an experienced and highly efficient Planning Director to lead and manage its Planning Department. This role involves complex professional and administrative work in planning, directing, coordinating, and supervising planning, zoning, the Town's building permitting, minimum housing, and inspection programs (, services, and staff. The Planning Director oversees long-range and current planning activities including floodplain and watershed management, Town Engineering/Development Plan Review, Geographic Information Services, administers the department budget, and ensures effective implementation of programs and policies.

The ideal candidate will provide:

  • Technical expertise to advisory boards, commissions, elected officials, and community organizations, 
  • Formulate, and recommend policies, and 
  • Represent the Town with local and regional agencies. 

This role operates under the direction of the Assistant Town Manager with full supervision of department personnel either directly or through subordinate supervisors. 
The position may require work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, or during emergency situations.

Physical Requirements
  • Occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force. 
  • Regular activities: speaking, hearing, using hands to handle or feel, and sitting. 
  • Frequent activities: reaching, standing, and walking. 
  • Occasional activities: climbing, balancing, kneeling, and crawling. 
  • Visual acuity is required for reading maps, charts, and written data, operating computers, and observing interior and exterior conditions of land areas and infrastructure, construction sites, and buildings, performing inspection work. 
  • Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions. 
Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Essential Functions

  • Department Oversight:
    • Administers, plans, organizes, direct, and enforce all Planning Department programs, including zoning, subdivision regulations, watershed protection, flood control, hazard mitigation, and transportation. 
    • Supervises, directs, and evaluates department staff, including hiring, scheduling, training, and performance management. 
    • Prepares and implements annual planning work programs and department budgets, including managing consultant contracts. 
    • Coordinates development review with internal and external review partners. 
  • Policy Administration:
    • Administers and enforces laws, rules, ordinances, and policies related to planning and zoning; interprets ordinances and issues permits. 
    • Coordinates with the Assistant Town Manager on long-term planning and zoning-related projects and manages long-range planning efforts, including land use, transportation, and open space. 
    • Manages updates to the Land Use Ordinance and prepares amendments to ordinances as needed. 
  • Public and Regional Engagement:
    • Oversees preparation of data, staff reports, and recommendations for Town Council, advisory boards, and other committees. 
    • Conducts public outreach and community education on planning and zoning issues. 
    • Represents the Town at local, regional, and community meetings. 
  • Specialized Responsibilities:
    • Serves as Floodplain Manager and ensures the Town’s eligibility in the National Flood Insurance program. 
    • Serves as Watershed Administrator and ensures the Town's compliance with local and State regulations associated with watershed management/protection. 
    • Coordinates with regional agencies on joint programs, grants, and environmental initiatives. 
  • Major Initiatives
    • Unified Development Ordinance Rewrite: Lead the initiative to update and streamline the Town’s zoning and development regulations to promote sustainability, equity, and growth management.
    • Downtown Area Plan Creation: Oversee the creation of a comprehensive downtown development plan that balances economic growth with preserving Carrboro’s unique character.
    • Comprehensive Plan Initiatives: Lead and contribute to long-term planning initiatives that guide the Town’s growth and development over the next decade.
    • Transportation and Greenway Projects: Oversee transportation and greenway development projects to improve mobility, sustainability, and quality of life for residents.


Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, Geography, or a related field. Masters degree preferred.
  • Minimum of seven years of experience in planning or land use, including a minimum of four years’ experience in positions with progressive responsibility up to and including senior-level position, budget administration, and supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • AICP certification required.   Certified Zoning Officer (CZO), is desired, and certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification is obtainable within 6 months of employment 
Special Certifications and Licenses
  • Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license with an acceptable driving history. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Extensive knowledge of advanced principles and practices of planning, including rural, regional, and urban planning. Comprehensive understanding of demographics, economics, finance, environmental conditions and regulations, community engagement and equity, and transportation and mobility as they apply to planning. Familiarity with code and building inspection processes, recent developments in planning, and principles of urban design and civil engineering as related to planning. 
  • Strong ability in data analysis, presenting technical reports, and making recommendations based on trends and findings. Proficient knowledge of GIS and general office software to support data-driven decision-making and enhance departmental functions.
  • Ability to develop goals and priorities, cast a clear vision for the department, and educate staff both within the department and across the organization on the value and significance of the department’s roles. Skilled in creating a working environment that encourages curiosity, explores opportunities for improvement, and embraces change.
  • Ability to establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Town leadership, other municipal departments, local, regional and state agencies, elected officials, and community organizations. Foster trust and transparency with residents, businesses, and stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and inclusivity in decision-making processes.
  • Ability to continuously seek and implement innovative solutions to improve departmental processes and enhance overall effectiveness. Skilled in promoting a culture of efficiency by streamlining workflows, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring timely service delivery. Demonstrated capacity to encourage staff development and foster an environment that values continuous improvement, creativity, and effective problem-solving.

Disclaimer

CARRBORO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Town of Carrboro considers applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their skills, dedication and service, to the diversity and excellence of our organization.

The Town of Carrboro offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to all permenant employees.

View a summary of our benefits here!

Health Insurance

The Town provides a group medical insurance including family coverage through our medical provider, Aetna. The Town pays the cost of employee only coverage and shares the costs of adding family members (including domestic partners) to the town plan. Health insurance is effective the first day of of the month following new hire's start date. 

Dental Insurance

Dental insurance is an optional benefit administered through our dental provider, Aetna. Dental coverage is paid for by the employee. Coverage for eligible dependents is also available.

Vision Insurance

Vision insurance is a benefit offered through our vision provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Vision coverage is paid for by the Town. Coverage for eligible dependents is also available.

Flexible Spending Account

An optional benefit offered through our provider, Flex. Eligible health and dependent care expenses can be paid for with pre-tax dollars allocated onto a Visa card.

Paid Time Off

  • Annual Leave: Permenant full-time employees earn between 12 and 26 days per year depending upon years of service. Permenant part-time employees accrue a prorated amount of leave based on hours worked. 
  • Sick Leave: Permenant full-time employees accrue at a rate of one day per month of service or twelve days per calendar year. Shift employees of the Fire-Rescue Department earn sick leave at the rate of five, twenty-four hour tour-of-duty days per calendar year. Permenant part-time employees accrue a prorated amount of leave based on hours worked. 
  • Paid-Time Off: Permenant full-time employees recieve three (3) days (36 hours for Fire-Rescue personnel) per calendar year of time to be used as needed. Time is pro-rated to employee's start date. Permenant part-time employees accrue a prorated amount of leave based on hours worked.
  • Paid Caregiver Leave: Qualifying employees receive 240 hours of Paid Caregiver Leave to care for an immediate family member including birth or placement of a child in the home for adoption or foster care. This leave does not come from employee's leave bank.
  • Paid Holidays: There are 12 official Town holidays.  Employees in full or permenant part-time positions are eligible for paid holiday time.

Local Government Retirement System

All employees in permenant full- or part-time position are required to contribute to the retirement system. Contributions are taken on a pre-tax basis. The current contribution amount is 6%. 

Supplemental Retirement Plan

The Town makes a contribution of 5% for law enforcement officers and 3% for all other employees to town sponsored 401(k) administered through Empower. NO employee match is required, however, employees have the option of making contributions on a pre- or post-tax basis.   

Disability and Life Insurance

  • Town Paid: The Town covers both long term disability and life/AD&D insurance for permenant employees. 
  • Employee Paid: Employees have the option of enrolling in short-term disability and purchaing supplemental life and dependent life insurance at their own expense.

Employee Assistance Program

Employees and their dependents eligible to recieve free and confidential 24/7 counseling through the Town's Employee Assistance Program. 

Additional Benefits

  • Service Level Benefit payment based on years of service beginning year zero (0) of permenant full-time employment. Paid in December before holidays each year. 
  • O2 Fitness membership paid for by the Town. 
  • Credit Union: Employees of the Town of Carrboro are eligible to open accounts at the Local Government Federal Credit Union.
  • Tuition assistance is available upon completion of the initial probationary period.

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The information provided in your application must support your selected answers in the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be verified and documentation may be required. Please be as honest and accurate as possible. You may be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during an interview. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is accurate. Any misstatements, omissions, or falsification of information may eliminate you from consideration or result in dismissal.
  • Yes, I understand and agree
  • No, I do not agree

* Required Question

Employer
Carrboro, Town of (NC)
Website
https://www.carrboronc.gov
Address
301 W Main St

Carrboro, North Carolina, 27510

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