Planning Director Position Available In Orange, North Carolina

Planning Director
Town of Carrboro, NC 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.
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.