Deputy Director of Land Development

This classification is scheduled to receive a 5% COLA effective July 2026.

FLSA:

Exempt

DEFINITION

Under general direction, the incumbent is responsible to coordinate and direct the work in the department's Land Development Division and provide overall direction, coordination, supervision and evaluation of divisional units including floodplain management, land development, surveying, special districts, county service areas, storm water plan development, the County's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program, related grant program activities, and coordination with local agencies and commissions. Serves as the County's Floodplain Administrator.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives administrative direction for the Assistant Director of Public Works or designee. Exercises direct supervision over management, supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of supervision.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is a single incumbent, managerial level position assigned to the Land Development Division of the Public Works Department. The Deputy Director, Land Development Division plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the work of a division within the department. Incumbent operates with considerable autonomy and independent judgment and is responsible for the division's fiscal management, policy direction and establishing division performance goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Typical functions may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks. Develops, evaluates and implements divisional operating policies, procedures and standards to ensure successful accomplishment of activities, goals and objectives. Oversees the review process of discretionary land use applications for various land development proposals, projects, maps and calculations of a varying degree of difficulty. Manages and reviews complex and long-term planning projects, and determines the potential impact on the environment; assures avoidance of negative impacts. Manages staff; prioritizes and assigns tasks and projects; disciplines, trains, and evaluates staff; counsels, coaches, and instructs employees as required; develops staff skills and conducts performance evaluations. Provides support, direction, and coaching to staff in the areas of performance management, problem resolution, planning, and work assignments. Creates and implements changes to the Land Development Division's policies and procedures. Oversees and manages the review of plans, tract, parcel maps, and applications for land development projects for conformance to applicable codes, regulations, and ordinances. Develops conditions of approval, reviews and implements standards for the design and construction of facilities within the public right-of-way including streets, storm drains, sanitary sewers, water transmission lines, roadway structures, traffic safety and control devices, pedestrian bridges and pathways. Confers with the public, property owners, engineers, surveyors, attorneys, planners, and other public and private sector representatives on issues including analysis, studies, reports, project design, construction, maintenance, policies, standards, technical information and coordination of projects. Manages the Office of the County Surveyor by assuring that the checking and approval of records of survey, parcel maps, waiver of parcel maps, subdivision maps, lot line adjustment and certificates of merger are completed in compliance with regulations and conditions of approval. Manages the County's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Storm Water Permit and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program (NPDES) programs Acts as the County's Floodplain Administrator. Oversees and manages the county's flood control planning efforts; prepare reports and represent findings to meet federal and state compliance standards and provide information to the Board of Supervisors, commissions, community organizations and other representatives. Prepares reports, attends and makes presentations on behalf of the County at meetings of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and various local, regional, State, and Federal agencies. Serves on various County commissions and boards and provides liaison with watershed groups, professional associations, agencies, and groups. Processes pre-annexation agreements and applications for annexation for conformance with Public Works policies. Prepares and directs the preparation of grant and permit applications; pursues Federal and State grant funds and permits and ensures project compliance with grant or permit regulations. Participates in the development of the operating budget as it relates to the division; monitors and administers the adopted budget by analyzing cost effectiveness and directing cost control activities. Develops long-range planning for the division in the areas of staffing, consultants, contract management, materials/supplies; presents, justifies and defends programs, operations and activities; monitors and approves expenditures of the division. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

Management and personnel administration methods, techniques, and policies. Principles and practices of complex project management. Principles of land use planning, regulations, and strategic planning. Principles of environmental review and the

CEQA/NEPA

process. Principals of floodplain management including knowledge of FEMA mapping concepts, tools and processes, and NFIP fundamentals, DWR concepts and programs Principals of stormwater permitting including MS4. Principals of hydrology, drainage systems, watershed processes, and pollutant-loading concepts. Principals of erosion and sediment control. Principals of water qualify sampling techniques, field monitoring methods and laboratory coordination. Principals of emergency management and mitigation Principles and practices of administrative management, including budgeting, financial management, effective employee supervision and training. Federal, State, and County policies, procedures, codes, and ordinances. Occupational Safety and Health Rules and Regulations. Customer services and public relations methods and practices. Engineering principles and standards associated with surveying, drafting and the design of streets, utilities, traffic, flood hazard development review and other public works improvements. Requirements of the Subdivision Map Act. Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff. The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability To:

Plan, direct, manage and coordinate the work of the Land Development Division. Develop division activities, goals and objectives, create program evaluation tools and evaluate the effectiveness of the division. Apply theories, principles and procedures in the area of assignment. Analyze complex land development projects. Coordinate with various local, regional, State, and Federal agencies; as well as County departments, including Development Services, Environmental Health, and Water and Resource Conservation. Review and respond to various planning-level documents, including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, general plan amendments, specific plan review, etc. Manage the review of floodplain reports. Act as the County's Floodplain Administrator. Supervise and evaluating staff, directly and through multiple levels of supervision. Manage multiple tasks, often with competing deadlines. Making effective presentations to individuals and groups. Apply sound principles and techniques to evaluate and solve simple to difficult land development problems. Conduct comprehensive studies and prepare reports with recommendations. Assist in, develop, and administer contracts and agreements for professional services and construction in a public agency setting. Prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, project specifications, legal descriptions, and other written materials. Establish and maintain a variety of filing, recordkeeping, and tracking systems. Perform detailed analysis of designs, specifications, and plans. Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed. Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals. Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow-up on assignments. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines. Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks. Develop and implement public information programs for a variety of projects. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax. Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training, experience and educational degrees that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Substitutions will be made on a year for year basis. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, urban development, engineering, environmental science, business administration, public administration, or a related field; and Six (6) years of professional experience related to land development, including three (3) years of supervisor or management experience.

Certifications and Licenses:

Must possess a valid US driver's license upon date of application. Must obtain California driver's license following hire date per California DMV regulations. Must possess or obtain within one year of appointment a Floodplain Manager Certification from the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Must possess or obtain within one year of appointment a Stormwater Managers Certification from the American Public Works Association.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

When assigned to an office environment: Mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and visit various County sites; primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required; occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information; ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds. Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen. Hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.

When assigned to field inspection:

Mobility to work in changing site conditions; to sit, stand and walk on level, uneven or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various County sites. Strength and stamina to perform light to medium physical work; lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 50 pounds. In all cases of heavier weights, proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff will be used. Vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress. Fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed primarily in an indoor environment. Office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Also includes field work with exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, chemicals, dust, fumes, and allergens, vermin, insects, and parasites, mechanical and/or electrical hazards and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. May be exposed to dangerous machinery, potential physical harm, extreme weather conditions and infectious diseases.

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS UTILIZED

Equipment utilized includes personal computer, fax machine, standard office equipment, County vehicle, total station, laser level, measuring devices, and plotters. Disaster Service Worker All Butte County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.