Director of Planning and Community Development

The Village of Arlington Heights is seeking its next Director of Planning & Community Development to lead a team of professionals in a fast-paced department. With the goal of building a community of lasting value, the Director of Planning & Community Development will be responsible for supervising planning staff, overseeing comprehensive planning, redevelopment, and Tax Increment Financing areas. The Director of Planning & Community Development will work with Village officials, developers, business leaders, and the public. The new Director of Planning & Community Development will have the opportunity to work on exciting development and re-development projects that will shape the community for decades to come.

About the Village of Arlington Heights

The Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois is a vibrant community located 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Arlington Heights is one of the largest Chicago suburbs and one of the most desirable places to live in the Chicago area. More than 77,000 people are proud to call the Village of Arlington Heights home. Arlington Heights is a family-oriented community where residents feel a sense of pride. Over 9 in 10 residents favorably rated the overall quality of life in Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights as a place to live, and as a place to raise children (National Community Survey, 2023).

Why Join our Team? 

The Village of Arlington Heights offers competitive pay, opportunities for professional development, and a diverse and competitive benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid vacation, and participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension plan. The salary range for this position is $135,395 - $196,323, with an anticipated hiring range beginning at $160,000 plus, depending on qualifications and experience. Hybrid work arrangements for this role are available. Residency in Arlington Heights is not required for this position. 

About the Position

This position is available due to the upcoming retirement of the current Director. The Director of Planning & Community Development oversees development review, community development, economic development, redevelopment, housing, transportation, public facility planning, and urban design and beautification. As the Director of Planning & Community Department, you will play a pivotal role in planning and directing all functions and operations of the department. Reporting to the Village Manager, the Director will supervise and coordinate the workflow of department staff and set departmental goals. The Director of Planning & Community Development oversees a department of 11 full-time professionals. The Department’s budget for 2024 exceeds $13 million. The person in this role must be available to attend evening Board and commission meetings on a regular basis.

Key responsibilities of the Director will include:

• Managing large complex projects, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, recommending funding levels and ensuring compliance
• Speaking to and engaging with the public, elected officials, and media, on high visibility projects
• Working with other Village department directors to facilitate smooth and coordinated Village approvals
• Working proactively with residents and members of the development and business communities to find creative solutions to problems and continually improve the development review process
• Overseeing capital improvement projects such as downtown beautification efforts
• Directing housing programs, including managing an affordable housing trust fund and inclusionary housing ordinance
• Coordinating the development review process, analyzing and recommending approval or denial of projects, and overseeing zoning administration compliance
• Negotiating, analyzing, and implementing complex redevelopment agreements to create public- private partnerships
• Overseeing comprehensive planning and redevelopment
• Acting as a liaison to boards and commissions, advising the Village Manager and other officials on planning matters
• Supervising staff performance and providing strategic direction for the department

Ideal Candidate 

The ideal candidate for this position will possess:

• expert level knowledge of planning, zoning, and development review
• strong public speaking skills to effectively present topics to the Village Board and the community
• the ability to mentor and motivate a team
• a Master of Science degree in Urban Planning with AICP accreditation
• over ten years of experience in planning and municipal management
• a demonstrated track record of strong leadership and supervisory skills
• experience with financial analysis to negotiate with developers on behalf of the Village
• excellent interpersonal skills
• strong knowledge of development review processes, ordinances and regulations related to planning and zoning
• the ability to be a team player and work effectively within a decentralized multi-department review process

Above all, the ideal candidate will have a commitment to professionalism and integrity and a dedication to serving the Village of Arlington Heights with excellence.  

Join Our Team

If you are an experienced community development planner and are ready to take on this exciting challenge, apply today!

If interested in this opportunity, please apply on the Village of Arlington Heights website as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Please include a detailed cover letter and resume outlining your qualifications and experience and at least three professional references. 

For more information about this position, please reach out to Beth Cooper, HR Generalist (847-368-5155, bcooper@vah.com) or Kelly Livingston, Director of Human Resources (847-368-5152, klivingston@vah.com).

For more information about the Village of Arlington Heights, visit our website at www.vah.com or visit www.vah.com/careers to apply.

The Village of Arlington Heights is an equal opportunity employer and strives to be a welcoming and inclusive place for all, improving how we recruit, empower, and retain the most diverse and very best talent, ensuring careers in public service will continue to attract the brightest for coming generations.

Any offer of employment is conditional upon passing a background and pre-employment drug screen.