Development Services Division Manager #2204-233500-02

Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and is a leader in mobility investment that integrates land use with multi-modal transportation choices.

The City of Charlotte recently adopted an ambitious vision (the Charlotte Future 2040 Plan) and is actively developing several key initiatives to implement this plan including a complete update of our zoning and development ordinances into a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and a new Strategic Mobility Plan.

The Development Services Division Manager plays a major role in shaping Charlotte’s growth, our transportation networks and positioning our city for continued success. This is a senior level division manager position that reports directly to the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) Directors Office. This position manages the Development Services Division and is a member of CDOT’s leadership team.

The Development Services Division Manager is responsible for overseeing all of CDOT’s regulatory functions, organized into two Sections: Land Development and Right-of-Way Management. The responsibilities of the Division include a wide variety of activities that affect city streets, including rezoning, subdivision, commercial plan review, traffic impact studies, special events/pilots (parades, runs, dockless bike share, e-scooters), utility permitting, encroachments, right-of-way abandonment, right-of-way leasing, and numerous other programs intended to accommodate Charlotte’s rapid growth and to provide vitality on city streets.

Key Management & Leadership Responsibilities:

1.       Managing all resources in the Division to successfully implement CDOT’s permitting and regulatory functions.

2.       Serve as CDOT’s liaison to the land development industry and to other agencies involved in permitting activities.

3.       Provides leadership in the planning, direction, and management of work of staff responsible for varying aspects of traffic and transportation engineering. Trains, motivates and evaluates staff performance.

4.       Hiring and developing staff within the Division to effectively deliver services to customers.

5.       Oversees the preparation of operating and budget requests; the review of expenditures, the preparation and direction of plans, specifications, studies, reports, and contracts. Executes approved budgets.

6.       Developing new policies as needed in order to effectively manage the City’s Right-of-Way and adapt to new trends in urban street design and development.

7.       Leads CDOT’s implementation of the Unified Development Ordinance and associated Streets Manual including the city-wide Streets Map and Comprehensive Transportation Review (CTR) Guidelines.

8.       Provides leadership involved in responding to claims against the city.  Responds to interrogatories, provides depositions and affidavits, and testifies when subpoenaed.

9.       Provides leadership for the review and approval of traffic and transportation engineering plans and designs and for conferences with contractors and consultants and for the inspection of construction activities.

10.    Provides leadership in resolving complex problems with developers, consultants, permit applicants, and City staff; maintains a work culture of de-escalating and resolving interpersonal conflicts.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1.       Supporting the work of the Land Development Section Manager and the Right-of-Way Section Manager by resolving complex issues, communicating important items with the CDOT Director’s Office, and communicating with City Council and citizens on various development and right-of-way management-related issues.

2.       Works with the Land Development Section Manager to represent CDOT effectively in the rezoning process by ensuring high quality staff review and analysis and by addressing Council questions during City Council Rezoning meetings.

3.       Coordinates activities with other departments and outside agencies, including NCDOT, General Services, and the Planning Department. Maintains a culture of inclusivity and collaboration towards staff from other divisions and departments in the decision-making process for projects and policy development.

4.       Provides high level communication within the city organization, including regular briefings to the Transportation Director, periodic briefings to the City Manager’s Office and preparation of Council-Manager memoranda and reports.

5.       Develops strategies to gain CDOT customer input on an on-going and immediate basis for issues that must be resolved quickly.

6.       Ensures that staff review and prepare for approval, reimbursement agreements between the City and NCDOT for public/private partnerships.

7.       Serves as moderator or participant on various teams, ad hoc committees and council sponsored committees.

8.       Performs other duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of the private land development process, development review and approval, traffic impact studies, modern traffic/transportation engineering and planning methods and techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of traffic engineering, planning and multi-modal roadway design, and ability to make decisions considering various public objectives. 
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Act as a public advocate while enforcing good transportation planning, design and engineering standards for safety, and accommodation of all right-of-way users.
•  Requires strong interpersonal skills in communication, leadership, decision-making and innovation. 
•  Knowledge of the principles and problems involved in planning, managing employees and resources, and financing traffic/transportation engineering programs and projects. 
•  Knowledge of intergovernmental laws and procedures relating to traffic engineering and transportation planning. 
• Knowledge of municipal government administration and the corresponding role of municipal transportation. 
• Ability to prepare and analyze complex data. 
• Ability to prepare, review, approve, and implement recommendations to transportation engineering problems. 
•  Ability to exhibit good customer service skills. 
•  Ability to facilitate and provide leadership for staff, committees and citizen groups.
• Ability to communicate with strong interpersonal skills such as tact, active listening, respect and calmness. 
•  Ability to act as a visionary leader, build consensus, empower employees, be flexible and manage conflict as well as meet deadlines.
•  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships by being proactive and diplomatic with other city employees, outside agencies and general public both verbally and in writing.
•  Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects. 
•  Ability to serve as a departmental “expert witness.”

• Preferred 10 years minimum of an advanced level of experience in traffic/transportation engineering, transportation planning, administration, facilitation, customer service, problem solving, and management.
• PE or AICP Certification strongly preferred.

• Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering or transportation planning with an emphasis on traffic or transportation engineering or planning and seven (7) years of relevant work experience
• Master's Degree with five (5) years of relevant work experience
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, an abilities to successfully perform the essential job duties

• $95,743.73 - $119,680.00 / Year; Commensurate with experience

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

As of October 1, 2021:

The City of Charlotte requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for any new City of Charlotte employees.

The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such, will consider reasonable accommodations as required by law.

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