Chief Planning Officer

Job Description:

Chief Planning Officer

Description

Pay Range: $133,992 - $186,000 annual compensation

Job Posting Closing on: Monday, February 10, 2025

To learn more about this opportunity review: Chief Planning Officer Brochure

Workdays & Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm; Some evening/weekend work required.

Benefits for this position include: 11 Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Pension Plan, Professional Development Opportunities, and much more.

The City of Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing large cities in the U.S. Our employees serve the needs of nearly 1,000,000 residents, promoting our values of exceptional customer experience, mutual respect, embracing our diversity, continuous improvement, ethical behavior, and accountability.

We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary leader to join our team as a newly created Chief Planning Officer to lead Planning Division of the Fort Worth Lab (FWLab), an initiative launched by City Manager David Cooke in February 2023 to enhance the City’s capacity to make data-driven policy decisions. The FWLab includes Long-Range Planning, Budget, Strategy & Performance and Data Analytics. The FWLab is dedicated to transforming our urban environment through innovative planning, forward-thinking greenspace initiatives, and long-term development strategies.

As the Chief Planning Officer, you will provide executive leadership for the Long-Range Planning Division that encompasses key areas such as comprehensive planning, area planning, Greenspace Initiatives, , Central City/Panther Island development, and work in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other spatial tools, driving the city’s strategic vision for sustainable growth and development. This position will have accountability for the planning, execution, and evaluation of complex, large-scale urban and environmental projects. This role demands a seasoned professional with significant experience in city planning, urban design, environmental sustainability, and senior-level management. The Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for setting strategic priorities, managing substantial budgets, and ensuring the successful execution of high-profile projects that shape the future of Fort Worth. The ideal candidate will have a passion for public service, a deep understanding of urban planning, and a proven ability to lead teams and drive strategic goals.

The Chief Planning Officer job responsibilities include:

• Lead and inspire a diverse team of senior managers and planners, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration. Provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and performance management to ensure divisional success.
• Partner with the Chief Transformation Officer and other executive leaders to define and execute the city’s long-term planning vision, ensuring alignment with Fort Worth’s broader goals for growth, sustainability, and community development.
• Oversee the financial health of the division, including multi-million-dollar budgets, resource allocation, and project prioritization. Lead operational improvements and cost-effective strategies to maximize the impact of divisional initiatives.
• Serve as the senior representative of the FWLab in interactions with elected officials, senior city leadership, government agencies, community organizations, and private-sector partners. Effectively manage relationships and resolve complex and sensitive issues.
• Provide expertise in urban planning and greenspace policies, ensuring adherence to federal, state, and local regulations. Lead the development and implementation of forward-thinking policies and procedures that enhance the city’s planning and development strategies.
• Direct large-scale, high-impact projects, from concept to completion, including long-term urban planning initiatives, sustainability efforts, and greenspace development. Ensure successful project delivery on time, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Transformation Officer and other senior leadership, providing data-driven insights and recommendations to address challenges, mitigate risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
• Prepare and present executive-level reports on divisional performance, financial status, and strategic initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public administration, urban or regional planning, landscape architecture, environmental studies, or related field
• Seven (7) years increasingly responsible experience in a city or municipal planning department or related field
• Three (3) years of administrative and supervisory experience
• Valid Texas driver's license
• Possession of a Certification as a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (“AICP”)

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in city or municipal planning, urban design, environmental planning, or related fields, with 5 years in a senior leadership or executive management role. Experience managing large, cross-functional teams and complex projects is essential.
• Additional certifications in urban design, environmental sustainability, or project management are a plus.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local planning regulations, financial management, and project management.
• Proven track record of leading large, diverse teams and driving results in a complex, fast-paced, and politically sensitive environment. Expertise in executive decision-making, strategic visioning, and organizational development.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas and policies to a variety of stakeholders, including elected officials, senior leadership, and the public. Ability to negotiate and resolve high-stakes issues.
• Deep knowledge of urban planning, sustainable development, greenspace initiatives, zoning regulations, and city policy development. Familiarity with data-driven planning tools and systems.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and lead cross-functional teams to achieve departmental goals.

Conditions of Employment

The City of Fort Worth is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is the policy and practice of the City to recruit, hire, train and promote a diverse workforce without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or another non-merit factor.

The City of Fort Worth is committed to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions.

Candidates who do not meet the Education requirement, may be considered if they have more relevant work experience than the position requires. Those selected for employment will be required to pass Pre-Employment checks depending on the position requirements. Those could include, but are not limited to: criminal background check, drug screen, education verification, etc. criminal convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Employees are paid by direct deposit only.