Executive Director, Boone County Planning Commission

The Executive Director position performs complex administrative duties and offers professional expertise to the Boone County Planning Commission staff, the Boone County Fiscal Court, and the cities of Florence, Union, Walton. The Boone County Planning Commission is seeking a candidate who is a strong leader, has experience meeting with stakeholders, and ensuring the Commission maintains the history, culture, and values of Boone County. Boone County, Kentucky has a population of 147,142 and is located on the northernmost border of the Commonwealth across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. The county and three incorporated cities offer a diverse and growing economic base including manufacturing, logistics, retail, tourism and many other industries. Essential Job Duties: Knowledge: • Extensive knowledge of planning principles, practices, and current trends affecting community development, land use, economic development, historic preservation, and the protection of cultural, agricultural, and natural resources. • Knowledge of local, state, and federal land use, zoning, subdivision, and related regulatory frameworks, including methods for evaluating and updating regulations and plans to ensure effectiveness, fairness, and legal compliance. • Knowledge of economics, finance, budgeting, and sociology as related to community planning and development. • Understanding of civil and transportation engineering principles applicable to planning, zoning, and subdivision design. • Knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications and technologies used in planning and development activities. • Knowledge of public administration, organizational management, and professional leadership practices. • Knowledge of budget development, financial management, auditing requirements, and governmental reporting processes. • Knowledge of stakeholder engagement strategies and public communication practices. Skills: • Proven experience leading a joint city-county planning commission or similar public planning organization. • Experience developing and implementing long-range and short-range planning initiatives that support sustainable growth and economic development. • Skill in providing technical guidance and professional expertise on complex planning, zoning, subdivision, and community development issues. • Skill in managing departmental operations, personnel, consultant contracts, and professional service providers, including legal counsel and engineering firms. • Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams of 15 or more employees, contractors, and professional partners. • Skill in budget preparation, administration, and oversight of budgets exceeding $2.5 million. • Experience working with governing boards and elected officials, including preparing recommendations, reports, presentations, and organizational updates. • Skill in recruiting, hiring, developing, and evaluating professional staff while promoting continuous learning and professional growth. • Proficiency in facilitating public meetings, hearings, committee meetings, and stakeholder discussions. • Experience serving as a public-facing representative, including media relations, public presentations, and oversight of agency communications, websites, and social media platforms. • Skill in coordinating activities with partner agencies, utility providers, school districts, transportation entities, public safety agencies, and other community stakeholders. • Experience managing planning, zoning, subdivision review, historic preservation, urban forestry, GIS, and related community development programs. Abilities: • Ability to provide confident and effective leadership that fosters collaboration, accountability, customer service, and employee development. • Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, initiative, and technical expertise in resolving complex planning and zoning issues. • Ability to interpret, analyze, and present technical, legal, financial, and statistical information to diverse audiences. • Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with employees, elected officials, partner agencies, developers, business leaders, community organizations, and the public. • Ability to represent the organization professionally at community meetings, civic events, public hearings, and other forums. • Ability to promote transparency through regular communication regarding planning, zoning, and community development activities. • Ability to oversee operational functions, including fee administration, audits, regulatory compliance, and board support services. • Ability to effectively supervise, motivate, and manage professional and administrative staff while ensuring high-quality service delivery. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A Bachelor's degree in Urban or Community Planning or related field and a minimum of 12 years of progressive work experience in land use planning, preferable in growth management as well as demonstrated work experience in zoning. A Master's degree in planning or related field from an accredited college or university is a plus, along with actual supervisory and budgeting experience. AICP certification is desired.