San Miguel County
Planning Director Profile
San Miguel County

Located in spectacular southwest Colorado, San Miguel County (pop. 8,082, 1,289 sq. mi.) has stunning scenic beauty and a rich, colorful history. From the dramatic San Juan Mountains and Telluride's world-class skiing in the east to the mesas, farms, and high-desert ranches to the west, the county is geographically and socio-economically diverse, a state and national treasure.

Public lands (U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) account for about 64% of all land within the county. The San Miguel River flows from the mountains east of Telluride and gives the county its name. Sheltered in an iconic box canyon, Telluride (elev. 8,750 ft.), the county seat, started as a mining town and reinvented itself as a world-class ski destination. Its close neighbor, Mountain Village, is seven miles or a free 13-minute gondola ride away.

The mountain hamlet of Ophir is ten miles to the south. Heading down valley to the west, one finds the communities of Sawpit and Placerville. To the northwest, high mountain peaks yield to Wright's Mesa and Norwood, where ranching and farming predominate. San Miguel County runs all the way to the Utah border, where residents tend to prefer the individual freedoms and relative solitude of the traditional American West.

The lands that now make up San Miguel County were once home to Ute tribes, explored by the Spanish, and later settled by miners, farmers, and homesteaders. Today, residents and visitors are attracted to the area's majestic scenery, abundant recreational amenities, cultural events and relaxed lifestyle. Even though its location is remote and its winters long, the county boasts of exceptional schools, abundant cultural arts and entertainment opportunities, and overall hospitality.

The Position

The Director of Planning leads, directs, and manages the development review process, Planning Commission procedures, and other planning activities to guide development within the unincorporated county through positive community engagement. Leading a small team, the Director must prioritize the work of the Department to ensure development proposals are reviewed in a timely, transparent, and balanced process while proactively managing updates to the County's land use regulations and Comprehensive Plan.

The Director provides strategic leadership to connect long-range planning with public and private development efforts in support of a vibrant and sustainable community. Through the development and implementation of a strategic work plan, the Director and planning team must work to address the County's priorities through their thoughtful leadership, policy development and practice.

The Planning Director will report to the Deputy County Manager. The Planning Director and their team work closely with applicants and the public, Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission, Building Department, Road and Bridge Department, Environmental Health and other stakeholders to improve processes and procedures to balance development opportunities with community desires as indicated within the master plans and other county planning documents.

Requirements for this position include a Bachelor's degree in Planning, or a closely related field, from an accredited college or university and eight years' management-level experience in community development or a related field, including five years of supervisory experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. American Institute of Certified Planners designation is preferred. Candidates should have experience working within, or demonstrate strong familiarity with the Council-Manager form of government. Successful candidates will also have a proven record of leadership, fiscal stewardship, innovation, and relationship-building.

The Ideal Candidate

The next Planning Director is a confident, experienced local government planning professional with integrity, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to ethical public service. The Director must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of a senior local government planning professional, including specific expertise in land use planning, development, the quasi-judicial nature of land use approvals, open meetings, and public records.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, prepared, and proactive, always thinking and working ahead to serve the County and its constituents to balance land use changes. The preferred candidate has a strong foundation in the following practice areas: affordable housing (development, covenants, deed restrictions, etc.), contracts (including development agreements), and zoning code (drafting, interpretation, and enforcement), long-range/master planning, and others.

The successful candidate is approachable, diplomatic, and politically astute, but apolitical, with strong situational awareness. They are committed to providing the County with sound land use recommendations and options consistent with the County's policy priorities. The successful candidate demonstrates intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, resilience, sound judgment, and practical problem-solving skills. They are an active listener, who is positive, approachable, and collaborative. The ideal candidate is excited about living and working in San Miguel County as a lifestyle choice. They look forward to being a part of the positive, professional, and genuinely collegial culture here while advancing the abilities and processes within the Planning Department to be better every day.

Total Compensation and Schedule

San Miguel County offers a competitive starting salary range of $116,454 to $132,175 annually with placement potentially higher depending on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

Additionally, the county provides an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, supplemental life, long term disability, parental leave (after one year), down payment assistance (after two years), supplemental insurance options, flexible spending and an Employee Assistance Program.

Retirement benefits are through the Colorado Retirement Association and include a mandatory 401(a) plan (5% employee with 100% county match), 457(b) option (county match up to 1.5% after year 5). The position includes paid vacation and sick time (3.7 hours of each per pay period to start); 13 paid holidays, four personal days (32 hours), and opportunity for tuition and educational reimbursement.

Participation in regional, statewide and national planning organizations is encouraged and promoted for the Director and their staff.

Relocation assistance and potential availability of county-owned rental housing may be available and are subject to negotiation.

The proposed schedule for this position solicitation is as follows:

Schedule Dates

Application Deadline August 20, 2026

Preliminary Interviews September 3-4, 2026

Finalist Interviews September 10-11, 2026

All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the County

To apply, please submit an application with your resume and a cover letter online at: https://bit.ly/3Tfr0jk

For more information on this position, contact:

San Miguel County Human Resources

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 970-369-5471

San Miguel County
Job Posting

Planning Director

Department: Planning

Job Title: Planning Director

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Hiring Range: Grade 110 ($116,454 to $132,175 annually) with placement potentially higher depending on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

Location: Miramonte Building (Telluride, CO)

Employee housing may be an option to rent, depending on availability.

Position Summary

The Planning Director is responsible for the leadership of the Planning Department. The Planning Director develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, and procedures related to community development and in support of the Board of County Commissioners' objectives. The Planning Director directs and manages planning and administrative work, and is involved in conducting short and long-range planning activities, land use code administration, engineering development review, and implementation of housing programs.

The position will report directly to the County Manager and will be classified at a Grade 110.As a full-time position, the Planning Director is eligible for all County-sponsored insurance and benefit plans as summarized in the SMC Summary of Benefits, subject to applicable waiting periods.

The position will be primarily based out of the County's Miramonte Building, in Telluride, Colorado.

Supervision Received: Receives supervision from the Deputy County Manager, although the Planning Director must be capable of exercising wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to critical situations and assignments; also receives general direction from the County Manager.

Supervision Exercised: The Planning Director is responsible for the efficient and effective operation of the Planning Department including direct supervision, training, and evaluation of assigned staff. The position is responsible for providing excellent service to the general public and the County's internal customers, including but not limited to all County employees, Directors, Department Heads, and Elected Officials.

Job Description

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other nonessential or peripheral duties that may be required. San Miguel County retains the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time.

Tasks, Duties, and Responsibilities Include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assumes full management responsibility for all Planning Department services and activities including both long range and administrative planning efforts. The Planning Director administers planning policies and procedures as prioritized by the Board of Commissioners and other senior leadership; analyzes County needs and develops planning recommendations and projects to fulfill these needs.
• Represents the Planning Department to other County departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; coordinates Planning Department activities with various departments, agencies, and municipalities.
• Explains and upholds Land Use Codes, Planning Department and County policies and decisions and negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
• Management and development of department budgets and coordination and participation with other budgetary efforts for planning, community development, housing and other associated areas.
• Researches and conducts planning studies on a broad range of topics; conducts surveys; prepares special planning reports for boards and commissions.
• Supervises the preparation, updating, and evaluation of subdivision standards and zoning ordinances; prepares amendments to the Land Use Code.
• Discusses, reviews, and analyzes subdivisions and related land use applications with the general public, developers, regional governments, boards, and commissions.
• Develops long-range planning studies and comprehensive plans; develops programs to implement long-range plans.
• Develops policies and procedures to guide boards, commission staff, and developers.
• Oversees and manages outside consulting contracts including the County Engineer and other contractors.
• Participates in the development and administration of the County's housing programs and services.
• Directs the preparation of reports and materials for presentation to boards and commissions and the Board of Commissioners for regular planning, housing and other activities.
• Analyzes and monitors Federal, State, and regional plans, rules and laws related to land use within the County.
• Oversees wetlands and flood plain permitting and administration.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of local government planning with specific knowledge of County planning.
• Knowledge of the economic, geographic, and demographic factors involved in community development.
• Knowledge of County, Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations relating to planning, zoning, subdivision of land, and environmental protection.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration.
• Ability to be a leader, to plan, to organize, and to direct the work of staff, colleagues, contractors and other personnel.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with employees, colleagues, public officials, other agencies, developers, and the public.
• Possesses strong reasoning and analytical skills; able to make rational decisions through sound logical and deductive reasoning processes.
• Is ethical, honest, truthful, positive, and trustworthy and possesses a high degree of personal integrity; adheres to the principles and rules of practice and behavior found in the AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
• Possesses an extremely high level of attention to detail; is extremely organized and possesses the ability to manage multiple tasks and reprioritize workflow and assignments as work situations and needs change; can deliver effecti