A planning director is in charge of a planning department, which is a government agency that oversees development in a region or municipality. Nonprofit organizations working on specific development agendas, such as groups interested in increasing the number of walking and bike paths in a city, can also include planning departments. In both cases, the planning director is in charge of developing and implementing a master plan, which serves as a long-term development goal, as well as managing the department’s staff, establishing a meeting and event schedule, and meeting with regional political leaders.
Planning departments are in charge of evaluating large and small development proposals to see if they meet the city’s needs and goals. The planning director leads a team of planners who are in charge of reviewing planning applications, holding public meetings to hear public input on proposed activities, and deciding whether or not to approve them. The planning director may meet with developers to discuss ways to improve their proposals and may also meet with politicians to discuss planning-related legislation with the goal of maintaining a consistent vision for planning in the area.
Planning directors typically hire and fire staff in their departments, and they must ensure that people are properly trained and supervised for the job. They must also be able to collaborate with other city departments and officials, ranging from the public works department to the mayor. To complete planning agendas, a planning director must be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
Experience in the field of planning is usually required, and a bachelor’s degree can be beneficial. Most planning directors have three to five years of experience in various aspects of planning before applying for jobs as directors, and most have degrees in some area of urban planning or related fields. When the head of planning retires, some people are recruited from within the department, while others may apply from outside the area and relocate if an appealing position is offered.
Planning directors’ salaries are determined by their qualifications, experience, and the region in which they work. The salary usually includes access to city benefits such as retirement accounts, health care, and other services. By comparing job offers or arguing that their qualifications entitle them to more than is currently being offered, people may be able to negotiate better pay.