The Town of Ithaca, NY is seeking a Director of Planning to lead and manage the Planning Department. The Director will work under the broad policy guidance of the Town Board. The ideal candidate must be a dynamic, visionary leader who can bring together the various elements of the community and the leadership of the Town in order to meet a broad spectrum of community needs, including guiding growth and change in the town to support and enhance the character of the community and its natural and built environment. They must have the ability to articulate and promote the Town’s commitment to sustainable development and build successful partnerships, both internally and with the community, to ensure that a common vision is enacted and supported.
The successful candidate will possess a record of accomplishment and creativity in land use planning and community development including being knowledgeable of traditional neighborhood development and form-based code. Knowledge of current trends, issues and strategies that affect and influence all aspects of land use planning and community development is essential. This person should understand current concepts of conservation and sustainable development and demonstrate innovative thinking that promotes an environmentally sustainable future. This person will have the ability to work both internally and with the community to complete an update of the Town Zoning Ordinance.
In addition, the ideal candidate will possess a proven ability to lead, mentor and motivate the talented several person planning team and provide a strategy for success. The position is a competitive civil service position that requires a minimum of a Master’s degree in planning, landscape architecture, or related field, and four years of experience in municipal, community or regional planning, two of which must have been in a supervisory position; or a Bachelor’s degree and five years’ of planning experience.
The Town of Ithaca is located at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in central New York, and is the home of Ithaca College and Cornell University. The Town is a suburban area that surrounds the urban core of the City of Ithaca. The Ithaca area includes many beautiful natural areas such as Buttermilk Falls State Park, Treman State Park and Marina, Taughannock Falls State Park and Cayuga Lake.
Salary range: $104,124 with annual increases and excellent benefits like Health insurance or buy out, dental, life insurance, NYS retirement, Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, as well as generous personal, vacation, sick and compensatory time.
Additional employment information: This is a provisional appointment, meaning the successful applicant will need to take a civil service examination in the future. Writing samples may be requested. The Planning Department is a close knit, well experience group of individuals who strive every day to make the Town a better place to live, work and play.
Apply: Please upload a resume and cover letter when submitting the online application at: https://www.tompkinscivilservice.org/civilservice/apply/7598
For more information about the Town visit www.town.ithaca.ny.us, contact Judy Drake, Human Resources Manager at 607-273-1721 x 115 or email Jdrake@town.ithaca.ny.us
The Town of Ithaca is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is striving to diversify our workforce.
