Arlington Heights, IL – Director of Planning & Community Development

The Village is seeking its next Director of Planning & Community Development to lead a team of professionals in a fast-paced department. With the goal of building a community of lasting value, the Director of Planning & Community Development will be responsible for supervising planning staff, overseeing comprehensive planning, redevelopment, and Tax Increment Financing areas. The Director of Planning & Community Development will work with Village officials, developers, business leaders, and the public. The new Director of Planning & Community Development will have the opportunity to work on exciting development and re-development projects that will shape the community for decades to come.

About the Village of Arlington Heights 
The Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois is a vibrant community located 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Arlington Heights is one of the largest Chicago suburbs and one of the most desirable places to live in the Chicago area. More than 77,000 people are proud to call the Village of Arlington Heights home. Arlington Heights is a family-oriented community where residents feel a sense of pride. Over 9 in 10 residents favorably rated the overall quality of life in Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights as a place to live, and as a place to raise children (National Community Survey, 2023).

The Village of Arlington Heights employs more than 400 people who provide excellent service to the residents of this community. 90% of Village residents recently rated the customer service they received from the Village of Arlington Heights as good or excellent (National Community Survey, 2023).

Arlington Heights is served by two Metra commuter rail stations, connecting it to downtown Chicago in under 45 minutes. Arlington Heights’ walkable downtown area is a thriving mixed-use district and offers residents more than 40 one-of a kind restaurants, shops, and venues for entertainment. In the warmer months, residents enjoy Alington Alfresco, four blocks of pedestrian-only outdoor dining and shopping in the downtown area.

Arlington Heights has a diverse economy with over 37,000 private sector jobs from 3,000 businesses, and is home to major employers such as Northwest Community Healthcare and the United Airlines Operations Center. The Village has four active Tax Increment Financing Districts with multiple redevelopment agreements currently in negotiation or implementation stages. The Village is also home to the 326-acre former Arlington International Racetrack property, which has the potential to be one of the biggest redevelopment projects in the State of Illinois.

Why Join our Team?  
The Village of Arlington Heights offers competitive pay, opportunities for professional development, and a diverse and competitive benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid vacation, and participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension plan.

The salary range for this position is $135,395 – $196,323, with an anticipated hiring range of $160,000-$170,000+/- depending on qualifications and experience. Hybrid work arrangements for this role are available. Residency in Arlington Heights is not required for this position.

About the Position 
This position is available due to the upcoming retirement of the current Director. The Director will be responsible for overseeing complex planning and community development projects to ensure the health, safety, and economic well-being of residents of the Village of Arlington Heights. The Director of Planning & Community Development oversees development review, community development, economic development, redevelopment, housing, transportation, public facility planning, and urban design and beautification. Among other initiatives, the Department is focused on several large redevelopment projects, gateway enhancement projects and overseeing several TIF districts.

The Planning & Community Development department prides itself on providing a pro-business environment while maintaining a superior quality of life and ensuring development is balanced and meets the needs of Arlington Heights residents. The department also oversees business development in the community with a dedicated staff member focused on attraction and retention of local businesses. Additionally, the Village administers a zero-interest loan program, to encourage small business growth.  A Village of Arlington Heights’ affordable housing ordinance helps to ensure access to safe and affordable housing options and ensure that the Village is well-rounded and economically diverse.

As the Director of Planning & Community Department, you will play a pivotal role in planning and directing all functions and operations of the department. Reporting to the Village Manager, the Director will supervise and coordinate the workflow of department staff and set departmental goals. The Director of Planning & Community Development oversees a department of 11 full-time professionals. The Department’s budget for 2024 exceeds $13 million.

The person in this role must be available to attend evening Board and commission meetings on a regular basis.

Key responsibilities of the Director will include:

• Managing large complex projects, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, recommending funding levels and ensuring compliance
• Speaking to and engaging with the public, elected officials, and media, on high visibility projects
• Working with other Village department directors to facilitate smooth and coordinated Village approvals
• Working proactively with residents and members of the development and business communities to find creative solutions to problems and continually improve the development review process
• Overseeing capital improvement projects such as downtown beautification efforts
• Directing housing programs, including managing an affordable housing trust fund and inclusionary housing ordinance
• Coordinating the development review process, analyzing and recommending approval or denial of projects, and overseeing zoning administration compliance
• Negotiating, analyzing, and implementing complex redevelopment agreements to create public- private partnerships
• Overseeing comprehensive planning and redevelopment
• Acting as a liaison to boards and commissions, advising the Village Manager and other officials on planning matters
• Supervising staff performance and providing strategic direction for the department

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for this position will possess:

• expert level knowledge of planning, zoning, and development review
• strong public speaking skills to effectively present topics to the Village Board and the community
• the ability to mentor and motivate a team
• a Master of Science degree in Urban Planning with AICP accreditation
• over ten years of experience in planning and municipal management
• a demonstrated track record of strong leadership and supervisory skills
• experience with financial analysis to negotiate with developers on behalf of the Village
• excellent interpersonal skills
• strong knowledge of development review processes, ordinances and regulations related to planning and zoning
• the ability to be a team player and work effectively within a decentralized multi-department review process

Above all, the ideal candidate will have a commitment to professionalism and integrity and a dedication to serving the Village of Arlington Heights with excellence.

Join Our Team 

If you are an experienced community development planner and are ready to take on this exciting challenge, apply today!

Apply on the Village of Arlington Heights website by Monday, August 12th at 5:00 p.m. This position is open until filled, however, the first review of applications will take place on that date. Please include a detailed cover letter and resume outlining your qualifications and experience and at least three professional references.

For more information about this position, please reach out to Beth Cooper, HR Generalist (847-368-5155, bcooper@vah.com) or Kelly Livingston, Director of Human Resources (847-368-5152, klivingston@vah.com).

For more information about the Village of Arlington Heights, visit our website at www.vah.com or visit www.vah.com/careers to apply.

For more information, contact:

Kelly Livingston
klivingston@vah.com
847-368-5152