Planning & Development Director

Job Description

Job Description

The Town of Johnstown, Colorado is actively hiring a new Planning & Development Director to be part of our dynamic and passionate team. The ideal candidate will have a strong connection to our organizational guiding principles : Teamwork, Innovation, Integrity, Communication, and Service Excellence. Strategically located along the Front Range and adjacent to the I-25 corridor, Johnstown is a rapidly growing community of more than 20,000 people. A strong blend of both residential and commercial identifies the Town as it continues to grow and develop in Northern Colorado.

About the Planning & Development Department : The Director oversees the Planning Department and Building Division which consists of 5.5 FTE’s – Planning Staff, GIS services, a Building Permit Technician, and a shared Administrative Assistant. Building inspections are also administered by the Planning Department through a 3rd party contract. The position is open until filled and a first review of applicants is expected by November 19. Currently under construction is the new Development Services Building which will house both the Planning and Engineering Departments to establish a single location for development in the community and will ensure the needs of both current and future residents and businesses. This facility is expected to be completed by late April / early May 2026. The FY 2025 Planning & Development Department budget is $1.2MM with an increase proposed to $1.86MM. The increase is associated with various community focused planning projects and the addition of one employee in the department.

Ideal Candidate : The selected Planning & Development Director will possess a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and strong experience of planning disciplines, including an AICP certification. This will include a robust background in strategic planning, budget management, and planning projects. Management of a team of similar size and composition is expected and essential to the job.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Town Management, Town Council, department heads, local, state, federal agencies, stakeholders, and within the community to ensure that a common vision is enacted and supported.

The ideal candidate will be a professional leader who has the capacity and interest to be an effective mentor and inspires staff to achieve excellence. Effective communication along with strong collaboration and team building skills will be necessary for this individual to be successful. Advanced written and oral communication skills are imperative.

Qualifications and Experience : Requires a minimum of 5 years of increasing experience in the leadership, direction and project management of planning and development. Experience as a Planning Director is preferred. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in urban planning, political science, or a closely related field is desired. Master’s Degree desired. AICP Certification is also highly desired.

The application deadline and first review of the applicants will begin on November 19, 2025.

To be considered, please submit your resume and a cover letter to the official posting at : johnstownco.gov / employment.

Expected starting salary : $138,090 - $169,161 DOQ. The Town of Johnstown provides generous benefits including vacation, holiday, sick time, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plan contributions, and health savings accounts.

The Town of Johnstown is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection be based on job-related factors.

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.