Planning, Building & Zoning Director
Town of Surfside Beach
Salary: $80,269 – $113,983
This is a full-time permanent position responsible for providing land use planning services to citizens, business owners and developers to ensure the Town is developed in accordance with the Town’s Zoning Ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and other Town codes.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Serves as principal staff for monthly planning and zoning Board & Commission meetings: Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Tree Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. Prepares staff reports and presentations for Boards, Commissions and Town Council as needed.
- Attendance at Town Council meetings required.
- Reviewing and approving Board and Commission applications, building and zoning permits, business license applications, subdivision plats and development plans.
- Interprets and enforces provisions of applicable federal, state, and local laws, standards, policies and procedures related to planning and zoning; provides information and technical assistance concerning code requirements to the public and to boards and Town management; discusses problem areas with property owners, residents, and contractors; makes safety suggestions and recommends solutions to problems; responds to questions or complaints concerning zoning codes or code violations; conducts research associated with zoning code enforcement activities as needed.
- Researches and maintains current knowledge of state legislation and current case law pertaining to zoning issues; makes recommendations on changes or revisions to Zoning Ordinance; prepares and presents amendments to Zoning Ordinance.
- Communicates with department heads, Town officials, residents, property owners, businesses, developers, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of projects and applications, exchange information, or resolve conflicts.
- Serve as the Town’s zoning enforcement officer responding to complaints of violations, investigating possible infractions, and issuing municipal citations if necessary; interviewing witnesses and gathering information for the Town’s prosecuting attorney; prepares and collects data and evidence for court proceedings pertaining to zoning; testifies for in court regarding zoning matters and code violations.
- Reviews business license applications for compliance with zoning codes; consults code violators to resolve problems and correct code deficiencies. This includes updating applications, forms, reports, regular correspondence, code violation reports, compliance analysis or other documents.
- Develops and implements administrative procedures to provide greater accountability and better service to the public.
- Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals.
- Facilitates seminars and presentations for public; prepares and presents educational materials regarding code requirements and enforcement for the community.
- Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals, schedules workload for inspectors.
- Coordinates daily work activities: organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; confers with assigned staff, assists with complex/problem situations, and provides technical expertise; conducts and documents Board and Commission training sessions to satisfy annual requirements of the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC).
- Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new products, methods, trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
- Operates a personal computer, motor vehicle, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Qualifications / Education / Skills
- Bachelor’s degree (BA) required from a 4-year college or university in Planning or a related field and/or a minimum of ten (10) years of professional planning and zoning experience.
- A minimum of six (6) years of management experience with extensive knowledge in Planning, Zoning, and Floodplain Management
- Strong knowledge of SC planning and Land Use Regulations
- Must have knowledge of building codes and ordinances to ensure quality and safety of all structures and property: must have knowledge of planning and zoning within a town.
- Ability to work effectively with the public, fellow employees, other agencies, and departments.
- Must have excellent management skills: possess written and oral communication skills that include problem resolution and public speaking.
- Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as permit fees, interest, statistics, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, volume; ability to apply concepts of algebra and geometry.
- Computer skills to include Microsoft Office Suite, department related software, internet, and email.
- Ability to read and interpret contracts, correspondences, ordinances, resolutions, and proclamation documents.
- Must have ability to exercise independent judgement within the limits of the position and perform a variety of tasks simultaneously or in rapid succession.
- Successful completion of drug screen and various background investigations which may include criminal history, driving record, credit report, employment history, education verification and personal references.
Please visit the Town’s website for more details and to apply: https://www.surfsidebeach.org/FormCenter/Employment-8/Employment-Application-52
