2026 Director of Planning

DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

City of Green, OH (pop. 27,299). The City of Green (Green, OH | Official Website) seeks candidates for the position Director of Planning. Located between Canton and Akron along 1-77, the City of Green retains its small-town feel, while growing as a full-service, retail, residential, and industrial center. An hour south of Cleveland, Green residents enjoy the attributes of a close-knit community with convenient highway and local airport access.

Named Best Hometown for 2025-2026 by Ohio Magazine, Green, OH is an affordable place to live with a cost of living slightly below the national average. Green Local Schools consistently perform well with a 4.5/5.0 overall Ohio School Report Card for 2024/2025. The City of Green is known for its balanced growth, excellent schools, expansive parks, family-friendly living, and fiscally conservative government.

The City operates by a strong Mayor-Council form of government with a City Council consisting of seven members elected on a non-partisan basis for a term of four years. The elected City Mayor has served 2.5 years of a 4-year term. All department heads, including the Director of Planning, are appointed by and directly report to the mayor. The city currently employs 150 people, mostly full-time.

About the Position

The Director of Planning is responsible for and oversees the efficient operation of the Department of Planning and its Zoning Division, including the implementation of the long-range plan to ensure orderly and well-managed growth within the City of Green. The Planning Department responsibilities are completed by a team of nine (9) employees reporting to this position which includes an assistant director, community development, economic development, planning, and zoning.

Key responsibilities:

· Oversee commercial and residential development in the city and ensure compliance with master plan, ordinances, and resolutions.

· Responsible for the proper application and enforcement of zoning ordinances and procedures.

· Manage the review of proposed changes to the Land Development Code, ordinances and development districts. Provide extensive review of all subdivision, commercial and residential developments.

· Negotiate and oversee negotiations for the purchase of real estate for City purposes.

· Manage economic development functions including, Enterprise Zone program, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program, Municipal Economic Development Grant program, and Community Reinstatement Area (CRA) program.

· Coordinate capital improvement projects for parks, general government, and transportation through the capital improvement plan, grant administration, and private development.

· Research county, state, and federal financial assistance programs and direct other staff members in application processes. Prepare grant legislation and ensure grant compliance.

· Manage flood plain requirements per ODNR rules.

· Prepare the annual operating budget for the City of Green planning department and oversee the proper allocation of funds. The Planning Department budget for fiscal year 2026 is $1.16 million.

· Review, revise, and educate public, city council and administration on existing land development codes and property maintenance codes.

· Work with the Community Improvement Corporation designed to promote economic, commercial, and civic development of the community.

· Act as technical resource for the following Boards and Commissions: Planning and Zoning Commission, Design Review Board, Historical Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, and City Council /along with the other administrative departments.

· Represent City of Green on Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study Technical Assistance Committee or other Subcommittees of AMATS and the Green Chamber of Commerce.

The Director of Planning will be a detail-oriented professional with a hands-on approach to city-wide planning and strong problem-solving skills. The successful candidate will have some combination of the following qualifications:

· Bachelor’s degree with strong preference for formal education in urban planning, community development, economic development, and/or urban design.

· A master’s degree in one of the fields noted above is preferred but not required.

· Five or more years of experience in planning and community/economic development.

· American Planning Association / American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.

· Successful supervision or leadership background.

· Experience working in local and/or state government.

· Demonstrated ability to perform on-site field work to support decision-making.