Director, Department of Conservation and Development
THE COUNTY Contra Costa County was incorporated in 1850 as one of the original 27 counties of the State of California. It is one of nine counties in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, and covers approximately 733 square miles extending from the northeastern shore of San Francisco Bay easterly about 50 miles to San Joaquin County. Contra Costa County is one of the fastest growing work forces among Bay Area counties, with growth in its employment base being driven primarily by the need to provide services to an increasing local population and the presence of relatively high-wage skilled jobs. The County has one of the State s most heterogeneous populations, rich in ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity. With a current population slightly in excess of 1,000,000, Contra Costa County is the ninth most populous county in California. The City of Martinez is the County seat of Contra Costa County and the location of the County s administrative offices. Contra Costa County includes varied urban, suburban, industrial, agricultural and port areas and contains 19 incorporated cities. A large part of the County is served by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) which has helped to enable significant residential and commercial development. Prestigious public and private academic institutions, including Stanford University, University of California at Berkeley, University of San Francisco, University of the Pacific, and various California State University campuses, are within driving distance from the County seat of Martinez. Recreation within the County varies from fishing, boating and water skiing in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers to hiking, horseback riding and camping in Mt. Diablo State Park. Recreational areas, including the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Counties, the picturesque seaside communities of Carmel and Monterey, and the Sierra Lake Tahoe mountain region, are also within driving distance of the County. The County of Contra Costa provides a full range of services through 25 County Departments divided into service areas such as: Public Protection, General Government, Health and Human Services, Growth Management, Special Districts and Authorities. There are also a number of Affiliated Organizations. The County has a FY 2014/15 budget of $2.7 billion and a General Fund of $1.4 billion, and permanent countywide staff of approximately 8,400. THE DEPARTMENT The Conservation and Development Department is a consolidation of the former Community Development Department and the Building Inspection Department. As a result, the Conservation and Development Department is responsible for facilitating orderly land use and development consistent with the County General Plan; administering and enforcing the Building Code; and coordinating the following land use programs: planning, building, special housing, economic development, transportation, infrastructure, solid waste and habitat conservation, plan check and engineering services, building inspection, and code enforcement. The Conservation and Development Department is composed of 155 FTEs with a FY 2014-15 operating budget of $38.4 million.
Director, Department of Conservation and Development THE Position Under administrative and policy direction, the Director of Conservation and Development plans and coordinates the execution of a comprehensive land use, community development, conservation management, environmental protection and solid waste program consistent with statutory requirements; directs the County building inspection and code enforcement program within unincorporated County areas and contract cities; manages transportation and environmental planning, economic development and affairs of the former County Redevelopment Agency consistent with the Redevelopment Dissolution Act; ensures enforcement of applicable laws and regulations governing a uniform building inspection program and administers code enforcement activities to abate violations; and performs related work as directed. This single position class is identified as a department head in the County management structure, reports to the County Administrator and is appointed by the Board of Supervisors. This position is open due to the incumbent s retirement Typical duties of the position include: Manages and coordinates department programs and services in land use planning, transportation planning, solid waste and resource recovery, habitat and open space conservation, community development block grant, county water agency, population and economic analysis, building inspection and permitting, code enforcement, conservation, and affordable housing within the jurisdiction of the County and within contract cities. Confers with the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors on plans, programs and activities of the department including land use, community development, transportation, conservation planning, building permitting and inspection, redevelopment successor agency, and other related areas. Analyzes and evaluates department objectives and the effectiveness of departmental operations in conforming to policy guidelines and statutory requirements. Directs the preparation of the annual departmental budget and provides necessary information to the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors. Establishes requirements for cost identification and budget controls for management of the department with the concurrence of the County Auditor-Controller. Develops and maintains cooperative and effective working relationships with federal, state, regional and local agencies, as well as with the private sector, public interest groups, and the development community. Ensures full and prompt public access to County information and services on matters of land use, land development and transportation planning, economic development, building services, and growth management. Coordinates the interfacing of departmental staff and County departments involved in the receipt, review and approval of land development and building applications to ensure streamlined permit processing. Administers a code enforcement program and confers with officials of federal, state and local agencies, interstate organizations, construction industry representatives and contractors regarding construction inspection and enforcement activities. Monitors and analyzes legislative bills and proposals, and recommends new or amended legislation to further community development, conservation, and building inspection programs Contracts with cities in the County and region to provide building code enforcement services. Administers personnel activities for staff recruitment and development; directs and reviews in-service training and safety programs for departmental staff.
Directs studies to evaluate new projects, considers their immediate and long range impact and cost, and recommends project adoption, modification or cancellation. Attends conferences and meetings of a variety of groups to discuss and keep informed on legal, technical, and administrative trends in the building inspection field, community development and redevelopment. Coordinates overall activities with the County Administrator s Office to enhance the County s economic development and the relationship with other agencies and organizations. Ensures maximum cost recovery of department operating costs. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The County of Contra Costa seeks an individual with a proven track record in the areas of planning and land use. The ideal candidate will to strive to improve technology within the Department, implement new online programs for the public, as well as continue to streamline operations. He/She will thrive in public engagements, community interaction and working with the individual districts within the County. The ideal candidate will be someone who is able to ask the right question, get the correct facts and information, and then voice an opinion. This person will be organized, set goals, and work well with other departments, regional groups and committees. The selected candidate will be politically savvy and willing to listen to both sides of an issue. He/She will be willing to work long hours if needed, able to withstand pressure and able to manage the diverse personalities without losing focus on the business. Lastly, the ideal candidate will continue to embrace internal development, smart growth, and staff development. GOALS & OPPORTUNITIES Operations - Continue the ongoing transition and merge of operations in support of the goals of increased efficiency, improved internal and external communication, improved customer service, and cost savings. Efficiency and Sustainability - With the economy now in recovery and construction activities starting to accelerate, improve efficiency and sustain growth responsibly. Accessibility - Maintain reasonable permitting times as workload increases as a result of the current economic recovery. Technology - Expand the range of building permit services and records available to the public over the internet.
Director, Department of Conservation and Development External Relations - Through relationships with stakeholder groups including Municipal Advisory Groups, neighborhood associations, builders and developers, attain a clear understanding of the public s perception of service delivery in order to provide robust and responsive programming. Energy Efficiency - Implement energy efficiency programs and services that assist property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Seek additional funding to expand and extend such services. Environmental Initiatives - Refine and implement new programs to reduce solid waste and promote reuse and recycling. Support a leadership and cooperative role in County environmental issues. Collaboration - Provide lead support for highly visible community development projects for the Oakley Generating Station power plant project, transportation and planning studies now underway, State plans to build new Delta Water conveyance systems for southern California and the Central Valley, the San Francisco-to-Stockton Ship Channel Deepening Project, the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan/Nature Community Conservation Plan, the Climate Change Working Group, as well as the Countywide Wireless Facility Ordinance. Education and Experience Requires possession of a bachelor s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in public or business administration, engineering, architecture, urban or regional planning, or a closely related field. A master s degree is preferred. Five years of full-time experience or its equivalent experience at the Director or Division Director/Manager level in a major, multi-program organization for a public sector community development, building inspection, housing/ redevelopment, or land use/transportation planning department. It is preferred that candidates have significant experience in planning and land use, redevelopment and technology implementation. Candidates should also have experience with smart-growth initiatives, conservation, open space, climate control and transportation demands management. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The base compensation for this position is $132,647 to $161,233 with placement dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. In addition to a competitive salary, health and dental benefits, a defined pension benefit, and vacation and sick leave, benefits currently provided include: Personal Holiday Credit Executive Life Insurance Package Management Longevity Pay Deferred Compensation Plan Annual Management Administrative Leave Executive Professional Development Reimbursement Department Holidays
Director, Department of Conservation and Development APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE Please apply on-line by September 5, 2014 at www.alliancerc.com. Finalists must complete a Contra Costa County application form. Depending on the number of applicants, a review of the applications and supplemental questionnaires may be made to identify the best-qualified candidates who will then be invited to participate further in the selection process which will consist of an oral interview. This position will remain open until filled. Applications and supplemental questionnaires may be obtained from and submitted to: Sherrill A. Uyeda or Cindy Krebs ALLIANCE RESOURCE CONSULTING LLC 400 Oceangate, Suite 510 Long Beach, CA 90802 Telephone: (562) 901-0769 E-mail: suyeda@alliancerc.com or ckrebs@alliancerc.com http://twitter.com/alliancerc Alliance Resource Consulting, LLC It is a policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), national origin (including language restrictions), ethnicity, age (over 40), disability (including physical or mental disabilities, HIV and AIDS), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (including genetic characteristics, cancer and a record or history of cancer), genetic information, military or veteran status. An Equal Opportunity/ADA Employer