Director of Development Services

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Employment Type: Full-time, In-Person

Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications
 

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Development Services to lead Aoka's municipal development services operations. This senior leadership role will oversee planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and related municipal services provided to cities across Texas.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading municipal planning or development services functions and understands the day-to-day realities of operating lean, high-performing teams in smaller municipalities. This individual will serve as a senior technical resource, researching and interpreting municipal codes, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and building codes to provide clear, practical, and defensible guidance.

This role is based in our Fort Worth office and requires travel to client jurisdictions as needed. The Director of Development Services will directly supervise regional managers and provide broader leadership and oversight to a 50+ person client-facing team.
 

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  Lead and oversee development services functions provided to client cities, including planning, zoning, plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement support.

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  Serve as a senior technical resource on planning, zoning, and code matters by researching, interpreting, and applying municipal ordinances, subdivision regulations, and building codes.

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  Resolve complex or ambiguous development-related questions and provide clear, defensible recommendations to city staff, developers, residents, and internal team members.

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  Serve as a trusted advisor to client city staff, elected officials, planning and zoning commissions, and other stakeholders.

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  Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, turnaround times, and client satisfaction.

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  Collaborate with Aoka's software and operations teams to improve permitting workflows and technology-enabled service delivery.

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  Provide executive-level operational support, cross-department problem-solving, and strategic recommendations.

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  Lead or participate in daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly operations meetings.
   

• Directly supervise six (6) Regional Managers and provide broader oversight of a 50+ person client-facing team.

• Lead the hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, professional development, and career growth of Regional Managers.

• Provide operational leadership and support to planners, plan reviewers, permit technicians, inspectors, and other development services professionals.

• Oversee the plan review team and provide guidance to the Plan Review Manager regarding assignments, workload, capacity, staffing needs, and operational priorities.

• Facilitate coordination between Regional Managers, plan examiners, field operations, and client jurisdictions.

• Hire, mentor, supervise, and evaluate technical staff assigned to client accounts.

• Oversee staff hours, PTO, expenses, reimbursements, and other operational responsibilities.

• Support operational decision-making and help ensure teams have the resources and direction needed to deliver high-quality service.
   

• Oversee daily client updates and ensure action items are assigned, tracked, and completed in a timely manner.

• Manage the Regional Managers' client-visit program and provide quarterly reporting to the CEO.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with city staff, elected officials, developers, consultants, and other stakeholders.

• Serve as the Operations liaison to Business Development to ensure operational feasibility is considered when developing sales commitments and client scopes.

• Support RFPs, RFQs, and proposals through operational scope development, staffing plans, credential requirements, technical content, and quality control.

• Contribute subject-matter expertise to client presentations, scoping discussions, and business development opportunities.
   

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in municipal planning, plan review, development services, or a related field.

• Experience working directly for or closely with municipal governments is required.

• Experience serving smaller municipalities, ideally cities with populations of approximately 15,000 residents, is strongly preferred.

• Strong planning background with working knowledge of zoning, subdivision regulations, building codes, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement practices.

• Demonstrated ability to research, interpret, and apply municipal ordinances and zoning regulations to resolve real-world development questions.

• Experience in both municipal government and the private sector, such as consulting, engineering, or third-party municipal services, is strongly preferred.

• Proven leadership experience, including supervising managers and mentoring technical professionals.

• Excellent customer service and relationship-building skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical and regulatory issues to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work across multiple client jurisdictions with varying local codes, priorities, and political environments.

• Proficiency with permitting software, standard office productivity tools, and AI-assisted tools.