Assistant Planning Director

Job Description

The position assists in the administration, management, and coordination of the City's Planning & Zoning Division. The position provides professional and managerial leadership for current planning, long-range planning, development review, Land Development Code administration, major planning initiatives, and staff operations. The position serves as a key leadership position within the Planning & Zoning Division and provides technical and managerial guidance to planning staff. The position assumes responsibilities delegated by the Planning Director and may serve as Acting Planning Director during the Director's absence when designated to do so.

This position exercises supervision over all Planning Department staff and other support employees as assigned by the Planning Director that may be necessary to carry out these duties and/or consultants that are contracted to assist with development projects from time to time. The Assistant Planning Director will not independently establish City policy or make major discretionary policy decisions outside established authority. Significant policy, legal, budgetary, or politically sensitive matters will be coordinated with the Planning Director and, when appropriate, the City Attorney, City Manager's Office, or other authorized City officials.

Why Saratoga Springs?

Saratoga Springs is one of Utah's fastest-growing communities, offering an experienced planning professional a unique opportunity to help shape a city that is still actively defining its future. With significant undeveloped land, numerous large master-planned communities, and a projected build-out population exceeding 120,000, the City provides the opportunity to work on complex and meaningful planning issues, including major development projects, community and village plans, transportation, parks and trails, long-range planning, development agreements, annexations, rezonings, and Land Development Code improvements. At the same time, the City is focused on maintaining a high quality of life, preserving open space and natural resources, expanding parks and trails, improving transportation, and creating vibrant neighborhoods and commercial areas. The Assistant Planning Director will have the opportunity to influence decisions that will shape the community for decades, work collaboratively with City leadership.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist in establishing division priorities, workload assignments, schedules, and performance expectations
• Monitor development review workloads, staffing levels, and operational needs and recommend adjustments as appropriate
• Supervise assigned staff and provide direction, coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback
• Identify training needs and recommend opportunities for staff development
• Identify opportunities to improve internal processes, workflows, efficiency, and customer service
• Promote consistency, professionalism, and accountability throughout the Planning & Zoning Division
• Provide oversight and technical guidance on complex development applications and ensure consistent application of the Land Development Code
• Review significant development proposals and staff recommendations prior to presentation to the Planning Commission or City Council, as directed by the Planning Director
• Coordinate with Engineering, Public Works, Building, Legal, GIS, and other City departments on significant development projects
• Participate in meetings with applicants, property owners, consultants, and other stakeholders regarding complex development proposals
• Promote consistent interpretation and application of City development regulations and adopted policies
• Manage or oversee major master planning and community planning projects.
• Assist with transportation, parks and trails, land use, housing, economic development, and other long-range planning initiatives
• Lead or assist in translating adopted plans and policy initiatives into Land Development Code amendments, development standards, programs, and implementation strategies
• Research planning, land use, and development issues and recommend appropriate policy or regulatory changes
• Prepare or review staff reports, ordinances, policy recommendations, presentations, and other materials related to planning policy and regulations
• Ensure that proposed regulatory changes are consistent with adopted plans, City policies, and applicable state law
• Attend Planning Commission meetings, public hearings, City Council meetings, and other public meetings as assigned
• Help ensure that planning recommendations presented to decision-making bodies are accurate, consistent, well-supported, and clearly communicated
• Coordinate with other City departments and outside agencies on issues involving land use, development, infrastructure, transportation, public facilities, and community planning
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, elected and appointed officials, applicants, consultants, developers, property owners, and members of the public
• Provide constructive feedback and technical guidance to planners regarding code application, staff reports, development review, and customer communication
• Help ensure appropriate issues are escalated to the Planning Director, City Attorney, City Manager's Office, or other appropriate authority
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, City and Regional Planning, Community Development, Public Administration, or a closely related field
• Seven (7) years of experience in planning and development, particularly related to municipal government operations, including at least three (3) years of team leadership and significant project-management experience

Or

• Applicants with a Master's degree must have at least Five (5) years of experience with at least three (3) years as a team leader, with significant project-management experience

Special Qualifications & Certifications:

• AICP Certified; If applicant does not possess AICP, they must be able to obtain within 18 months of hiring.
• Valid Utah State driver's license

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• State Codes related to Land Development and Public Notices
• General municipal government operations, particularly procedures relating to the Mayor and City Council duties and responsibilities
• General PC computer operations with an emphasis on planning and development programs
• Ability to interpret and consistently apply complex development regulations
• Strong understanding of planning processes, procedures, and best practices
• Ability to analyze complex planning issues and develop practical, defensible recommendations
• Strong leadership, supervisory, mentoring, and team-building skills
• Communicate in a concise and effective manner, including correct use of English language and vocabulary, and excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interact with the public in all situations while maintaining a professional, pleasant and courteous demeanor
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, City department heads, citizen committees, coworkers, and supervisors
• Ability to effectively communicate technical planning concepts to elected and appointed officials, applicants, staff, and the public
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and appropriately identify and escalate issues requiring higher-level direction
• Ability to establish effective working relationships across departments and with external stakeholders
• Commitment to consistency, professionalism, transparency, and high-quality customer service

Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions-including but not limited to the job functions, qualifications, and competencies listed herein-of this job in the working conditions below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The physical demands and work environment include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms
  • Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus
• Sit at a desk or table to operate a computer and related equipment and to type, read, proofread, interpret, and apply information obtained therefrom
  • Work at a computer for sustained periods of time while maintaining efficiency, attention to detail, alertness, proficiency, and accuracy
• Regularly walk, stand, stoop and/or bend to move items into and between file cabinets, drawers, and other office equipment
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet while in the office and moderately loud when in the field
• Lift, carry, push, pull or move boxes weighing up to 30 pounds
• Lift, carry, push, pull, or move carts of items weighing up to 100 pounds
• Drive to meetings and appointments
• When in the field, the employee may be required to work in outside weather conditions, including in wet and/or humid conditions

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range:
Full wage range is as follows; please note hiring will normally occur at the minimum of the range and will not exceed the midpoint.

Minimum: $93,396/yr.

Midpoint: $112,075/yr.

Maximum: $130,755/yr.

Benefits:
The City offers a competitive benefits package including several health insurance options (one of which has a $0.00 employee premium payroll deduction with Wellness program participation), dental insurance, life and long-term disability insurances, an EAP (including mental health short-term counseling services) for the whole family, a free Teledoc program for the whole family, monetary incentives for wellness program participation, and a HSA (health savings account) with an Employer match. The City also offers employees the option to elect to add on Vision, Accident, Hospital, Critical Illness, additional Life Insurance coverage, and FSAs (flexible spending accounts).

The City participates in the Utah Public Retirement System (pension). In addition, the City does not participate in Social Security, so no Social Security taxes are deducted from your paycheck. In lieu of the City's Social Security contributions, the City contributes 6.2% of salary into a 401(k) retirement plan.

Leave time benefits include 120 hours of paid time off (PTO) accrued annually, 40 hours of short-term medical accrued annually, and 11 holidays annually.

Schedule:

Monday - Thursday 7 am - 6 pm & Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Alternate Friday's off)

Closing Date:

November 17th, 2026

Disclaimer
SUSPENSION OF PROCESS, ETC.:
The City reserves the right to reject any and all applicants, to waive any requirement set forth in this announcement, and to hire anyone as the City Manager or designee deems to be in the City's best interest, all subject to legal requirements. Any application in response to this Announcement is at the applicant's sole risk and expense. Although the City anticipates hiring one of the applicants responding to this announcement, there is no guarantee that any responding applicant will be hired.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the position. This description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, and skills required for the position.

Saratoga Springs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• The City will provide reasonable accommodations as needed.

Application Special Instructions
All candidates are required to submit an online application. Please attach any supporting documentation to your online applications such as cover letter, resumes, or proof of certifications.

Please contact the Human Resources Department at 801.766.9793 X187 or 801.766.9793 X121 or email us at hr@saratogasprings-ut.gov if you have any questions.

Pre-employment drug testing, proof of employment eligibility, and background check required.