The Development Liaison or Ombudsman within the Planning and Development Services Department coordinates and facilitates complex and sensitive customer service issues relating to permitting (e.g. building, site development and subdivision plans, environmental, zoning), land use petitions (e.g. rezones, special exceptions), enforcement, and property management.  This work focuses on bolstering the mission of the Department to be a high performing team proud to engage and serve the public providing exceptional quality services.  This work includes a high degree of public involvement and interaction with team members from departments throughout the County organization.  This position reports to the Planning and Development Services Department.

Job Description:

• Facilitates and helps resolve high-profile development applications and sensitive customer service issues relating to permitting (e.g. building, site development and subdivision plans, environmental, zoning), land use petitions (e.g. rezones, special exceptions), enforcement, and property management.
• Works jointly with key decision-making positions (e.g. Senior Leadership, Building Official, Zoning Administrator, County Engineer, etc.) to help resolve issues and achieve desired goals through closely coordinating on decisions and following standard procedures.
• Facilitates Development Review Coordination (DRC) meetings, both internal staff meetings and external customer meetings.
• Seeks opportunities to bring technical disciplines together to solve overlapping and/or related issues.
• Acts as an advocate of the complete development review process, from land use to construction to occupation, seeking a streamlined and timely process that is compliant with applicable codes.
• Serves as an active member of the Planning and Development Services Department leadership team.
• Serves as the departmental liaison to develop and maintain relations with individual customers, industry representatives, customer groups, other regulatory agencies, etc.  
• Serves as a primary contact point for economic and business organization inquiries relating to the Planning and Development Services Department.
• Helps host and participates in roundtable discussions to share information and obtain feedback from stakeholders.
• Advocates customer viewpoints to leadership on decisions directly affecting service-related concerns.
• Provides opportunities for consumer involvement and input on service-related issues and concerns to demonstrate commitment and responsiveness to customer needs.
• Examines causes of customer service issues and provides recommendations to implement process improvements for applications, review procedures, code revisions, etc.
• Analyzes existing and proposed programs, policies, and services to ensure their equitability and responsiveness to customer needs and achieving policy outcomes.
• Develops and implements innovative programs and services targeted to specific customer needs.

Work Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Minimum Qualifications:  A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business, Finance, Planning, Industrial/Engineering Technology, or job-related field and three (3) years of professional job-related experience.  A Master’s Degree preferred and can count for one year of experience OR Seven (7) years professional job-related experience in management of technical projects/programs and strategic planning may substitute for the required education.

Preferred Qualifications: Advanced professional certifications in fields relating to development, construction, etc. are highly desirable.

Job Competencies:

• Significant experience with development, construction, local government review processes, etc.
• Facilitation
• High quality written and oral communication
• Customer focus
• Decision making
• Problem solving/analysis
• Strategic thinking
• Attention to detail
• Time management

Physical Demands:  Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Pay: $54,371.20 – $85,000.00

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! 
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms and classes at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco Free/Drug Free Workplace

Sarasota County Government promotes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identification or expression, genetic information, religion, national origin, marital status, age or disability. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5741.