Community/Cultural Services Director

Salary : $92,684.00 - $156,851.00 Annually Location : City of Washington, NC Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 1900387 Department: Planning Opening Date: 03/12/2026 Closing Date: 3/26/2026 11:59 PM Eastern FLSA: Exempt Job DescriptionSummary Responsible for administering activities for general planning, zoning, subdivision, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, nuisance abatement, Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) economic and community development and flood prevention in the city limits. Plans organizes and reviews the development plans, current and long range planning programs involving physical, economic and social future of the City. Responsible for planning in the formation, installation, modification and improvement of the City's growth and development. Essential Duties and Responsibilities NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as needed to meet the needs of the organization. Responsible for providing leadership and policy development, program planning, budget management, administration and operational direction of the Planning, Inspections, Parks and Recreation, Waterfront Docks and Library Services functions. Plans and organizes project activities; establishes goals and objectives; recommends and administers policies and procedures; develops and recommends budget for staffing, equipment, materials, supplies and monitors expenditures Provides management direction to code administration and planning units; interacts with the public on controversial issues and problem solves with staff Staffs and consults with boards and committees on development issues in the City including building inspections, economic development, community appearance and related issues. Serves as technical support to the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, City Council, other City Departments and civic groups on planning, zoning, code enforcement and related matters Confers with engineers, developers, architects, a variety of agencies and the general public in obtaining information, coordinating planning and inspection matters Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates personnel in coordination with unit supervisors; establishes, reviews and evaluates performance expectations; provides or coordinates training; counsels employees and plans actions to correct performance deficiencies; takes appropriate disciplinary action Directs, coordinates and reviews amendments to the general comprehensive plan; provides planning and code enforcement interpretation Makes presentations to the City Council, Planning Board, Historic Preservation Commission, Downtown Washington Development Commission and other boards and commissions Conducts special studies; researches complex planning problems; prepares a variety of comprehensive reports Responds to and resolves citizens' inquiries and complaints Performs other duties as assigned. Required Education and/or Experience Bachelor's degree or equivalent from four-year college or university with a degree in Planning, Geography or related field and five (5) or more years of experience in city, county or regional planning with some responsibility for supervising staff; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Special Requirements Valid N.C. driver's license and acceptable driving record Preferred Requirements Certified Municipal Administration, Certified Zoning Official (CZO), Certified Floodplain Management, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the City's planning process as it pertains to the design and development of urban activities, planning, research, zoning and subdivision activities. Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of community and economic development Considerable knowledge of the laws and regulations in building inspections and local code enforcement, zoning and land use, and environment matters. Considerable knowledge of grants development, procurement, administration and monitoring. Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of organization, administration, personnel management and budgeting. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms and interpret planning, zoning and building inspections policies to officials and the general public. Demonstrate ability to analyze and systematically compile technical and statistical information and to prepare technical reports. Demonstrate ability to evaluate the feasibility of planning alternatives in relation to trends, costs and social pressures and needs. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, developers, property owners, other department heads, officials and the general public. Ability to interpret and apply broad trends to local circumstances Ability to exercise judgment in decisions with confidential information, data and materials in conformance with laws, regulations and policies Physical Requirements Work in this class is generally classified as light work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Work requires physical activity such as stooping, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling and repetitive motion. Work also includes the ability to see, hear, talk, and physically move about the office. Visual acuity is necessary to read materials and operate computer terminals and other office equipment. Vocal communication required for expressing or exchanging ideas. Hearing is required to listen and comprehend the spoken word from others. Working Conditions Work is performed primarily in an environmentally controlled environment without exposure to harmful chemicals, personal danger or other workplace hazards; however, a significant portion of time can be performed in an outside environment where the employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Health, Dental and Vision Insurance: The City of Washington provides, at no cost, employee only coverage for Medical (High-Deductible with H.S.A), Vision and Dental insurance. Coverage is available for all regular status full-time employees scheduled to work 40 hours. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. Benefits begin on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment. Paid Life Insurance The City provides $15,000 of term life insurance and $15,000 of accident death insurance to all full-time employees at no cost. Employees may elect additional coverage, including dependent coverage, at their own cost. Employer Paid Leave: Paid Vacation: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of vacation leave per month. Leave accruals increase based on the number of years of City service. (Ex: at 5 years increases to 10 hours per month) Paid Holidays: The City of Washington observes 13 paid holidays per calendar year. The approved holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving and 3 days at Christmas. Sick: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of sick leave per month (Fire Personnel earn 14.15 hours). Sick leave hours accumulate without limits and may be used toward credible service upon retirement from the NC Local Government Retirement System. Retirement: The City assists our employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular status employees, scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week, become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member of this system, employees are required to contribute 6 percent of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis. Deferred Compensation Plans: To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These programs offer employees an opportunity to save a portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefit. The programs offered are 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Income Plan and the 457 Plan through Prudential. Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits: Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction: • Supplemental Term Life Insurance • Cancer Insurance • Accident Insurance • Critical Illness Insurance • Whole Life Insurance • Disability Insurance • Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (Pre-tax basis) Death Benefit: After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided that is equal to the highest 12 months' salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for these benefits. Pay Periods/Direct Deposit: City employees are paid bi-weekly, every other Friday through direct deposit. Full benefit details may be viewed here:

Created: 2026-03-14