Job Details

Development Manager

Dallas is Growing. Grow With Us.

Looking for more than just a job? The City of Dallas offers careers with purpose. With competitive benefits, growth opportunities, and a culture of inclusion, we're committed to helping you thrive while you help our city flourish. Be part of a team that's committed to service, innovation, and community.

Job Summary

The Development Manager manages, oversees, coordinates, and provides direction for all development activities for the department. Manages the provision of Sustainable Development and Construction and all programs, permitting, processes, and administration.

Essential Functions

• Manages, oversees, and monitors all development processes, operations, and activities; delegates authority and responsibility for assigned tasks to subordinates; identifies needed areas of change or development and institutes changes to improve operations; plans, implements, coordinates, monitors compliance, and evaluates policies and procedures; provides code interpretation and application direction; manages and oversees technology goals and innovation for City projects.
• Establishes short-, mid-, and long-term goals and objectives; develops and/or approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; ensures accountability and transparency within development, inspection, and other related matters; coordinates GIS implementation and development to support zoning, plat, legal description, and other mapping requests.
• Assists in the development, preparation, management, and implementation of procedures, policies, and standards; provides sound recommendations, and handles various requests from City Council, City Manager's Office, and other management; communicates and assists citizens and other individuals with questions, concerns, or other related queries; manages development staff and provides direction and oversight for code compliance, inspection procedures, arborist activities, and GIS activities for developments within the City.
• Manages, oversees, and monitors contract compliance for projects within the City; serves as a contract liaison between various departments including the Procurement Office, Office of Risk Management, City Secretary, City Attorney, and other vendors; provides records management and coordination facilitating communication and effective collaboration.
• Consults with landscape architects, designers, engineers, developers, builders, surveyors, and other trade professionals to provide initial interpretation and guidance with city regulations and to provide insights on strategies for completing their projects successfully.
• Reviews individual cases with city planners and other technical staff for zoning cases, historic and conservation district applications, real estate reviews, engineering reviews for city contracts, floodplain permit reviews, escarpment permits, early releases for subdivision plats, Public Works projects, DWU projects, public property site maintenance inspections, long-term planning projects, and general forestry-related questions.
• Provides training and ensures all inspection personnel are properly certified and up to date on all current trends and developments in construction trades and related regulations; participates in hiring, training, and performance evaluations; takes disciplinary action where necessary.
• Serves as the acting official departmental representative to other City departments, City Manager's Office, elected officials, and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends department activities, policies, and reporting; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues, code compliance issues, and financial discrepancies.
• Attends City Council and legislative hearings and takes necessary action regarding decisions or inquiries made at such hearings; reviews and coordinates responses to bills considered and adopted by the Texas State Legislature.
• Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of all development activities, planning, arborist, permitting, and related processes.
• Knowledge of city organizational structure, city planning systems, and other data processing systems.
• Ability to estimate, justify, and evaluate costs and program effectiveness.
• Ability to establish a good rapport and working relationship with federal, state, and local agencies, other city departments, and the general public.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of established goals.
• Ability to manage program activities and establish goals and objectives.
• Ability to provide administrative and professional supervision, leadership, and direction to subordinate staff.
• Ability to determine work procedures that expedite workflow, improve efficiency, and increase operational effectiveness.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining effectively working relationships.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in a Business, Business Administration, Public Administration, or Social Science field.

EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of project/program or construction management experience with responsibility for three (3) or more of the following areas:

• policy development/implementation
• program evaluation
• project management
• financial analysis/budgeting
• report writing
• performance planning
• preparing and/or delivering oral/written presentations

AND Two (2) years of experience in a supervisory or project management capacity. (This experience may be included in the above experience)

EQUIVALENTS: High school diploma/GED plus nine (9) years of the required experience, including two (2) years of supervisory/project management responsibilities, will meet the education and experience requirement.

Associate degree in any field plus seven (7) years of the required experience, including two (2) years of supervisory/project management responsibilities, will meet the education and experience requirement.

Bachelor's degree or higher in a non-specified field plus seven (7) years of the required experience, including two (2) years of supervisory/project management responsibilities, will meet the education and experience requirement.

Master's degree or higher in a specified field plus three (3) years of the required experience, including two (2) years of supervisory/project management responsibilities, will meet the education and experience requirement.

LICENSE and/or CERTIFICATION: Valid driver's license and good driving record.

PREFERENCE: International Code Council (ICC) Certifications are preferred.

Departmental Note: Manager - Development (Building Code)

The Manager of the Building Code Section leads a specialized, high-performing team responsible for ensuring consistent interpretation, application, and enforcement of the City's Building Code throughout the plan review and inspection process for private development projects. This position oversees team performance, quality control of plan reviews and inspections, and the implementation of strategies that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and consistency across all operations. The Manager is responsible for maintaining Chapter 52 (Administrative Procedures for the Construction Codes), coordinating the adoption and amendment of the Building Code, drafting, and reviewing related ordinances, and working closely with the Building Code Advisory and Appeals Board, the City Attorney's Office, and the International Code Council. The role also includes developing and maintaining training materials, checklists, and bulletins to support staff development and ensure uniform enforcement procedures.

In addition, the Manager serves as the department's subject matter expert on Building Code compliance and interpretation, providing technical guidance to inspectors, the Q-Team, the Residential Team, and plans examiners. Duties include reviewing proposals for equivalency of alternate materials and methods, resolving construction problems with builders and engineers, and offering authoritative code interpretations to both internal staff and external stakeholders. The Manager also supports the Chief Building Official with code interpretations, enforcement actions, special inspections, corrective measures, and expert witness testimony in legal proceedings related to building code compliance. Additional responsibilities include hiring and training staff, participating in boards, committees, and professional code organizations, representing the department in negotiations and public forums, and ensuring effective communication across divisions. Other related duties may be assigned to support departmental and regulatory goals.

Salary Range $77,264.03 - $96,580.03

The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.

City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.