DIRECTOR OF CITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, seeks an experienced and innovative planning executive to lead its Department of City Planning and Development during a period of dynamic change while serving as the next Director of City Planning and Development.

Located in the Heart of America, Kansas City, Missouri (pop. 442,000) is a world class community with a long tradition of performing arts, outstanding sports, superb restaurants and spectacular entertainment. The City’s history of strong neighborhoods gives the community a gracious and welcoming feeling that transcends its large city status. Located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers, Kansas City was incorporated as a Town in 1850 and by the State in 1853. It became one of the world’s largest cattle markets, shortly after the Civil War. The Kansas City Stockyard was founded in 1870 and is still home to the American Royal, an annual event that draws hundreds of thousands of people to Kansas City’s Kemper Arena and American Royal Complex for four weeks of events including the World’s Largest Barbecue contest, headlining entertainment, rodeos, and a highly-sophisticated Saddle Horse Show.

In 1922 a private construction project by J.C. Nichols Co. left its mark on Kansas City with the nation’s first planned shopping center, the Country Club Plaza. Today, this Spanish-style plaza covers 55 acres and includes beautiful fountains, statuary and an abundance of high-end shopping opportunities as well as outstanding restaurants. In 1968, Hallmark founder Joyce C. Hall and his son acted on a dream to create one place that would revitalize a part of Kansas City’s decaying urban core, the Crown Center, a vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment center, with two million square feet of office space and the City’s two largest hotels. It is filled with attractions that bring people and vitality to the urban core.

The world’s only matched set of football and baseball stadiums was constructed in 1972, and owned by Jackson County, Missouri. Kemper Arena, which includes seating for 19,500 people, was constructed in 1974. The H. Roe Bartle Exposition Hall, constructed in 1976 and expanded in 1993, includes 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, 58 meeting rooms, a 2,400-seat fine arts theatre and an arena with seating for 10,700.

Kansas City has a rich history of supporting the cultural arts. The City hosts two renowned art museums, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which have extensive collections by a variety of world-renowned artists. Kansas City has commemorated its world-renowned jazz with the American Jazz Museum. There are numerous opportunities for theatre-goers, including the outdoor Starlight Theater, the American Heartland Theater located at Crown Center, the beautiful and fully restored Midland Theater, the Folly Theater and the Lyric Opera building, which hosts both opera and ballet. In addition, the Kaufman Family Foundation is in the process of constructing a $310 million Performing Arts Arena in downtown Kansas City near the Bartle Hall Exposition facility.

The City of Kansas City is served by all or parts of fourteen school districts, the largest of which is the Kansas City, Missouri School District. The Catholic Diocese sponsors 26 K-8 schools and six high schools, and there are several schools sponsored by other denominations and religions. There are more than 45 colleges and universities serving a broad and diverse population.

More than a dozen hospitals serve the City of Kansas City. In addition, Kansas City is home to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research that aspires to be one of the most innovative biomedical research facilities in the world. The Stowers Institute is a key component of the City’s Life Science Initiative. The Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute is a not-for-profit organization jointly funded by the Kansas City Civic Council and the Kansas City Area Development Council and is dedicated to transforming Kansas City into a center for excellence in life sciences research.

Kansas City has been home to numerous corporate headquarters including Hallmark Cards, H & R Block, DST Systems, Inc., Black and Veatch, Kansas City Southern Industries, and American Century (formerly Twentieth Century Investments) to name just a few. The Kansas City economy is multifaceted, with a healthy retail sales base. Continued economic growth is vital to the City’s financial condition.

Kansas City provides all of the amenities of a world-class city in an historic, charming neighborhood environment. Residents can choose from a variety of housing styles and price ranges including affordable housing in newer subdivisions or in older, renovated neighborhoods; traditional suburban homes located just minutes from the Country Club Plaza and Westport; or, beautiful mansions along scenic Ward Parkway. With more fountains than any city except Rome and more parks than any city except Paris, Kansas City is a thriving, exciting city with ambitious plans for the future.

Granted a charter in 1850, Kansas City now operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The elected leadership of the City is comprised of a Mayor elected at large and 12 Council Members. Members are elected for four-year terms of office with a two-term limit. The City Manager is appointed upon the recommendation by the Mayor with confirmation/approval of the appointment required by a majority of the City Council. The City Manager is responsible for a large, varied, multiple-purpose municipal organization, representing a workforce of 6,727 FTE spread across 19 departments and a current annual budget of $975 million. Kansas City has enjoyed a reputation for being staffed by a strong contingent of Departmental Managers who report directly to the City Manager in the discharge of their responsibilities. The City Manager, per Charter, serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Officer of the City with full authority to appoint/remove senior City Staff, and other employees as prescribed by applicable Civil Service regulations. Appointments by the City Manager, including that of the Director of City Planning and Development, shall be made on the basis of executive and administrative ability and the training and experience of such appointees for the work they are to administer. All appointees are responsible to the City Manager and may be removed by him at any time. Additional information on the City government and its departments can be found at the City’s website: www.kcmo.org

The incumbent is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Manager and is distinguished by its full executive responsibility for the provisions of planning throughout the City. The Director of City Planning and Development provides creative leadership to a department of 70 employees with an annual operating budget of $11 million. The staff is well organized, highly motivated and well trained. The Director is responsible to create effective policies and procedures to develop and maintain an effective Comprehensive Plan to meet the city’s short- and long-term goals; investigate and resolve citizen complaints and concerns; monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods; oversee the development and administration of the department’s budget; and provides advice and council to the Mayor and City Council. The Director also serves as staff to City Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, Landmarks Commission, City Council, Plans and Zoning & Economic Development Committee, various boards and Brownfields Commission.

Development of a new zoning ordinance.

The Ideal Candidate

Candidates for the position will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Business or similar fields and at least five (5) years of related and progressively responsible administrative and managerial experience with at least three (3) years of supervision at the level of Deputy Director or equivalent. Experience in an urban planning environment desirable. AICP certification a plus.