Deputy Director of Development Services - Planning

Deputy Director of Development Services - Planning

Salary

$121,362.40 - $180,162.91 Annually

Location

Goodyear, AZ

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

FY2600732

Division

Development Services

Department

Development Services

Opening Date

06/29/2026

Closing Date

7/13/2026 5:00 PM Arizona

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Job Description Summary

This position is responsible for assisting the Development Services Director in planning, supervising, organizing, and managing the activities of the Development Services Department, including the major functions of development related to planning, engineering, plan review and permitting, building, inspections, community development, and code enforcement. This position operates with considerable independence, applying specialized subject matter expertise and decision making in accomplishing organizational and departmental goals and objectives that have long-term, organization wide application and impact. Additionally, this position oversees the activities of the entire development review process to ensure an efficient and customer service-oriented process as well as oversees, plans, directs, and manages the department activities of the Planning, Operational Excellence and Code Compliance divisions.

The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative leader with deep planning and development expertise who can confidently oversee the Planning, Code Compliance, and Operational Excellence teams. They excel at guiding complex, cross-functional work and ensuring the development review process is predictable, high-quality, and customer-focused. They bring strong zoning knowledge, executive-level problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage citywide coordination on development projects. This candidate thrives in a fast-growing environment, uses data to drive operational improvements, and builds strong partnerships across departments to support efficient planning and scheduling of development projects in alignment with city standards

At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals that are committed to build and maintain a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess these six core values:

Adaptability - Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism - Innovation

Only a limited number of the most qualified applicants meeting the Citys requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will consist of a panel interview. All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as it will come from a system generated source.

Essential Functions

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Partners with the Development Services Director and department leadership team to shape and execute department-wide strategy, aligning Planning, Operational Excellence, and Code Compliance priorities with organizational goals, growth demands, and community outcomes.
• Provides strategic leadership and oversight of the Planning, Operational Excellence and Code Compliance divisions through division managers, setting direction, performance expectations, and resource alignment while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serves as Zoning Administrator, interpreting and administering the Zoning Ordinance; ensuring consistent, legally sound application of regulations; and advising leadership, decision-makers, and staff on zoning determinations and policy implications.
• Leads the strategic direction and performance of the development review process, ensuring coordinated, predictable, and high-quality service delivery; resolving complex or sensitive issues; and negotiating key development outcomes in alignment with City standards and long-term plans.
• Engages directly with customers, developers, and key stakeholders on complex development projects and issues, providing executive-level problem solving, facilitating cross-functional coordination, and strengthening relationships to support successful project outcomes.
• Advances department operational excellence and strategic plan priorities, including being accountable for leveraging system performance data to inform continuous improvement strategy maturity.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelors degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Seven years of responsible experience in planning, organizing and directing a development team or related operation.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver's License
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read various correspondence, technical reports and data, memorandums, and letters, policies, laws, guidelines and procedures at a college level. Evaluate technical information and statutes and arrive at valid recommendations based on the data. Comprehend and make inferences from materials written in the English language.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform complex math calculations.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write complex correspondence, reports, memorandums, and letters, ordinances, policies; and general plan goals and objectives.
• Managerial: Complex - Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of a division including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.
• Budget Responsibility: Moderate - Has responsibility for final approval of at least one division budget and presents the budget(s) to Senior Management. Is authorized to approve division budgeted expenditures for both staff and resources up to the amount that requires the approval of Senior Management and resources up to the amount that requires the approval of Senior Management.
• Policy/Decision Making: Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignments within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. End results determine effectiveness of job performance. This position independently decides how objectives are achieved and what resources are needed. Typical positions in this category are upper management to executive level jobs.
• Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application: Work requires advanced skills and knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs, solutions for highly complex issues, and/or processes organization-wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: High - Interactions at this level typically result in recommendations regarding policy development, changes in policy, and implementation of policies. Interactions at this level are typically concerned with providing communications at higher levels of organizational operations and may utilize activities such as evaluating customer satisfaction, developing cooperative associations, and allocating resources to improve work operations, work quality, overall achievement of organizational goals and objectives, and customer satisfaction.

12 Month Objectives

3 Months

• Build strong leadership relationships with the Planning, Operational Excellence, and Code Compliance managers, clarifying expectations for performance, communication, and accountability.
• Become familiar with the City's and DSD's strategic plans, and understand how they shape division-level priorities, policy direction, and future budget planning.
• Integrate into the Development Services leadership team and begin contributing to departmentwide strategic discussions and decision-making.
• Begin oversight of the Code Manager's work on the Quality Neighborhoods strategic initiative, ensuring clarity of goals and alignment with the city's priorities.
• Assess how the new Operational Excellence division and new Code Compliance staff are integrating into department operations and the city's culture.
• Develop a working understanding of the Shingo framework and how DSD is applying systems design principles to improve organizational performance.

6 Months

• Guide division managers in developing aligned work plans that support predictable development review and construction performance excellence.
• Strengthen cross-department coordination by setting expectations for manager-driven collaboration with Fire, Engineering, Water and other key development partners.
• Provide leadership oversight for improvements to the Planning & Scheduling system as well as the Continuous Improvement System.
• Support the integration and cultural alignment of the Operational Excellence and Code Compliance teams by reinforcing DSD values, expectations, and cross-team collaboration.
• Ensure the Quality Neighborhoods strategic initiative remains on track through manager-level accountability and executive sponsorship.

12 Months

• Demonstrate measurable improvements in development review predictability, timeliness, and customer experience by leading through division managers.
• Serve as a key contributor in shaping next fiscal year priorities and budget recommendations by aligning strategic plan goals with resource needs and system improvements.
• Ensure major Quality Neighborhoods milestones are achieved and provide strong executive support for ongoing work.
• Demonstrate visible leadership in applying Shingo-aligned systems thinking to support DSD's operational excellence priorities, helping reinforce behaviors and systems that drive long-term success.

The City of Goodyear offers a highly competitive benefits package including:

• Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity. Goodyear offers an enhanced vacation benefit of recognizing total years of service under all Arizona public retirement systems for accruing vacation.
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January
• Flexible Holiday: 24 hours per calendar year (prorated based on hire date)
• Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate
• Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate
• Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available
• Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage
• Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage
• Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employees cost
• Longevity pay beginning at year six
• Tuition Assistance: $5,250 per calendar year
• Employee Assistance Program
• Onsite wellness center/clinic
• Access to the Goodyear Recreation Center
• Robust employee well-being program
• Free identify theft monitoring and protection with Aura
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan: 2% city match (employee contributes 1%)
• Retirement Health Savings: $22.50 city contribution (employee contributes $12.50 per pay period)
• Retirement: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) Defined Benefit plan with mandatory city and employee contributions currently at 12.00%. Plan includes Long Term Disability Benefit.

01

What is your highest level of education?

• Bachelor Degree or above
• Associate Degree
• High School Diploma or GED
• None

02

How many years of relatable experience do you possess?

• Less than 7 years
• 7 - 8 years
• 9 - 10 years
• 11 years or more

03

Do you possess a valid driver license?

• Yes
• No

04

Please check mark the items you are most familiar with in strategic planning on an executive level:

• Budget Recommendations
• Policy Directions
• Executive Level Decision Making

05

Describe how you have aligned division level work with organizational strategic plans and used that alignment to inform budget recommendations, policy direction, and executive level decision making:

06

Have you lead or supervised a team of managers and integrated them into the organization culture and expectations?

• Yes
• No

07

Describe how you have led multiple managers through significant organizational change or growth. How did you ensure their teams were aligned, integrated effectively into the broader organization, and consistently delivering on expectations?

08

Have you dealt with an executive level, complex development review or zoning issue?

• Yes
• No

09

Tell us about a time you oversaw a complex development review or zoning issue at an executive level. How did you guide staff and other departments to ensure predictable, high quality outcomes.

10

Have you implemented, integrated or supported continuous improvement or Kaizen in your current organization?

• Yes
• No

11

Describe how you have applied continuous improvement or systems thinking principles to improve processes, reinforce desired behaviors, or design systems that enable predictable service delivery.

12

Have you worked with several departments or agencies within the public sector before?

• Yes
• No

13

Provide an example of how you improved coordination or workflow across multiple departments or divisions. What specific leadership actions did you take to ensure consistent participation?

Required Question

Employer City of Goodyear

Address 1900 N. Civic Square

Goodyear, Arizona, 85395

Website http://www.goodyearaz.gov