Planning and Development Director

Are you a visionary with experience and a knack for creatively solving complex urban design challenges? Do you have a passion for delivering an exceptional customer experience? If this sounds like you, consider joining us as our next Planning and Development Director. In this role, you'll bring your expertise to tackle challenges head-on, leverage the unique opportunities of our city's ongoing transformation, and provide innovative, effective solutions to our team. With confidence, you will humbly represent the City's interests. You'll love this team - and this town!

To view the complete job brochure, click here.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. An application via Neogov is required; a resume and engaging cover letter are highly recommended, as the quality of these materials will be part of the screening process to determine who moves forward.

COMMUNITY
A City whose heritage spans more than a century, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses around 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally-diverse population of approximately 168,100 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy such winter activities as snowboarding and skiing, and such summer activities as surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on a beach. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.

THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policymaking and legislative authority are vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year. The City is organized into the following departments/organizational units: City Manager's Office, Community Services, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Planning & Development, Police, Public Works, and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and two Assistant City Managers. The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $422.7 million with a General Fund operating budget of $231.3 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 935 dedicated employees who provide high-quality services to its residents and visitors each day.

The Planning and Development Director will lead an exceptional team and serve as a valuable member of the City Manager's Leadership Team. The Planning and Development Department includes administrative support, as well as the Planning Division, with approximately 8 positions; the Building Plan Review & Inspection Division, with approximately 33 positions, including Code Compliance and Public Works Inspection; and the Development Services Division, with approximately 15 positions encompassing the land development engineers and public works permit counter.

We are excited to consider all candidates who have the required knowledge, skills, and abilities! A typical way (but not the only way) to meet the qualifications would be a bachelor's degree in urban or regional planning, architecture, or public administration, with a master's degree and/or AICP certification desirable, and eight years of increasingly responsible administrative government experience in a related discipline, including five years of management experience at a Manager or Deputy Director level.

This position largely works in an office environment, is expected to attend City Council and Commision meetings, and interacts with a variety of employees and members of the public.