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Portland Permitting & Development Director (Director II) - Open Until Filled

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Portland Permitting & Development Director (Director II) - Open Until Filled

Salary

$176,862.40 - $257,004.80 Annually

Location

1900 SW 4th Ave, OR

Job Type

At Will

Job Number

2025-00746

Bureau

Portland Permitting & Development

Opening Date

08/05/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

The Position

Job Appointment: Full-Time

Work Schedule: In-person

Work Location: 1900 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97201, USA

Benefit: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position

Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position is or may be eligible for Language Pay Differential (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/class-comp/language-pay-differential-overview) for qualifying employees.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the Motus online portal (https://motusrecruiting.com/job-seekers/search-jobs/details/?job\_id=13202) . You will need to attach a resume, cover letter, and equity statement.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

This position is open until filled. Early submission is encouraged.

Application review will take place on September 8th.

Position Summary:

The Permitting & Development Director will lead a team of over 300 employees and manage a FY 2025-2026 budget of nearly $80 million. Reporting to the Deputy City Administrator for the Community and Economic Development Service Area, this role will oversee permitting, inspections, compliance, and development review services across Portland.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity during a pivotal moment of government restructuring. The Director will drive strategic vision, operational transformation, and equity-focused service delivery that will shape Portland’s growth and built environment for years to come.

What you'll get to do:

+ Oversee permitting, inspections, development review, and compliance processes.

+ Guide implementation and enforcement of building and land use codes.

+ Lead strategic planning, change management, and modernization efforts.

+ Promote a culture of equity, innovation, and continuous improvement.

+ Manage a $80M budget with fiscal responsibility and transparency.

+ Collaborate with other bureaus to ensure coordinated citywide permitting.

+ Represent PP&D before City Council, media, and in public forums.

+ Foster strong relationships with community members and stakeholders.

+ Lead efforts to improve digital systems and service responsiveness.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

+ Extensive Leadership: 10+ years leading complex permitting or development agencies.

+ Equity-Centered: Proven track record embedding DEI in operations, workforce, and policy.

+ Strategic Visionary: Experience crafting and executing long-term goals that align with civic priorities.

+ Change Manager: Skilled in leading large public organizations through structural transformation.

+ Community-Engaged: Deep understanding of inclusive stakeholder processes and culturally responsive engagement.

+ Policy Expertise: Working knowledge of land use law, environmental regulation, and economic development.

+ Collaborative: Skilled at building consensus across departments, sectors, and public/private divides.

+ Public Service Ethic: Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and transparency in leadership.

+ Education: A degree in urban planning, public administration, or a related field is preferred.

+ Cultural Competency: Understanding of Portland’s history and how zoning has impacted communities of color.

About the Bureau:

Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) is a key component of the City’s broader charter reform and modernization initiative. Uniting permitting staff from various bureaus—Water, Environmental Services, Transportation, Urban Forestry, and others is designed to make the City’s development services more efficient, equitable, and customer-focused.

With 11 divisions including Land Use Services, Inspections, Public Infrastructure Review, and Digital Services, PP&D is leading a bold transformation of how Portland engages with its built environment, streamlining systems, modernizing technology, and unlocking sustainable economic opportunity.

To learn more about the City of Portland, visit: https://www.portland.gov

Have a question?

Contact Information:

Dreshawn Vance,

Motus VP of Executive Search

[email protected]

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

+ 10+ years leading complex permitting or development organizations

+ Degree in urban planning, public administration, or related field preferred

+ Demonstrated success embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into operations and policy

+ Strategic leadership experience in civic or public-sector transformation

+ Skilled in change management, organizational development, and innovation

+ Strong background in stakeholder engagement and inclusive community processes

+ Expertise in land use policy, environmental regulations, and urban development

+ Collaborative leader who can build consensus across bureaus and communities

+ Commitment to public service, transparency, and cultural competency

+ Familiarity with Portland’s zoning history and its impacts on communities of color is strongly valued

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online HERE (https://motusrecruiting.com/job-seekers/search-jobs/details/?job\_id=13202)

Required Application Materials:

+ Cover letter: Details are key! The city uses a merit-based system, so your cover letter should be thorough and specifically address each qualification listed in the "To Qualify" section of the job announcement. Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. Follow the instructions, as a subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

+ Resume

+ Equity and anti-racism statement

Optional Application Materials:

+ If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

Application Tips:

+ Your cover letter can exceed one page, to ensure you are able to provide the detailed information for every qualification. A subject matter expert will be evaluating your details to confirm that you meet the minimum requirements.

+ Your résumé should support the details described in your cover letter.

+ An equity and anti-racism statement outlines your commitment and experience successfully developing and delivering equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches to executive management. Experiences may include, but are not limited to the following:

+ Lived experience as a member of an underrepresented group

+ Experience living, working, and meaningfully engaging with individuals with a variety of identities

+ Track record of instilling equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices within operations

+ Other experiences that demonstrate your commitment to equity, anti-racism, and inclusion, and how that will be manifested in this position.

APPLY HERE (https://motusrecruiting.com/job-seekers/search-jobs/details/?job\_id=13202)

Additional Information

Click here (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/career-center/recruitment-policy) for additional information regarding the following:

+ City of Portland Core Values

+ Recruitment Process - Work Status

+ Equal Employment Opportunity

+ Veteran Preference

+ ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to

+ Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)

+ Carrot Fertility

+ Wellness Benefits

+ Life Insurance

+ Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.

+ Employee Assistance Plan

+ Flexible Spending Accounts

+ Retirement

+ Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer

+ Family Medical Leave

+ City Paid Parental Leave

AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers (https://www.portland.gov/bhr/benefit-offerings/benefits-quickstart-guide/benefit-plan-summaries-highlight-guides) .

Employer

City of Portland

Address

1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987 Portland, Oregon, 97204

Website

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/jobs

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