Deputy Director, Planning & Sustainability - Current & Long Range Planning

Salary Range: $140,000+   Job Code: 51005  Pay Grade: 28  FLSA Status: Exempt  

General Summary

The Deputy Director of Long Range & Current Planning is a senior leadership role within the Department of Planning & Sustainability. This position provides strategic, managerial, and technical direction over the County’s long-range planning initiatives and current planning operations, ensuring alignment with DeKalb’s Comprehensive Plan, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), sustainability goals, and community development priorities.

The Deputy Director oversees a wide portfolio including comprehensive planning, land use and zoning, demographic analysis, community engagement, urban design, historic preservation, corridor studies, neighborhood plans, environmental planning, and development review activities.

This position works closely with the Director, County leadership, elected officials, external agencies, and community stakeholders to guide equitable, sustainable, and well-planned growth across DeKalb County.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provides leadership and direction for Long Range Planning, Current Planning, and Zoning divisions.
• Oversees the development, implementation, and updates of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, Small Area Plans, Corridor Studies, and other long-range policy initiatives.
• Ensures planning activities integrate land use, transportation, housing, economic development, sustainability, and environmental justice principles.
• Advises County leadership and elected officials on planning trends, emerging issues, and policy impacts.

Current Planning & Development Review Oversight

• Manages daily operations for current planning, including zoning analysis, land use amendments, variances, special land use permits, and development review cases.
• Ensures staff reports, recommendations, and presentations to the Planning Commission, Board of Commissioners, and other bodies are accurate, timely, and professionally prepared.
• Oversees development review for consistency with the UDO, Comprehensive Plan, and applicable County codes and policies.

Policy Development & Ordinance Management

• Leads the drafting, analysis, and updating of zoning regulations, land-use policies, and planning-related ordinances.
• Coordinates research and benchmarking on best practices in smart growth, environmental sustainability, mobility, equitable development, and housing policy.
• Ensures code updates and planning policies reflect community values and strategic direction.

Community Engagement & Public Communication

• Designs and leads inclusive, accessible community engagement processes for comprehensive planning and zoning initiatives.
• Serves as a public spokesperson for major planning efforts, public meetings, and outreach events.
• Builds strategic partnerships with neighborhoods, civic groups, business leaders, regional agencies (ARC, GDOT, MARTA), and other stakeholders.

Data, Research & Performance

• Oversees demographic forecasting, GIS analysis, land use inventories, housing studies, and other research needed for long-range planning.
• Implements performance metrics to evaluate division effectiveness, responsiveness, and customer service outcomes.
• Ensures planning documents meet federal, state, and regional requirements for compliance and certification.

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Supervises managers, senior planners, planning analysts, zoning staff, and administrative personnel.
• Leads