Development Services Director

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the Hiring Process section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint however we may go slightly higher based on experience internal equity and market.

The City of Bellevue is seeking an experienced collaborative and forward-thinking leader to serve as its Director of Development Services.

The Director provides leadership strategic direction and general oversight for the Development Services Department including land use entitlement building permitting and inspection code compliance business services policy and code development. Working through and alongside division leaders the Director establishes priorities implements policies and processes makes key administrative and program management decisions and develops long-range strategies that support the Citys growth and development.

A key part of the role is providing strong organizational leadership building a cohesive management team coaching and developing leaders and staff encouraging collaboration across divisions and departments advancing continuous improvement and innovation and ensuring high-quality customer-focused services. The Director also serves as an enterprise leader and member of the Citys senior leadership team contributing to broader citywide priorities and organizational decision-making.

Bellevue is a growing diverse and economically vibrant community known for its strong neighborhoods thriving business environment natural beauty and commitment to thoughtful growth. The city is recognized for its focus on innovation collaboration excellent public service and preparing for the needs of a changing community.

• Provides strategic and policy direction to the Department
• Organizes and leads the departments management team in responding to department and citywide issues.
• Manages the day-to-day administration of the department including the budget employee/ labor relations issues and customer requests.
• Leads through the departments management team by setting clear expectations providing timely feedback and evaluating performance to achieve departmental goals employee growth and accountability for results.
• Recruits and retains qualified staff at all departmental levels consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversees the preparation and updating of short- and long-range strategic plans to ensure the departments contribution to the Citys overall plans and strategies.
• Serves as an enterprise leader and active member of the Citys senior leadership team balancing departmental priorities with broader City interests and contributing to citywide strategic and management decisions.
• Creates and sustains a healthy high-performing organizational culture characterized by trust accountability respectful communication employee engagement creativity and teamwork. Proactively addresses leadership performance workplace culture and employee-relations concerns.
• Directs ongoing research into new technologies and trends and recommends implementation of programs systems and tools that help the department achieve its objectives more effectively and efficiently.
• Presents departmental issues and recommendations on major issues requiring policy direction to appropriate advisory bodies and to the city council.
• Builds alignment and shared ownership across departments and offices on common projects priorities and interests. Encourages constructive disagreement and once decisions are made supports and effectively implements established organizational direction.
• Directs the evaluation update and revisions to the comprehensive plan elements.
• Oversees the development and administration of Development Services fees and rates for permitting plan review inspections and related services ensuring they support cost recovery service delivery transparency and long-term financial sustainability.

Supervision Exercised/Received:

• Works under the broad policy and management guidance of a Deputy City Manager and is expected to operate effectively within direction established by the City Manager and senior leadership.
• Exercises supervision over all employees of the Development Services Department either directly or indirectly through supervisors.

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in urban planning architecture engineering or closely related field.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in administration and supervision of a planning or development services department or corresponding agency with Federal state county or local government experience preferred.
• Or any equivalent combination of education experience and training that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities.
• Skilled in continuous improvement with the ability to simplify and streamline the development approval process; provide consistent and predictable service; decrease turnaround times; improve work processes; and provide high-quality seamless customer service.
• Skill in effective clear and persuasive oral and written communications to individuals and groups.
• Ability to identify the departments future direction in response to changing community needs and to develop implement and monitor appropriate plans schedules and action steps.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with elected officials business leaders advisory boards the news media and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through an executive and management team by establishing clear roles decision rights expectations and accountability while empowering leaders to manage effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to receive feedback reflect on the impact of ones leadership style and adapt approach to improve team and organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate conflict and disagreement constructively including respectfully challenging ideas and effectively implementing organizational direction once decisions are made.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and organizational awareness in complex politically sensitive or high-profile environments including knowing when and how to elevate emerging issues and risks.
• Ability to build trust and productive working relationships with employees labor partners peers executive leadership elected officials customers and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success developing people and leaders through candid feedback coaching and mentoring identifying talent and skill gaps and intentionally building leadership capacity and succession readiness throughout the department.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Competencies

• Leadership through others: Builds strong leaders and teams delegates appropriately establishes clear roles decision rights expectations and accountability and empowers leaders to manage effectively.
• Enterprise leadership: Balances advocacy for Development Services with responsibility to the broader City organization and supports shared citywide priorities and decisions.
• Self-awareness and adaptability: Welcomes feedback understands the impact of leadership behavior and adapts leadership approaches to organizational and team needs.
• Trust and integrity: Communicates openly follows through on commitments demonstrates sound judgment and builds credibility through consistent actions.
• Conflict management: Encourages constructive dialogue navigates disagreement professionally and maintains productive relationships through challenging conversations.
• Talent development: Coaches and develops leaders; strengthens succession capacity; and creates opportunities for employees to grow and assume greater responsibility.

The Community

Located in west central Washington state on the eastern shore of Lake Washington between Seattle and the Cascade Mountains Bellevue is the economic and cultural hub in east King County. Moreover Bellevue is situated in easy driving distance of nineteen national parks and monuments two mountain ranges water passages leading to the Pacific Ocean and a temperate climate making Bellevue one of the best places to live in the United States as routinely recognized by Newsweek and Money magazines. Home to over 158000 residents it is the fifth most populous city in Washington covering an area of about 33 square miles. Bellevue is culturally diverse with 68 percent of its population identifying as people of color. Nearly 50 percent of the population is foreign-born and over 100 languages are spoken in Bellevue schools. Residents of Asian heritage comprise 48 percent of the population.

Bellevue is the second-largest employment center in King County employing over 170000 people. With direct connections to Seattle and other regional centers via interstate and state highways Bellevue is a highly desirable location for businesses. Light rail transit service connects Bellevue to the Microsoft campus and to downtown 2026 rail service will connect Bellevue throughout the Seattle metropolitan region including the Seattle Tacoma International Airport. The city has a rich mix of small and medium sized businesses as well as some of the countrys best-known companies Amazon T-Mobile (HQ) Salesforce Symetra TikTok Microsoft Meta and PACCAR (HQ). Bellevues school district is continually ranked among the nations best academically combined with excellent athletic and cultural arts programs. Bellevue College offers bachelors degrees and is the largest among Washingtons community and technical college system.

Bellevue is known as a City in a Park due to its award-winning park systems and vast network of green spaces all contributing toward an exceptional quality of life. City parks and open space locations range from community and beach parks to extensive trails and world-renowned botanical garden. Just minutes from downtown is Mercer Slough Nature Park the largest freshwater wetland on Lake Washington with over 320 acres of wildlife habitat agriculture wetland ecosystems trails and an education center. Whether visiting one of the community farms enjoying a round of golf swimming at the Bellevue Aquatic Center catching a performance at the youth theatre recreation at a community center or a movie in a park there is always something to see and do in Bellevue. Popular annual events include the Family July 4th celebration and Garden dLights a brilliant winter wonderland display at Bellevue Botanical Garden during December.

Bellevue is a growing diverse and economically vibrant community known for its strong neighborhoods thriving business environment natural beauty and commitment to thoughtful growth. The city is recognized for its focus on innovation collaboration excellent public service and preparing for the needs of a changing community.

Bellevue operates under a council-manager form of government which consists of an elected city council that establishes public policy and develops a long-range vision for Bellevues future. The city council is comprised of seven members who are elected at large and serve staggered four-year terms. The council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members. A city manager is hired by the city council and held accountable for the successful implementation of all municipal services.

The city provides a full range of services including law enforcement services emergency medical response fire suppression the construction and maintenance of infrastructure garbage removal and water supply recreational activities permitting and much more. The $1.75 billion 2025-2026 budget funds essential services while also making targeted investments to address Bellevues exceptional growth. The municipal government is in a strong financial position with a AAA rating by bond rating agencies.

Five departments are nationally accredited which are Parks and Community Services Police Emergency Medical and Fire Response Utilities and Transportation. Organizational values lead the commitment to the community and city council which are excellent public service stewardship commitment to employees integrity innovation and diversity equity and Bellevue the model of a high performing organization (HPO) promotes structure and culture that foster a workplace where innovation may originate from any employee.

The city continues to advance toward the city councils vision that begins Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. The mission of the organization is to Provide exceptional customer service uphold the public interest and advance the community vision. The community vision is articulated in greater detail in the citys comprehensive service of the vision and comprehensive plan organizational core values motivate the delivery of municipal services:

• Exceptional Public Service
• Stewardship
• Commitment to Employees
• Integrity
• Innovation
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion

The city is committed to high-performing government by fostering a positive culture within its employees which embraces shared leadership collaboration empowerment innovation and performance management.

The salary range for the position is competitive within the market and is negotiable based on the candidates qualifications and experience. The City of Bellevue also offers an excellent benefits package including health care retirement leave professional training and relocation expenses. Information city benefits can be obtained at for more information about the City of Bellevue.

HIRING PROCESS
The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name address and other demographics. To help us please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter resume writing sample and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background checkprior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial drivers license (CDL) licensures or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue youll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions our interactions and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service Stewardship Commitment to Employees Integrity Innovation and Diversity Equity & Inclusion. Youll work in an environment that is innovative collaborative future focused and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. Its what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work live and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation marital status national origin genetic information disability age veteran status or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office at or .If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

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