About the Department

The Opportunity

Are you seeking a meaningful career that allows you to work with an exceptional team whose goal is to grow a community in a strategic and sustainable manner? Then we invite you to apply for the City of Surprise Community Development (CD) Director position. As the CD Director you must be professional; responsive; innovative; possess a strategic vision for the department; and be dedicated to the mission of the City of Surprise.

City’s Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide an exceptional quality of life and foster opportunities for businesses. We will ensure a flourishing city through ongoing investments in public safety, infrastructure, water, and responsible financial management, the promotion of economic development, and the continual growth of community activities.

About the City of Surprise

Surprise is an active community of more than 172,943 residents who enjoy new housing; an eclectic mix of retail and restaurants; and award-winning recreational amenities that include a Spring Training baseball stadium; one of the largest municipal tennis complexes in the country; and nearly 30,000 acres of hiking trails at the neighboring White Tank Mountain Regional Park.

The city encompasses a 328 square mile planning area. More than 110 square miles is already incorporated including urban and commercial developments, ranches, and industrial parks. As you can see, we’ve got great growth potential!

For more information visit our website

The Community Development Department

The Community Development Department has a staff of 60 FTEs with an annual operating budget of approximately $9 million. The department is comprised of five major service areas: Planning and Zoning; Development Services; Building Safety; Business Operation; and Code Enforcement.

For more information visit the Community Development webpage

Top Priorities:

The new Community Development (CD) Director will need to hit the ground running and be responsible for completing several high-priority projects that are currently underway. These initiatives include:

Developing and implementing the City’s new Desert Rural Zoning District and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) ordinances to modernize and enhance the Surprise Unified Development Code
Implementing a new community development software system to track all phases of the entitlement process, including planning, construction review and permitting, development agreements, and code enforcement
Working closely with the City Council, City Manager’s Office, and all departments to forecast citywide growth and ensure that new development provides the infrastructure needed to support future growth without adversely impacting existing development

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a confident, service oriented development leader that will provide the Community Development team with the support, structure, and direction needed to meet the fast paced needs of the City of Surprise. The CD Director must be personable and able to forge key relationships with a variety of public agencies, civic leaders, regional stakeholders, and the business community. A strong candidate will possess a strong background in Current and Long Range Planning; Land Development; the Construction Process; Building Codes; Construction Plan Review and Inspections; and Code Enforcement.

The candidate who possesses the following will find success in this role:

Be servant leader-focused for their team to build consensus and support succession planning within the CD Department
Have the ability to anticipate challenges in advance and communicate them to City Management to mitigate those challenges
Build relationships throughout the organization that support a city-wide team-based environment
Possess the ability to establish credibility and trust among stakeholders
Provide exceptional customer service for both internal and external customers
Effectively lead multiple projects, empowering team members to achieve highest level of service
Experience working with Councils, Commissions, Boards and Committees
Understand the importance of technology to streamline the entitlement process

Click this link to view the full Community Development Director Job Description.

Education and Experience

Candidates for the Community Development Director will possess a Bachelor's degree in Planning, Urban Management, Engineering, Real Estate Development or a related field; and five years of progressively responsible management experience directly related to the area assigned; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring salary range for the Community Development Director position is $152,782.76 - $229,174.14. Appointment within the range will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

The City offers a competitive benefit package that includes:

Arizona State Retirement System
Employer contribution to health, dental and vision coverage for employee and dependents
Annual leave; 12 paid holidays
Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000
Employer Contribution to Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan
Group Life insurance (100% paid for employee)
Longevity pay following eight and ten years of service
Flexible spending account (IRS Section 125)
Relocation assistance

Application and Selection Procedure

To be considered for this challenging and rewarding career opportunity, please apply at www.surpriseaz.gov/careers by submitting your online application, cover letter, resume, current salary, and list of four work-related references (references will not be contacted in the early stages of the recruitment). Resume should reflect to/from dates (months and years) of each position held, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed. Materials will only be accepted electronically by applying online. Paper applications and resumes will not be accepted in person, or by fax, e-mail, or postal service.

The final filing date for the position is Thursday, July 23, 2026. Materials will not be accepted after the final filing date.

Following the filing dates, information will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined posting and application supplemental questions. Selected finalists deemed to have the most relevant backgrounds will be invited to participate in City interviews the week of August 10, 2026. A selection is expected in August followed by completion of reference/background checks. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will start on August 31, 2026.

Benefits

: The City of Surprise offers a broad range of inclusive employee benefits to help employees in their work and personal lives. We are committed to a total rewards strategy that provides our employees with competitive compensation, generous benefits, and an environment that supports a healthy work/life balance for our diverse workforce. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, retirement, and a variety of work/life programs, including generous paid time off and twelve holidays. For additional benefit information, please Click Here

Supplemental Questions

I understand all criminal convictions (felonies and/or misdemeanors including DUIs) that occurred as an adult (age 18 or older) must be disclosed when answering Question 7 and disclosed in full detail in Question 8 in the Agency-Wide Questions section of this application. I also understand my failure to disclose a conviction as outlined in Question 8 may be grounds for elimination of further consideration and/or a job offer to be rescinded.

I acknowledge the above statement.

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

Are you currently employed by the City of Surprise?

Select the option that applies to your highest level of education completed:

Master's Degree, or higher, in Planning, Urban Management, Engineering, Real Estate Development or a related field
Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Urban Management, Engineering, Real Estate Development or a related field
Associate's Degree
High School diploma or G.E.D. awarded
None of the above

How many years of progressively responsible management experience do you possess?

9 years or more
7 years to less than 9 years
5 years to less than 7 years
Less than 5 years
None of the above

Will you have and be able to maintain a valid Arizona Driver License at the time of hire?

I understand that this position requires a valid Driver's License with no major driving citations in the last 39 months.

I acknowledge the statement above

Do you have at least four (4) years of senior management experience (senior planner or higher) in urban planning for a municipality?

If you answered yes to the previous question, describe your experience and expertise in both current and long-term planning relative to industrial, commercial, and residential development. If you answered no, write “N/A”.

Do you have experience in economic development, whether directly or in collaboration with economic development professionals?

If you answered yes to the previous question, describe your experience. If you answered no, write “N/A”.

Describe your experience and expertise in sustainable development, including any work with renewable energy, knowledge-based industries, manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, or medical and bio-industry. What does sustainability mean to you?

Do you have seven (7) or more years of demonstrated experience and knowledge of planning methods, principles, practices, and techniques (long-term and current planning)?

Describe your experience and expertise with property maintenance and code enforcement codes and regulations. If you do not have this experience, write “N/A”.

Do you hold any of the following certifications? (Check all that apply)

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP)
Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM)
Others
None of the Above

Do you have experience in updating a General Plan or Comprehensive Plan?

Do you have experience in the Redistricting Process?

Do you have experience with Development Agreements?

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: City of Surprise
Address: 16000 N. Civic Center Plaza

Surprise, Arizona, 85374
Phone: 623.222.3500
Website: http://www.surpriseaz.gov

DIRECTOR - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

About the Department

Benefits

Supplemental Questions

Agency Information