Director of Planning

Are you a strategic, people-focused planning professional who can lead a high-performing team, guide community development, and uphold McKinney’s commitment to excellence? If so, apply to be McKinney, Texas’s next Director of Planning! McKinney is a vibrant, fast-growing city with a charming small-town feel and a population of approximately 224,000. Known for its award-winning parks, top-rated schools, and beautifully preserved historic downtown, McKinney offers a high quality of life with a welcoming community atmosphere.

The Planning Department provides comprehensive planning, development planning, and downtown development/historic preservation services. The department also supports and oversees several key boards and commissions, including the Planning & Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Advisory Board, and the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in municipal planning, with a strong understanding of both comprehensive and development planning practices. They will be a collaborative leader who builds trust across teams and departments, and a skilled communicator who can confidently represent the City in public forums and stakeholder meetings. This individual will be highly strategic, capable of applying data-driven decision-making to support McKinney’s long-term vision. They will also demonstrate technical proficiency in zoning, subdivision regulations, and comprehensive planning tools. A customer service mindset, political savvy, and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential. As McKinney continues to grow, the Director of Planning must strike a thoughtful balance between historic preservation and forward-thinking development, all while mentoring a talented team and fostering innovation across the department.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Architecture, or a closely related field
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in planning, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory role
• Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in Urban & Regional Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, or a related field
• American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
• Experience in municipal planning, historic preservation, and downtown development initiatives

The salary range for this position is $141,780.28 – $205,586.22 DOE/DOQ.

Please apply online.

For more information on this position, contact:
Lissa Barker, Senior Vice President, Executive Recruitment
[email protected] | 817-266-0647