Growth Management Director

The “crown jewel” of Florida’s central ridge, the City of Lake Wales is a community deeply rooted in history, beauty, and a strong sense of identity. Lake Wales is seeing steady economic growth, balancing business development with its commitment to preserving its unique character. The city’s location along major transportation routes, including State Road 60 and U.S. Hwy. 27, makes it an attractive destination for business investment, particularly in industries such as agriculture, tourism, retail, and light manufacturing.

The City of Lake Wales is seeking an assertive, action-oriented leader to serve as its next Growth Management Director. The ideal candidate is a subject matter expert in planning, zoning, permitting, and code enforcement, with deep knowledge of zoning laws, comprehensive planning, development regulations, and economic development. Experience working with Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) is essential, ensuring strategic alignment between growth management and business recruitment efforts. More than just an enforcer of codes, they will assess whether policies are appropriate and effective, ensuring decisions support smart, sustainable growth. A creative thinker, this leader will focus on finding ways to get to “yes” — offering solutions and alternatives rather than just obstacles.

Candidates for this role should have graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree in land-use planning, urban planning, landscape architecture, or a closely related field and have four years’ experience in mu­nicipal planning. Any equivalent combination of education and experience, with additional education substituting on a year-for-year basis with required experience, may be considered.

The American Institute of Certified Planners Certification, in combination with registration with appropriate profes­sional organizations, is preferred, as is relevant experience within the state of Florida. The selected candidate must maintain a valid Florida driver’s license throughout their tenure.

The City of Lake Wales is offering a salary range of $75,921 to $134,160 for this position and a comprehensive benefits package.

Please apply online

For more information on this position, contact:

Kevin Knutson, Senior Vice President

[email protected]

727-754-0407