San Miguel County, Colorado
Planning Director
Located in spectacular southwest Colorado, San Miguel County (pop. 8,082, 1,289 sq. mi.) has stunning scenic beauty and a rich, colorful history. From the dramatic San Juan Mountains and Telluride’s world-class skiing in the east to the mesas, farms, and high-desert ranches to the west, the county is geographically and socio-economically diverse, a state and national treasure.
Public lands (U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management) account for about 64% of all land within the county. The San Miguel River flows from the mountains east of Telluride and gives the county its name. Sheltered in an iconic box canyon, Telluride (elev. 8,750 ft.), the county seat, started as a mining town and reinvented itself as a world-class ski destination. Its close neighbor, Mountain Village, is seven miles or a free 13-minute gondola ride away.
The mountain hamlet of Ophir is ten miles to the south. Heading down valley to the west, one finds the communities of Sawpit and Placerville. To the northwest, high mountain peaks yield to Wright’s Mesa and Norwood, where ranching and farming predominate. San Miguel County runs all the way to the Utah border, where residents tend to prefer the individual freedoms and relative solitude of the traditional American West.
The lands that now make up San Miguel County were once home to Ute tribes, explored by the Spanish, and later settled by miners, farmers, and homesteaders. Today, residents and visitors are attracted to the area’s majestic scenery, abundant recreational amenities, cultural events and relaxed lifestyle. Even though its location is remote and its winters long, the county boasts of exceptional schools, abundant cultural arts and entertainment opportunities, and overall hospitality.
The Position
The Director of Planning leads, directs, and manages the development review process, Planning Commission procedures, and other planning activities to guide development within the unincorporated county through positive community engagement. Leading a small team, the Director must prioritize the work of the Department to ensure development proposals are reviewed in a timely, transparent, and balanced process while proactively managing updates to the County's land use regulations and Comprehensive Plan.
The Director provides strategic leadership to connect long-range planning with public and private development efforts in support of a vibrant and sustainable community. Through the development and implementation of a strategic work plan, the Director and planning team must work to address the County’s priorities through their thoughtful leadership, policy development and practice.
The Planning Director will report to the Deputy County Manager. The Planning Director and their team work closely with applicants and the public, BOCC, Planning Commission, Building Department, Road and Bridge Department, Environmental Health and other stakeholders to improve processes and procedures to balance development opportunities with community desires as indicated within the master plans and other county planning documents.
Requirements for this position include a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, or a closely related field, from an accredited college or university and eight years’ management-level experience in community development or a related field, including five years of supervisory experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. American Institute of Certified Planners designation is preferred. Candidates should have experience working within, or demonstrate strong familiarity with the Council-Manager form of government. Successful candidates will also have a proven record of leadership, fiscal stewardship, innovation, and relationship-building.
The Ideal Candidate
The next Planning Director is a confident, experienced local government planning professional with integrity, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to ethical public service. The Director must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected of a senior local government planning professional, including specific expertise in land use planning, development, the quasi-judicial nature of land use approvals, open meetings, and public records.
The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, prepared, and proactive, always thinking and working ahead to serve the County and its constituents to balance land use changes. The preferred candidate has a strong foundation in the following practice areas: affordable housing (development, covenants, deed restrictions, etc.), contracts (including development agreements), and zoning code (drafting, interpretation, and enforcement), long-range/master planning, and others.
The successful candidate is approachable, diplomatic, and politically astute, but apolitical, with strong situational awareness. They are committed to providing the County with sound land use recommendations and options consistent with the County’s policy priorities. The successful candidate demonstrates intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, resilience, sound judgment, and practical problem-solving skills. They are an active listener, who is positive, approachable, and collaborative. The ideal candidate is excited about living and working in San Miguel County as a lifestyle choice. They look forward to being a part of the positive, professional, and genuinely collegial culture here while advancing the abilities and processes within the Planning Department to be better every day.
Total Compensation and Schedule
San Miguel County offers a competitive starting salary range of $116,454 to $132,175 annually with placement potentially higher depending on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Additionally, the county provides an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, supplemental life, long term disability, parental leave (after one year), down payment assistance (after two years), supplemental insurance options, flexible spending and an Employee Assistance Program.
Retirement benefits are through the Colorado Retirement Association and include a mandatory 401(a) plan (5% employee with 100% county match), 457(b) option (county match up to 1.5% after year 5). The position includes paid vacation and sick time (3.7 hours of each per pay period to start); 13 paid holidays, four personal days (32 hours), and opportunity for tuition and educational reimbursement.
Participation in regional, statewide and national planning organizations is encouraged and promoted for the Director and their staff.
Relocation assistance and potential availability of county-owned rental housing may be available and are subject to negotiation.
The proposed schedule for this position solicitation is as follows:
Schedule Dates
Application Deadline August 20, 2026
Preliminary Interviews September 3-4, 2026
Finalist Interviews September 10-11, 2026
All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the County
To apply and view full job description, please submit an application with your resume and a cover letter online at: https://bit.ly/3Tfr0jk
For more information on this position, contact:
San Miguel County Human Resources
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 970-369-5471