Penn Hills Planning Department hiring ahead of director's retirement

Penn Hills is seeking a planning director and a planner, but only one person is leaving what currently is a three-member department.

Planning Director Chris Blackwell will retire in February after 30 years with the municipality and 10 as the department head.

In that time, he has had a hand in starting the Homebuyer Assistance Program, building the Xtreme Skatepark, designing the VOPP Trail — short for Verona, Oakmont, Penn Hills and Plum — and countless other economic development projects. Day to day, the planning director attends municipal meetings, writes ordinances, administers grants, hammers out contracts and much more.

Blackwell, 60, is leaving all that behind because “it’s time for another chapter” — one that likely will include lots of travel abroad.

“I’m so fortunate to have made a career of the unseen details of running a community,” he said. “You’re never bored. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

So if only Blackwell is stepping down, why are there two positions open?

Manager Scott Andrejchak said it’s possible the municipality may promote from within and have to hire another planner — the lowest rank in the department — or use this moment to add a fourth member to its planning team.

“As demands on public agencies increase, so, too, do the resources needed to meet those demands,” he said. “Penn Hills will end up with the best team in planning, either through the existing number of positions or by increasing our service model.”

Officials hope to hear from interested applicants by the end of this year or early 2025.

The planner listing offers a salary between $52,000 and $60,000. There is no salary range posted for planning director, though Blackwell’s yearly pay of $86,000 gives a clue to where that might fall.

Successful applicants must become a Penn Hills resident within a year of their hire date.

Job applications are available at pennhillspa.gov/employment. They can be mailed along with a resume to the government center, 102 Duff Road, to the attention of human resources or emailed to hr@pennhills.org.