Denison, Texas Director of Development Services PositionCast™
A Leadership Opportunity at the Center of Denison’s Growth
The City of Denison, Texas, is searching for its next Director of Development Services at a pivotal point in the community’s growth. In Episode #79 of The Clear Voice, Interim City Manager Renee’ Waggoner joins host James Groom for a PositionCast™ focused on the opportunity, the organization, and the kind of leader Denison needs to help guide its next chapter. Denison is experiencing significant development across the community, particularly along U.S. 75, in its Northwest Corridor, and around Lake Texoma. For the next Director of Development Services, that growth creates an opportunity to influence how one of North Texas’ evolving communities develops while protecting the history, neighborhoods, and character residents value.
Leading Development Services in a Growing Texas Community
The Director of Development Services will oversee several functions that directly influence Denison’s growth and quality of life, including planning and zoning, building permitting and inspections, neighborhood services and code compliance, and historic preservation. Renee’ describes a knowledgeable and experienced team that needs a leader who can provide direction, mentorship, and support while trusting employees to do their jobs. The position requires more than technical expertise. Relationship building will be critical. The next director will regularly interact with City leadership, elected officials, developers, residents, business owners, boards and commissions, and community partners. Renee’ emphasizes that communication, transparency, trust, and respect are foundational to how Denison operates.
Balancing Growth With Denison’s Identity
One of the defining challenges of this position will be managing significant new development while preserving what already makes Denison distinctive. The community has an award winning downtown and historic district, established neighborhoods, aging infrastructure, parks, and other assets that City leaders want to protect even as new development accelerates. Renee’ describes Denison’s approach as taking care of what the city already has while being intentional and strategic about what comes next. That balance will place the Director of Development Services at the center of decisions involving land use, infrastructure, development standards, neighborhood preservation, historic properties, and long range planning.
Preston Harbor and the Next Chapter of Denison Growth
Few projects demonstrate the scale of Denison’s future more clearly than Preston Harbor. The approximately 3,200 acre development in Denison’s Northwest Corridor includes roughly nine miles of shoreline along Lake Texoma. Plans discussed during the PositionCast™ include thousands of residential units along with commercial, retail, restaurant, and resort development. For the next Director of Development Services, projects of this scale will require close coordination across planning, zoning, permitting, inspections, infrastructure, and development review. It also means the successful candidate must be comfortable operating in a community where the pace and complexity of development are increasing. Renee’ makes that expectation clear. Denison wants someone who understands growth and will not be intimidated by it.
What Denison Is Looking for in Its Next Director
Technical knowledge will matter, but Renee’ repeatedly returns to leadership and relationships when describing the ideal candidate. Denison is looking for someone who can build trust with employees, communicate openly, work effectively with developers and community partners, and understand the culture of the organization before attempting to change it. The successful candidate should bring ideas and experience from elsewhere while recognizing that solutions must fit Denison. Renee’ also emphasizes honesty, fairness, consistency, and a willingness to mentor employees. The City is not looking for a completely hands off director. The team wants access to its leader, clear communication, guidance, and someone who understands the work well enough to help employees succeed.
The First 90 Days
For an experienced development professional coming from outside Denison, the first several months will be about learning. Renee’ identifies several immediate priorities, including becoming familiar with Denison’s Code of Ordinances, zoning regulations, comprehensive plan, historic preservation standards, development processes, and organizational policies. Just as important will be learning the people. The new director will need to establish relationships with employees, City leadership, the City Council, developers, business owners, community partners, and other stakeholders. That foundation of knowledge and trust will be essential as the director begins making decisions that shape Denison’s future.
Why Denison?
Denison combines the opportunities of a growing North Texas community with a distinct identity of its own. Located about an hour north of Dallas near the Red River and Lake Texoma, the community offers access to outdoor recreation, an active downtown, restaurants, live music, parks, community events, and a strong sense of local history. Denison is also the birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a connection that remains an important part of the community’s identity. Throughout the PositionCast™, Renee’ consistently identifies Denison’s people as one of its greatest strengths. Her message to prospective candidates is simple. Denison is growing, the opportunity to make an impact is significant, and the City is ready for its next development leader.
Director of Development Services Recruitment
The City of Denison is accepting applications for Director of Development Services. Salary Range: $150,000 to $170,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
First Review Deadline: August 24, 2026. The position is open until filled.
Candidates can review the full recruitment information and apply here:
https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/denison-texas-director-of-development-services-job-posting
About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth.
James Groom is the host of the program. As the Vice President of Clear Career Professionals and a retired Police Chief, James brings a unique, high stakes perspective to every conversation. His background in public service and executive leadership allows him to extract practical, actionable insights from industry experts that help modern organizations function with total clarity.
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