Community Development Director

DEFINITION

Under administrative direction of the City Manager, the Community Development Director will plan, direct, manage, organize, oversee, and evaluate the activities and operations of the Community Development Department including planning, building and safety, and code enforcement programs, services, and activities; to coordinate assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; instill ethical decision making, public responsiveness, and innovation in the delivery of services; to act as liaison to the City’s Planning Commission; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager and the City Council.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Assist in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and procedures for their respective department(s); Ensure that the department’s goals and objectives are within the model of a high performing, collaborative, and participative organization. As the Community Development Director for the City of Hermosa Beach, you will be expected to be a critical part of our high-performing and high-functioning team that works together toward the achievement of common goals—short term and long term. There is also an expectation that this position will work closely with the City Manager’s Office and Public Works Department on issues pertaining to the City’s built environment. You will be required to exhibit a commitment to performance excellence, exercise mutual respect, and hold yourself and your department staff accountable at both the individual and team levels. This classification is at-will and serves at the pleasure of the City Manager.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates the activities of all divisions of the Community Development Department including planning, building and safety, and code enforcement;

Oversee the implementation of the and other locally adopted development plans; develops, coordinates, and oversees changes to the City’s General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, local coastal plan, building and safety standards, and code enforcement ordinances;

Manages the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, and priorities for each assigned service area;

Provides training and supervision for all divisions of the department;

Conducts staff meetings;

Prepares reports on current issues for the City Manager and the City Council;

Provides support and advice to the City Manager and the City Council in resolving problems, formulating policy and developing the City’s organizational development programs;

Attends a variety of meetings including Planning Commission and City Council meetings;

Develops, implements, and interprets departmental policies consistent with City Council and City Manager directives;

Develops, monitors, and controls the department budget; establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with the public;

Meets with a variety of individuals and groups, including developers and potential developers, to provide information, enlist support, resolve issues, plan and coordinate department activities, and facilitate and process projects and laws to ensure they are in the best interest of the City;

Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level staff, the Community Development Department’s work plan; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility;

Reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures to ensure both efficiency and customer service;

Meets with key staff to identify and resolve problems; selects, trains, and supervises department staff;

Prepares and reviews evaluations of immediate subordinates and reviews evaluations of other department staff;

Selects and oversees work of consultants; participates with a variety of City committees, study groups and task forces; processes correspondence;

Prepares other reports and provides for the maintenance of all department records;

Represents the Community Development Department to other departments, elected officials, and outside agencies;

Coordinates assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations;

Maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of community development including planning, building, safety, and code enforcement, and incorporates new developments as appropriate;

Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive community development program;

Principles and practices of community development, including current and advanced planning, economic development, redevelopment, environmental design, mobility planning, building, and code enforcement;

Principles and practices of public administration, supervision and training; principles of economics, statistics and demographics;

City organization, operation, policies and objectives;

Oral and written communications skills;

Applicable sections of federal, state and local laws and codes including

State planning and zoning law California Environmental Quality Act, California Coastal Act Subdivision Map Act Uniform Building And Safety Codes Penal Code 832, City Municipal Code and related ordinances, and technical aspects of field of specialty;

Public speaking;

Principles and practices of budget preparation and control;

Practices and techniques of developing grant proposals;

Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as permit processing, word processing, spreadsheets, and databases;

Ability to:

Plan, organize, direct, coordinate and evaluate the work of staff engaged in a wide variety of community development activities;

Work independently with little direction;

Develop and administer departmental goals, objectives, and procedures;

Analyze and assess programs, policies, and operational needs and make appropriate adjustments;

Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs;

Meet schedules and time lines;

Train, supervise and evaluate personnel;

Research data and prepare reports;

Work confidentially with discretion;

Present ideas and concepts persuasively in speaking before groups or writing for publication;

Read and interpret construction plans;

Analyze plans, specifications and proposals and consider design issues and standards and make appropriate recommendations;

Interpret, apply and explain laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures;

Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action;

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:   

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain this required knowledge would be:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in urban planning, public administration, architecture, engineering, or related field and Six years of progressively responsible experience in at least one area of community development, four years of which were in a responsible supervisory position.

A Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration or a related field is desirable.

Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with a safe driving record is required and must be maintained as valid during the course of employment.

Certification by the American Institute of City Planners (AICP) or a related organization is desirable.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

physical demands and WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment : Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

Physical : Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision : See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing : Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

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