Bureau Manager For Community Relations

Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others.  With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself.   Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.

The Department of Neighborhood Services is seeking an energetic, experienced, innovative, results-focused individual to lead the Bureau of Neighborhood Engagement.  This position is responsible for developing strategies and initiatives to advance the city's Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) philosophy and programming and the department's focus on the social, physical, and economic resiliency of Norfolk's neighborhoods.

The Bureau of Neighborhood Engagement assists neighborhoods and community-based organizations by:

• Working with engaged residents to increase community cohesion and social investment.

• Fostering and promoting grassroots community involvement.

• Supporting creative, constructive, and positive solutions to community concerns

• Developing organization and leadership capacity.

Essential functions for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Create, schedule, and lead implementation of community-based programs, partnerships, and other engagement initiatives based on community needs as well as City and department goals.

• Establish and maintain effective, collaborative relationships with various community stakeholders and with other city departments.

• Coordinate with other departments and agencies on various program goals and efforts.

• Attend a variety of meetings and events, representing the department and city to include task force meetings, civic league meetings, and committee meetings.

• Make presentations to the public as needed.  May work with local and state personnel to achieve effective neighborhood-based programs.

• Attend and/or facilitate internal/external meetings to address issues, provide information, and implement solutions.

• Ability to interact with government employees at all levels.

• Supervise and evaluate the work of bureau staff to ensure departmental mission and goals are met.

• Develop strategies and initiatives that advance the impact of the NBN philosophy.

• Participate in planning and development of new departmental resources.

• Ensure appropriate and required training and evaluation for staff.

• Oversight of the bureau's budget; reviews and approves expenditures for the bureau.

• All other duties as assigned.

• views and approves expenditures for the bureau.

• All other duties as assigned.

Required:

• Four years of increasingly responsible supervisory and administrative experience in a related field.

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.

Preferred:

• Experience in coordinating, facilitating, and implementing capacity building programming for residents, community-based organizations, and community development staff.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to relate with all levels of city management and staff, external agencies, and community stakeholders.

• Proven ability to lead and work with teams and groups to accomplish defined goals and objectives.

• Ability to brief department directors, executive staff, and City Council on department's project performance in relation to city goals and objectives.

• Prior experience serving on local and/or regional boards and committees in furtherance of community development and neighborhood resiliency.

• Ability to administer local neighborhood improvement grant programs.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Ability to conceptualize, analyze, and work with a high degree of accuracy.

• Ability to maintain composure, tact, sensitivity, and flexibility in potentially stressful and/or sensitive situations.

• Experience and success in working with diverse groups of staff, residents, community organizations, and volunteers.

• Considerable knowledge in identifying and addressing neighborhood challenges and opportunities.

• Success in managing a variety of tasks and projects and navigating a fast-paced work environment.

• Demonstrated integrity when handling highly confidential information.

• Valid Driver's License required.

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:30am to 5:00pm; some evenings and weekends required

Signing Bonus: This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 signing bonus for new hires. The signing bonus will be paid in two (2) increments: $2,500 upon completion of 60 days of employment, and $2,500 upon completion of your probationary period. To receive the signing bonus, you must be an active employee in good standing.