Deputy Development Officer- Housing, Comm. Development, Neighborhoods

Position Purpose/Summary

Responsible for implementing the City's housing and community development policies, projects and plans. This position will oversee three City departments; Housing, Community Development, and Neighborhoods. The position is responsible for organizing and implementing the City's housing and community development programming functions and strategies from conception to completion. Including organizing directing and coordinating the programs and activities and operations. Work is performed under the general direction of the Chief Development Officers. Supervision is exercised over departmental staff.

Essential Functions

• Plan, organize, and implement housing development and redevelopment functions and strategies from conception to completion, including retention, new construction and design incentive programs.

• Establishes, reviews and enforces policies and procedures to ensure objectives, operational requirements, and customer service goals are met.

• Leads strategic neighborhood-based planning efforts.

• Implement housing and community development city-wide goals and objectives, as well as coordinate with developers, local businesses, and other City departments and staff.

• Maintain a critical focus on housing and neighborhood development outcomes, key project management, development negotiations, creating local and regional housing partnerships, neighborhood marketing and branding, housing data analysis, and fostering a diverse housing inventory across the City.

• Develop the Community Development Annual Plan and the five-year Consolidated Plan.

• Establish housing program policies and procedures that facilitate housing development and redevelopment with the intent of expanding the City's tax base and growing owner-occupied home ownership.

• Ensure that all aspects of City driven housing and community development policy speaks to equity and inclusion.

• Implement the development of medium- and long-range plans for Springfield related to workforce disengagement, housing diversity, and economic mobility.

• Maintain a toolbox of existing resources for advancing neighborhood improvements, housing, and neighborhood urban renewal development.

• Construct sustainable neighborhood marketing and branding approaches.

• Develop and manage the Community Development, Neighborhoods and Housing Department budget and staff.

• Provide guidance and direction regarding administrative duties such as those associated with City Council meetings, public hearings, legal documentation, workflow, and public access and engagement tools.

• Participate in and direct the collection, interpretation, and analysis of market and community data that identify housing and community development trends and potential issues.

• Represent the City on selected boards and committees, present to City Council, commissions, civic groups, and the general public on housing, community development and neighborhood issues.

• Analyze existing economic situations relative to new housing production; review zoning regulations related to housing development, neighborhood business retention and attraction and negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues; monitor program performance and periodically reporting status to CDO.

• Analyze and document on current availability of housing, shelter beds and supportive housing units.

• Coordinate and develop proposals; conduct site tours and provide informational materials; create public/private partnerships to enhance housing development; maintain communication and work closely with a variety of local, regional, state, and federal departments and agencies to bring housing and neighborhood development to the city.

• Meet, confer, and provide detailed data-based information to housing developers contemplating new housing or neighborhood business development in Springfield.

• Assist with the negotiation, preparation and processing of documents and implementation of such documents as depositions and development agreements, owner participation agreements, contracts, resolutions, and requests for proposals/qualifications.

• Serve as a resource to City committees and boards associated with housing and community development.

• Interfaces and coordinates with the development community, local businesses neighborhood councils, neighborhood advocates and various City elected officials, departments and staff.

• Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of operational characteristics, services, and activities of a housing and community development program.

• Knowledge of management methods and techniques to analyze programs, policies and operational.

• Knowledge of public administration and local government operations.

• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

• Understanding and knowledge of how municipal housing, community development and redevelopment function affect other departments or initiatives such as infrastructure development, building and planning.

• Knowledgeable of tax-incentive programs and other public resources available to incentivize housing and community development activity.

• Ability to oversee and manage the operations, services, activities of the city's housing and community development programing and its personnel.

• Ability to plan, administer, direct and coordinate multiple and/or large scale real estate projects.

• Ability to obtain a working knowledge of all relevant City, State and federal regulatory requirements and processes including but not limited to zoning, building and construction.

• Ability to make sound decisions and recommendations on matters of major policy and complex administrative and technical problems.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, municipal officials, other department heads, government and business officials, neighborhood organizations and the general public.

• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in urban planning, public/business administration, administration, economics, finance, or related field.

• Ten years of experience in economic development, community development, or redevelopment activities in the State of Massachusetts.

• Master's degree in relevant field preferred.