Neighborhood Safety & Engagement Director - Office Of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (Onse)

Purpose

New Starting Salary $95,000 annually/$45.67 hourly

The City of Savannah is looking for a forward-thinking leader who will partner effectively with senior stakeholders and the community. Join our team today as the Neighborhood Safety & Engagement Director. This position provides leadership, daily management, oversight and coordination of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. The ONSE is responsible for the coordination of violence prevention and intervention strategies utilizing a public health approach and engaging all of government and the community to prevent violence among youth and young adults and to increase public safety.

The Community: As America's first planned city, Savannah boasts historic architecture, luxurious parks, and a government culture that aims to build upon its early success in providing superior planning, infrastructure, and services for its citizens and visitors. In addition to its assets as a city, Savannah offers great weather, nearby beaches, and a tradition of hospitality and cultural offerings. Savannah is home to a vibrant arts and cultural scene that plays host to over 200 festivals each year focused on a variety of themes including music, food, and film. A growing Savannah Music Festival has garnered international acclaim as performers from Savannah and all over the world showcase talent in a variety of musical genres. The City is committed to promoting numerous festivals and special events throughout the year and is particularly known for its St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Savannah has a diverse economy consisting of manufacturing, one of the fastest-growing seaports in the nation, tourism, regional medical services, and the military. Retail and service businesses are also important factors.

Savannah's warm weather allows participation in outdoor activities year-round. The city has more than 100 public recreational neighborhood parks, 13 swimming pools, more than 70 athletic fields, more than 75 basketball courts, 50 tennis courts, 2 public golf courses, and a marina. For boating, fishing, and swimming enthusiasts, Savannah offers marinas throughout the 420 miles of navigable waters and 87,000 acres of tidal marshland, as well as the Intercoastal Waterway. Tybee Island is Savannah's public beach and is located approximately 20 minutes east of the downtown area.

With its well-preserved history, fascinating architecture, natural beauty, unique squares and mild climate, Savannah is a splendid spot for sightseeing. We boast the nation's largest National Historic Landmark District. Savannah has been voted one of "The World's 30 Friendliest Cities" and the fifth "Best Small City in the United States" according to Condé Nast Traveler's Reader's Choice Awards. In 2019, Forbes named the City of Savannah as "one of the best employers and top local government in the State of Georgia." Savannah has earned its reputation and has received accolades:USA Weekend Magazine declared Savannah one of the "top 10 Most Beautiful Places in America." The New York Times named us one of the "World's Top Ten Trendy Travel Hot Spots." Conde Nast Traveler picked us as a "Top 10 U.S City to Visit." Southern Living placed us as second on its "Best Southern City" list. Outlook Magazine called us one of the "Top 25 Places to Live and Work." This is a wonderful community for your next career move.

With over 146,000 year-round residents, the population of Savannah also includes the students of four colleges and universities offering bachelor's, master's, and professional or doctoral degree programs: Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah State University, and South University. With six distinct historic districts, coastal beaches, and a globally recognized food and art scene, tourism is a major driver in the economy with over 14.5M visitors in 2018. Home to the Port of Savannah, nearby Fort Stewart - Hunter Air Base, International Paper, Gulfstream Aerospace, Titlemax, and others; Savannah's economy is diverse and robust.

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Essential Job Functions

Plan, organize, manage, and direct staff and the activities of the ONSE including: work program development and management, service coordination through nonprofit contracts; partnerships with community and local stakeholders; guiding gun violence intervention service response; and evaluating and reporting on progress to public officials and other stakeholders.

Provide sound and supportive leadership and direction to subordinate staff, anticipating training needs, building a cohesive team with open communication, and meeting frequently with staff to discuss progress, provide guidance and support, identify problems early and coach staff.

Develop, direct, and coordinate a network of community-based organizations to provide comprehensive, high-quality violence intervention programs for youth and young adults most at-risk for engaging in or being victimized by violence or who reside in priority neighborhoods.

Develop a technical assistance and support program to enhance the capacity of the network; establish protocols that ensure consistency and transparency and that prioritize the well-being, safety and support of program participants.

Identify youth and young adults who pose a high risk of participating in, or being a victim of, violent crime and recruit and engage them in programs that are designed to discourage violence and also address mental and behavioral health, counseling, mediation, and personal advancement needs of participants.

Coordinate the work of the department to partner with public agencies, service providers, community members, and other City stakeholders to develop shared priorities, maximize effectiveness of collective violence prevention efforts, facilitate information exchange, and address the specific needs of at-risk/high-risk individuals.

Build positive contacts and relations with community-based organizations to develop and implement violence prevention programs and strategies, with a primary focus in neighborhoods with individuals most at risk of participating in or being a victim of violent crime.

Serve as facilitator and liaison for communication between contracted service providers, law enforcement, and City staff regarding responses to gun-involved incidents.

Manage department budgets and recordkeeping, approve expenditures and payment for services; oversee department grant programs; seek and secure outside funding to support operations and initiatives; prepare and review requests for proposals; negotiate contracts and monitor contracts and agreements.

Implement strategies to reduce costs, increase productivity, achieve operational efficiencies, and improve customer service.

Develop performance measures and various score cards to assess services; regularly review and evaluate department, grantee, and partner outcomes and impacts. Work closely with independent evaluators to assess program effectiveness and modify strategies based on findings.

Serve as a representative for the City at meetings and in public forums to articulate priorities and objectives; prepare, review and present professional presentations and reports; communicate progress to stakeholders; respond verbally and in writing to questions and requests from officials and community members.

Build positive relations and work in coordination and collaboration with City departments as a member of the City's leadership team. Stay abreast and in compliance with City policy, making appropriate adjustments in department priorities, plans, policies, etc., as necessary.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in public administration, human services, health services, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, social work or a closely related field plus a minimum of three years of full-time experience in a similar senior-level management position providing program development and statistical analysis in applied crime reduction, public health-based approaches to violence reduction, or deterrence of violent criminal behavior. Master's Degree preferred but not required.

Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license with an acceptable driving history.

Additional Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of principles and best practices in the field of violence prevention and intervention, with emphasis on public health, trauma informed, harm-reducing, restorative approaches toward community healing, engagement and empowerment.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of personnel management, team building, supervision, and training.

• Knowledge of Federal and state violence prevention/public safety efforts and regulatory frameworks.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of budget development and administration, including multiple funding streams from federal, state, and local sources.

• Knowledge of comprehensive support service provision to traumatized, marginalized, and criminalized populations.

• Knowledge of community issues in urban environments that contribute to violent crime.

• Knowledge of principles and best practices related to effective community and youth engagement which lead to empowering neighborhoods to become partners in addressing neighborhood/community issues.

• Skill in organizational and project management practices and methods, including goal setting, program development and implementation, and tracking and measuring outcomes, preferably in a public-sector setting.

• Skill in techniques of fundraising, grant development, and oversight.

• Skill in research methodology, report writing, basic statistics and their application.

• Skill in problem-solving, mediation and negotiation strategies

• Skill working in a team-based environment with internal and external officials.

• Skills in the operation of computers, software applications and other office equipment.

• Ability to work collaboratively and cultivate effective partnerships across public, private, and community sectors to achieve collective impact.

• Ability to organize, direct, and coordinate multiple projects and activities that require a variety of functional specialties with overlapping work areas.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in an environment of competing, urgent priorities and public scrutiny and to exercise sound judgement,

• Ability to provide sound, supportive leadership to staff and build a team culture that prioritizes cooperative, productive and professional working relationships through staff development and staff wellness.

• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in both oral and written format; speak in large and small group settings and facilitate meetings and discussions.

• Ability negotiate and administer a variety of contracts.

MINIMUM STANDARDS:

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Community Services Chief assigns work in terms of general instructions. The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures, accuracy, and the nature and propriety of the final results.

GUIDELINES: Guidelines include City, service center and department policies and procedures applicable laws and regulations and grant guidelines. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY: The work consists of varied duties in the coordination and management of department operations and meeting reporting requirements. The need to coordinate case management systems, analyze complex data, and respond to incidents of violence among youth and families and in coordination with multiple program partners contributes to the complexity of the position.

SCOPE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this position is to administer and manage the budget, priorities, programs and other operations of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. Successful performance contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of ONSE and the increased safety and wellbeing of youth and young adults.

PERSONAL CONTACTS: The position works collaboratively and cultivates effective partnership across public, private, and community sectors to achieve collective impact, including contact with subordinates, coworkers, superiors, law enforcement, service providers, community stakeholders, and the general public

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, to resolve problems, give reports, provide feedback and to provide services.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light objects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is typically performed in an office, within community gathering spaces and outside in neighborhoods.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY: This position has direct supervision over assigned personnel.