Planning Manager (Division Manager For Housing & Homelessness)

The City of Salinas Community Development Department is seeking to fill a permanent, full-time Division Manager position within its Housing & Homeless Services platforms. Under the job specification of Planning Manager, this position will lead and provide high-level management and expertise of City programs and grants focused on the development of affordable housing, improvements to community facilities, and direct the provision of homeless services. Individuals with relevant experience in any of these areas are encouraged to apply to this exciting and diverse opportunity. This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time.

In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for an Educational Achievement premium of 2.5% for a Bachelor's degree plus 2.5% for a job-related graduate degree. This position will also receive a 4% salary increase effective in July 2024. Please click here for a complete description of benefits.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: All applicants must provide proof of the required education at the time of application or submit to the Human Resources Department. Applicants with foreign degrees/transcripts must provide U.S. degree equivalency by submitting a credential evaluation report. Applications are incomplete without the required documents and will be disqualified. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are received.

Summary of Duties: The Planning Manager is responsible for the overall planning, direction, and coordination of a Community Development Department Division. The incumbent provides highly skilled, responsible, and experienced technical staff assistance to direct activities in the Housing and Community Development Division.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is a managerial level position within the Community Development Department. This position is distinguished from other positions in its responsibility, expertise, and overall direction of the division.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives general direction from the Assistant Community Development Director or designee and exercises supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff.

• Administers, oversees, and supervises complex planning and community development activities

• Conducts and oversees research, assembly, analysis, and use of planning data, including social, economic, housing, community facility, transportation, and other demographic information

• Coordinates divisional activities with other City departments, civic organizations, governmental and non-profit agencies, as well as the general public

• Works with regional agencies on the formulation of policies affecting local government, such as air quality, water resources, transportation, affordable housing development, homelessness, economic vitality, and other regional issues

• Provides highly responsible staff assistance to an Assistant Community Development Director or designee; provides technical assistance to the CDD Director, City Manager, City Attorney, City Council, and appropriate City commissions, boards, and committees; may represent the Department on community initiatives, policy development, emerging functional issues, and staff committees

• Supervises, schedules, trains, evaluates, and disciplines professional, technical, and clerical staff; researches and analyzes divisional needs; implements recommendations to improve programs and carry out policy

• Drafts ordinances, ordinance amendments, plans, staff reports and resolutions; interprets and analyzes legislative proposals and activities; ensures program compliance with federal, state, and local regulations

• Prepares and oversees assigned division budget; applicable plans and initiatives; seeks funding opportunities; administers the implementation of public service programs; implements, and administers grants from other agencies

• Assists in the development and implementation of City and departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities

• Reviews, and approves, staff reports, correspondence, and meeting minutes to ensure accuracy and compliance with the City and departmental goals, objectives, and policies; supervises, coordinates, reviews, and evaluates environmental and technical studies for all levels of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance as well as local, state and federal regulations related to an assigned scope of work

• Negotiates, develops, and administers contractual agreements and memorandums of understanding

• Plans, organizes and directs the City's state and federal funding related to community development affordable housing, public services, and homelessness including CDBG, HOME, ESG, HOME ARP, PLHA, PIP, Local Housing Trust Fund, and other grant programs

• Responsible for the preparation, submission, and implementation of various state and federal plans and annual reports including the City's HUD Annual Action Plan, 5-year Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan, Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, and HCD Housing Element Annual Progress Report and PLHA Annual Progress Report

• Plans, organizes, directs, and implements the work and policies related to the City's fair and affordable housing policies, projects and programs

• Serves as the department liaison to other departments, the public, and external agencies and organizations regarding the development and implementation of community development, housing and homelessness policies and programs

• Actively seeks emerging funding opportunities applicable to the development of affordable and fair housing and homeless services; leads the development and submission of competitive funding proposals and grant applications

• Performs related duties, as assigned

Typical Decisions: The incumbent will typically make decisions regarding the general management, administration, supervision, and direction of the assigned division and its activities. Will use extensive independent judgement and make large scale managerial and policy making decisions.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban and regional planning

• Principles and practices of public administration, project, budget, and personnel management

• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations relating to urban and regional planning and community development programs, affordable and fair housing, and provision of homeless services

• Grant and contract administration

• Applicable environmental regulations and processes

• Real estate financing, construction and development incentives, practices and procedures and negotiation techniques

• Research methods and procedures, data management and systems development

• Mathematics and statistics

• Written, oral, and graphic presentation techniques and community engagement practices

• Planning and land development research and application methods

• Operation of technology including applicable software platforms and web-based applications with proficiency using word processing and spreadsheet-based programs and other applicable software and databases

• Principles and practices of supervision, training, effective mentoring, work performance management and evaluation, progressive discipline, and problem-solving techniques

Skill in:

• Managing a division, including preparation and oversight of budget, staffing, work plans, major projects, and accompanying administrative details

• Identifying and resolving complex organizational, procedural, technical problems

• Correctly interpreting, analyzing, explaining, and applying governmental policy, procedures, and regulations

• Projecting, preparing, and overseeing divisional budgets

• Preparing concise, comprehensive, and accurate written reports and correspondence

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City staff, public agencies, and the general public

• Communicating clearly and concisely, orally and in writing

• Managing, selecting, training, and evaluating assigned staff; promoting quality customer service

• Effectively organizing tasks, planning time, and meeting deadlines

• Promoting the mission, values, and standards of an effective public organization

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Urban or Regional Planning/Development, Public Administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional work experience in urban planning, community development, public administration, homeless services, affordable housing development, or a closely related field, which includes supervision. A Master's Degree in Urban or Regional Planning, Public Administration, Social Services, or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

Licenses and Certifications: A valid California State Driver's License. Employee must complete AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to twenty pounds.

Business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing/pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer terminal. Occasionally drives to job sites, training, and out-of-office meetings. Occasionally conduct City business during evening hours, including occasional weekend and irregular hours.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

For questions, please contact:

Edward F. Sisson, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CEBS

Senior Consultant, Talent Acquisitions & HR Services at CPS HR Consulting

Phone: (916) 471-3362

esisson@cpshr.us