Community Development Director

Mission: Fort Bragg is a small town nestled between the coast and the redwoods with a strong sense of community that seeks to preserve its environment while providing resilient public facilities and infrastructure and supporting a safe and vibrant economic, multi-cultural, and recreational experience for both locals and visitors alike.

Vision: Fort Bragg, a California coastal destination with rich natural resources and rugged beauty, is transforming our future by weaving together our people, ecosystems, and economy to create community prosperity. We are making our mark in the 21st Century by creating climate-ready water and energy independence, housing and economic opportunities, accessible health care, community public safety, and education for all.

We are guided by the following Core Values:

Innovation: We highly encourage creativity and forward-thinking solutions to meet the evolving needs of our city.

Honesty & Integrity: We believe in transparent, honest, and ethical interactions with our community and stakeholders.

Service-Oriented: We are responsive to the public and to each other to demonstrate our genuine commitment to creating a Fort Bragg that Serves us today and readies us for a successful tomorrow.

Fair & Ethical: principles and practices, Fort Bragg promotes an inclusive community culture of unity and equality that openly invites everyone to enjoy our unique coastal enclave.

Collaboration: nourishes civic pride and celebrates the diversity of our city and the meaningful municipal services that our residents and businesses rely on.

Position Summary

Plans, directs and coordinates the full range of community development activities, including planning, building, economic development and housing.  Under general policy direction, and in support of defined goals and objectives, performs a variety of planning, management, financial and marketing tasks requiring the use of independent judgment.

Fair Labor Standards Act Exemption

The incumbent of this position spends more than 50 percent of his/her time in the management of a permanent subdivision of the agency.  The incumbent supervises two or more employees.  This position is, therefore, “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act as an “Executive Employee.”

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, directs and coordinates the development and implementation of planning, building, economic development and housing goals, objectives, priorities and programs; makes recommendations on administrative and business matters.
• Prepares agendas for meetings, including status reports on prior direction, financial status reports, committee reports and staff reports in support of proposed action.
• Plans, organizes and directs preparation of a recommended department budget; provides periodic performance reports to the City Manager; works closely with and provides staff support to the Planning Commission and City Council in developing implementation plans and evaluating projects.
• Meet and engage with a variety of citizens, advisory groups, governmental representatives, technical experts and developers on issues including traffic, facilities design, housing, parking, commercial/industrial development, zoning and neighborhood improvements.
• Administers Community Development Block Grant program; prepares grant applications; plans and conducts information meetings; advises the City Manager and City Council/Agency Board on project applications.
• Is responsible for the updating and administration of the General Plan; including updates as necessary.
• Prepares studies, reports and perform other duties as assigned by the City Manager.
• Serves as the City’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Coordinator and Zoning Administrator.
• Oversees the education, enforcement and compliance of building and zoning ordinances.
• Monitors and analyzes federal and state legislation and regulations relating to planning, community development, redevelopment and economic development to determine impact upon City; advises City Manager and other department heads concerning changing regulatory requirements.
• Develops economic development and housing program resources; responds to inquiries and works with individuals interested in pursuing the development of projects; makes referrals to financing agencies; develops working relationship with federal, state, other local and nonprofit agencies offering economic development and housing assistance programs.
• Develops and implements a strategy for the City of Fort Bragg for the retention, expansion and recruitment of business and industry.
• Identifies funding sources; maintains relationships with funding sources and ensures compliance with reporting requirements; administers contractual agreements with governmental agencies to ensure appropriate fiscal controls.
• Counsels, cooperates with, and acts as liaison to other local agencies and nonprofit organizations working in community and economic development and business promotion projects and activities involving promotion and development of local economy.
• Develops promotional literature, data sheets, inventories of available industrial land and buildings, and other data for dissemination to businesses interested in developing or relocating in the City.
• Provides a continuing service to businesses in the City to help solve problems resulting from new location or expansion requirements or related problems.
• Supervises and provides direction to the Community Development Department staff in overall manage-ment of the community development function.
• Manages contract services for building inspection and other community development services.

Incumbent must be a results-oriented and persuasive individual who is accustomed to a “hands on” approach, should value leadership and entrepreneurship over “process,” and must have a high level of sensitivity to customer service.

Establishing of cooperative working relationships with federal, state, and local officials, as well as private financing institutions, venture capital groups and developers is essential to the success of the position.

Experience/Education

Five years of experience in planning, community development, housing, redevelopment, economic development, urban design or related field, including four years in a supervisory or leadership role.   Education should be equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in or major study in Public Administration, Business or Business Administration, Planning, Urban Design, Economics or related field.   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A wide range of leadership skills, including inspiring, motivating and developing staff; taking on responsibility, remaining flexible in thinking and action, and being motivated by challenge.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and keep the trust and confidentiality of others; understanding sensitivities of others; the ability to deal with different personality styles; and a sense of humor.
• Strong communication skills, including public speaking, listening and writing; ability to write policy documents, contracts, staff reports, grant application and marketing materials.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to working on community development in a rural coastal community experiencing economic base transition.
• A professional who uses common sense and grasps political issues in dealing with elected officials, staff members, external public entities and outside stakeholder organizations.
• Knowledge of public and private sector finance; principles and practices of public finance administration with emphasis in economic development; federal and state economic development and housing program funding sources and application procedures; tax increment financing; public financing debt issuance; private/public partnership financing programs; principles and practices of planning and urban design.
• Ability to screen and prepare preliminary financial packages
• Knowledge of the financing and operation of small and medium sized businesses.
• Ability to gather, analyze and interpret economic, labor market and other data.
• Knowledge of community and economic development principles and practices, local and state laws, administrative regulations affecting economic development and housing programs, and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of principles of a municipal organization, administration and budgeting, and policy-staff relationships.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with government agencies.
• Ability to effectively coordinate, manage and supervise multiple priorities and programs; select, supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Working knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act, LAFCO/annexation, General Plans and Coastal Zone planning concepts.
• Experience with and knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board.

The City is hiring for one position.  This position will be filled either as a Community Development Director or at the Senior Planner level, depending the the candidate's qualifications.  There is a separate job posting for the Senior Planner position.  

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• City of Fort Bragg