The Director of the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is responsible for leading and managing the department's efforts to enhance the quality of life in communities by providing comprehensive services and programs that promote neighborhood improvement, community engagement, and social services. The Director will oversee strategic planning, program development, budget management, and collaboration with community stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery of services.

• Strategic Leadership and Planning:
  • Develop and implement the department’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives to improve neighborhood and community services.
  • Create and enforce policies and procedures to ensure the effective delivery of programs and services.
  • Monitor and analyze community needs to inform program development and services.
• Program Management:
  • Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of community programs, including housing assistance, youth services, senior services, and neighborhood improvement initiatives.
  • Ensure programs are accessible, inclusive, and effectively address the needs of diverse community members.
  • Manage partnerships with local organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies to enhance program delivery and resource availability.
• Financial Oversight:
  • Develop and manage the department’s budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational priorities.
  • Seek and secure funding through grants, donations, and partnerships to support department programs and initiatives.
  • Monitor expenditures and implement cost-control measures to maximize resource utilization.
• Personnel Management:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of professionals dedicated to community service and neighborhood improvement.
  • Oversee recruitment, training, and performance evaluations of staff.
  • Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork, professional growth, and high employee morale.
• Compliance and Risk Management:
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies related to community services and neighborhood programs.
  • Develop and implement risk management strategies to protect the department and the community.
  • Oversee safety programs and ensure adherence to safety standards.
• Community Engagement:
  • Serve as a liaison between the department and community members, local organizations, and other stakeholders.
  • Promotes public relations by addressing inquiries and resolving issues, preparing, and reviewing correspondence, and performing site visits related to projects or complaints.
  • Facilitate community meetings, forums, and events to gather input, share information, and foster collaboration.
  • Address and resolve community concerns and complaints in a timely and effective manner.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department.
  • Implement innovative solutions and best practices to enhance service delivery and program effectiveness.
  • Conduct regular assessments and audits of department operations to identify areas for improvement.
  • Research initiatives from similar cities and determines their effectiveness for the city. Determines when initiatives are advantageous to the city and its residents.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Community Development, Public Policy, or related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience.
• A master’s degree in a field directly related to assignment is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Knowledge of: 

• City policies and procedures.
• Federal, state, and local rules and regulations governing community development, community housing, and neighborhood redevelopment.
• Community service agencies and other local assistance programs.
• Grant-funded project management accounting systems and documentation standards.
• Record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures.
• Neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and outreach practices and principles.
• Public relations and customer service methods and techniques.
• Program, project, budget, and contract management techniques.

Skill in:

• Understanding and applying city, state and federal statutes, ordinances, codes, and regulations.
• Supervising staff, delegating tasks, and authority, and coaching to improve staff performance.
• Reviewing financial and technical documents for completeness and accuracy.
• Preparing presentations, reports, and recommendations in an understandable manner.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 
None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently reach, stand, walk, finger, and grasp; and occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull, lift, and feel. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.