Assistant Director-Community Development

Closing Date: Open until filled

Position: Assistant Director

Department: Community Development 

Annual Salary: $155,446.44 - $198,393.24

FLSA: Exempt

General Summary:

Responsible for providing support to the department and Director in the planning, directing, organizing, and leading the Community Development Department. This includes oversight of Building and Safety, Community Preservation (Code Enforcement), Beautification, Planning, and Housing divisions. This position reports to the Director of Community Development. 

 Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in budget development and administer assigned budgets; prepare cost and fee estimates for budget recommendations; monitor and approve expenditures.
• Prepare and oversee budgets for all assigned projects and programs; develop fiscal strategies for effective fund use; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and collaborate with staff to maintain a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment that aligns with City and departmental missions, objectives, and service standards.
• Apply best practices and quality assurance processes to areas of responsibility.
• Enforce safe working conditions and ensure adherence to safe work practices by staff.
• Provide leadership to uphold a fair, open work environment aligned with the City’s commitment to equal employment opportunity.
• Assist in the planning, administration, and implementation of community development programs to ensure compliance with City policies, laws, standards, and regulations.
• Plan, organize, and direct daily management functions for the Department to provide department-wide support and ensure compliance with City policies, procedures, and processes.
• Guide staff selection; establish and communicate department goals and performance expectations; oversee employee relations and evaluations; coordinate staff orientation, training, career development, and motivation.
• Monitor community needs, department resources, legislative mandates, and grant-funded requirements; assist with strategic planning, goal setting, and policy development to create programs and services that meet community needs.
• Develop and oversee policies, programs, and activities for community education and public information; participate in the preparation of legislation and codes; represent the department at City Council meetings, legislative hearings, commissions, and other forums.
• Represent the department on committees, commissions, and special interest groups; deliver presentations and provide information to community groups, agencies, and the general public; maintain and expand partnerships with diverse constituencies.
• Coordinate activities with other agencies; establish and maintain productive relationships with residents, community and business groups, and public organizations.
• Execute and oversee service contracts; ensure proper monitoring of contracts and programs.
• Research and prepare special projects for the Director, including grant applications, reports, policies, and procedures.
• Act in the absence of the Department Director, as assigned. 

The duties listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive.  An employee may also perform other related duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Planning, Community/Urban Development, Economics, or a closely related field
• Six (6) years of progressively responsible community development experience, including at least two (2) years as a division manager overseeing program planning and development, staff supervision (professional, technical, and clerical), and budget preparation and management
  
  Key Skills:

• Writing – Communicating effectively in writing and orally.
• Time Management – Working well under the urgency of deadlines and effectively managing time.
• City Support – Supporting and promoting the City Manager and City Council’s policies, goals, and vision.
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation – Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.

Competencies:

• Attention to Detail – Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Self-Management – Showing personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.
• Relationship Building – Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships.
• Professionalism – Participating in a collaborative and positive manner with all members of the organization.
• Leading Others – Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal.
• Political & Organizational Savvy – Working skillfully with policies, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries.

Core Competencies:

• Problem Solving – Analytically and logically evaluating information
• Learning Agility – Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to work
• Handling Stress – Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Safety Focus – Showing Vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Customer Focus – Attending to the Needs and expectations of customers
• Informing – Proactively obtaining and sharing information
• Teamwork – Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals
• Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace
• Allocating Resources – Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness

Guiding Principles

1. Put people first.
2. Be visionary.
3. Be an ambassador for Lancaster.
4. Be Fiscally Responsible.
5. Be Creative.
6. Always Improving.
7. Be Adaptable and Resilient.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Ascend/Descend stairs/ladders/balance (moderate)
• Position self to bend or twist (frequent)
• To move, transport, position items up to 15 lbs. (frequent)
• Exposed to outdoor weather conditions (infrequent)
• Operate Equipment (none)
• Stationary or squatting position (frequent)

Environmental Factors:

• Work under time pressure (moderate to frequent)
• Interruptions (frequent)

Essential Cognitive Functions:

• Analyze (continuous)
• Computations (frequent)
• Generate Written Work Product (moderate)
• Independent Problem Solving (continuous)
• Interruptions (frequent)
• Maintain Positive Public Relations (continuous)
• Organize (frequent)

Disaster Service Worker:

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100-3109, all public employees are declared disaster service workers subject to disaster service activities as may be assigned to them in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disaster.

Reasonable accommodations will be made, when possible, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

The City of Lancaster will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the City of Lancaster is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting www.dfeh.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/.

The City of Lancaster is an Equal Opportunity Employer