Director of Housing and Community Development

The Community

The County of Monterey is set in a picturesque coastal location and offers tourists and residents alike the comfort of a moderate, Mediterranean climate, miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, groves of redwoods, low-rolling foothills, and scenic valleys. Boasting such world-renowned attractions as the spectacular Big Sur Coast, Laguna Seca Raceway, 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the Steinbeck Center, the Monterey Jazz and Blues Festivals and Pebble Beach – possibly the world’s most famous golf course, it’s easy to see why over 450,000 residents choose to live here and an estimated four million visitors a year make the County of Monterey their destination of choice.

In addition to a thriving tourist trade, the County’s economy is largely based in a vigorous agricultural industry. Known as the “Salad Bowl of the World” the Salinas Valley provides fresh strawberries, vegetables, wine grapes, and leafy greens to the entire country. California’s 16th largest county provides many educational opportunities including California State University at Monterey Bay, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, Monterey Peninsula College, Hartnell College, the Defense Language Institute and the Naval Postgraduate School. All these factors combine to make the County of Monterey a healthy, economically diverse region eager to foster and sustain an enriching lifestyle for its residents.

The Organization

At the local level, the County is governed by a Board of Supervisors. Like all governing bodies, the County’s Board of Supervisors is empowered with both legislative and executive authority over the entirety of the county and is the primary governing body for all unincorporated areas within the County’s boundaries. The Board has five elected members, each representing a district in the County.

The mission of the County of Monterey is to excel at providing quality services for the benefit of all county residents while developing, maintaining, and enhancing the resources in the area. The County operates according to the following values:

 Values:

• Assure honesty and integrity in all county actions;
• Provide top quality customer service;
• Practice continuing innovations;
• Treat fellow employees, customers and residents with respect and courtesy at all times

The Department 
The Department of Housing and Community Development is responsible for land use, including building services, planning, engineering, hydrology, and housing to ensure reasonable and safe development and planning for future needs of the County, while protecting natural resources. The department has an operating budget of approximately $28 million and 103 full time employees.
 
To view the full recruitment brochure please click: Director of Housing and Community DevelopmentThe Position

Under administrative direction of the County Administrative Officer, the Director of Housing and Community Development is responsible for providing administrative leadership, technical oversight and policy direction on all aspects of County Housing, Planning, Building, Development Engineering and Permit Center operations. The position plans, organizes, directs and coordinates the programs, activities and operations of the County’s Housing and Community Development Department; prepares and presents recommendations to the County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors concerning programs, projects, policies, and procedures of the Housing and Community Development Department; establishes, reviews and enforces policies and procedures to ensure objectives, operational requirements, and customer service goals are met; coordinates activities with other departments, agencies and community organizations; provides staff assistance to appointive boards and commissions; assures collaboration and coordination of work intra-departmentally and inter-departmentally; directs the preparation, monitoring and administration of the annual budget for the Housing and Community Development Department including overall fiscal management of expenditures and cost control systems, reviews and evaluates current programs, and anticipates future needs; appoints and evaluates the performance of employees; oversees management development and staff training programs; represents the County concerning planning, building, development engineering and permit center programs and policies in meetings with public information agencies, the public, elected or appointed officials of Federal, State, City, other County governments and public agencies to protect and advance County of Monterey interests; plans, directs and implements robust community engagement activities related to land use, zoning, building code and code enforcement matters; establishes and maintains goals, objectives and plans consistent with the County’s mission and strategic initiatives; monitors state and federal policy and budget developments related to department matters, evaluates their impact on County goals and operations, and implement programs, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable funding programs and regulations.

The Ideal Candidate
Will possess a high degree of accountability, exemplary organization and management skills, and impeccable responsiveness; thorough knowledge of principles, practices, methods and current trends involved in planning administration and management; ability to understand and interpret applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances and policies governing planning, zoning, building inspection, environmental control and land use programs and services with nimbleness, ability to prioritize and review applicability of a range of projects; principles of public administration, organizational design and management including goal setting and implementation; stellar social, political and economic understanding to appropriately provide recommendations for program administration; established history or expertise in principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution; principles and practices of personnel management such as supervision, selection, training, performance evaluation and discipline; principles and methods of fiscal management to include budget development and expenditure controls, public financing, revenues, grants, contract administration and rate setting; practices and procedures as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs; functions and operations of related government agencies and community organizations. Additionally, knowledge and experience with regulations that govern coastal communities and prior experience working with the Coastal Commission will be highly desirable.

Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

 Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in urban planning, regional planning, public or business administration or a closely related field. Certification with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), or the ability to obtain the certification within 12 months of hire, is highly desirable.

 Education:

Five (5) years of broad and progressively responsible administrative experience in the management of community planning or community development with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating and directing a diversified staff and complex programs of which included at least three (3) years’ experience in the public sector at the supervisory and/or management level.

Required Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment, the incumbent will be required:

• Possess a valid California Class C Driver’s License at the time of appointment and possess and maintain a satisfactory driving record or produce evidence of suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evening, weekends, holidays and during times of disaster and/or emergency; travel out of County to attend meetings.

Compensation and Benefits

This is an at-will position. The salary range for the Director of Housing and Community Development is $185,868 to $253,848 and placement within the range is dependent on qualifications. The County also offers a competitive benefits package, Including:

• Health Insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible Spending Account, Dependent Care, and Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement: Enrollment in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
  1. Classic CalPERS Member: 2% @ 55, 7% employee contribution
  2. New CalPERS Member: 2% @ 62, 7% employee
• Paid leave: 23 days of annual leave in first year up to 37 days after 25 years, 12 holidays, 1 floating holiday; 10 days professional leave per year non-accruable
• Stipends: $375/month automobile allowance, $400/year professional development, $54.17 month management expense allowance
• Life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance
• Deferred compensation voluntary plan

Priority Screening: Sunday, January 14, 2024, 11:59 PM (PST)

County of Monterey

Attn:  Karina Bokanovich, Management Analyst

168 W. Alisal Street, 3rd Floor

Salinas, CA 93901

Email: bokanovichkt@co.monterey.ca.us

 

The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

 

• Resume
• Cover Letter

All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION 

Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity.  Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Channelle Ceralde, Senior Personnel Analyst at (831) 755-5162, or ceraldec@co.monterey.ca.us. 

Salary : $185,863 - $253,847