Assistant Community Development Director

: The City of Salinas is looking for an experienced Assistant Community Development Director to join its team. The ideal candidate is a strong leader, team player, and staff manager; possessing excellent supervisory skills necessary to guide, mentor, and develop employees and create a respectful and high performing working environment. The successful candidate will have broad experience in community development with extensive expertise managing staff and creating an organizational structure with a sense of team and purpose. Exceptional interpersonal skills and political acumen are of the utmost importance. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for public service, especially serving an underserved community. This is the perfect opportunity for the individual that wants to make a positive impact in a community. In addition to base pay, this position is eligible for education incentive pay of 2.5% for a Bachelor's degree and 2.5% for a job-related graduate degree. A wage increase of 4% is effective in July 2024 and a 2% increase in July 2025. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: All applicants must provide proof of the required education and certifications 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 : Under general direction of the Community Development Director plans, organizes, directs, and manages the day-to-day activities and operations of the Community Development Department and assists in the overall management of the department to support the Director; is responsible for the oversight and supervision of one or more divisions; provides highly complex and responsible assistance to the Community Development Director; acts in the absence of the Director; and performs other duties as assigned. Distinguishing Characteristics : The Assistant Community Development Director exercises a broad range of independence within policy parameters while performing responsible and innovative administrative and division management in support of the City's goals and objectives, under minimal supervision. This classification is distinguished from Division Managers within the Community Development Department by its oversight of, and lead role in, overall department operations. It is further distinguished from the Community Development Director who assumes overall responsibility for all aspects of the Community Development Department. Supervision Received and Exercised: General direction is received from the Community Development Director. Exercises direct or indirect supervision of programs and staff within the Community Development Department which may include management, supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Essential Job Functions

• Assists Director in planning, organizing, directing, and managing overall activities and operations of the Community Development Department
• Oversees one of the Community Development Department Divisions including managing division operations, and hiring, training, and evaluating assigned division staff
• Oversees significant planning efforts such as annexations or economic development projects assigned by the Director
• Assists in the development and implementation of overall Community Development Department goals, objectives, strategies, and priorities
• Manages the preparation and maintenance of a variety of technical and policy documents related to community development
• Manages the compilation, analysis, and publication of statistics and other information
• Assists in the preparation of the department's budget including general, capital improvement, and grant funds
• Develops, encourages, and manages continuous improvement processes
• Keeps informed of future trends related to community development including legislation, court rulings, and professional practices and techniques
• Acts as a key liaison to, and coordinates departmental operations with, other City departments
• Prepares and presents oral reports and presentations to the City Council and other City Boards and Commissions, and various public and private groups as may be required
• Demonstrates open and direct communication with peers, subordinates, and the public
• Effectively resolves citizen complaints or concerns which cannot be resolved by other Division Managers or staff members and regards exceptional public service as a fundamental way of operating
• Supervises assigned department staff; assigns work activities, projects, and programs; monitors workflow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures
• Recommends the appointment of personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; conducts performance evaluations; implements discipline procedures as required; maintains discipline and high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the department
• Creates effective and service-oriented teams and empowers staff
• May act on behalf of the Director in his/her absence
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications Knowledge of:

• Modern and highly complex organizational, management, and leadership principles and practices
• Principles, methods, and practices of financial management and budgetary processes and procedures including resource allocation
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, ordinances, and policies
• Principles and practices of supervision, training and problem-solving techniques
• Effective techniques and methods of leadership, mentoring, empowerment, and teamwork; human resources management to effectively supervise and evaluate staff
• Related computer software applications and standard office software
• Advanced research techniques, methods and procedures

Skill in:

• Planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the activities of a diversified Community Development Department
• Selecting, supervising, training, evaluating, disciplining, mentoring, and coaching employees
• Analyzing problems, identifying alternative solutions, projecting outcomes, and implementing recommendations in support of goals
• Developing comprehensive strategic plans for present and future departmental services
• Forecasting and planning for future needs
• Properly interpreting and applying pertinent laws, regulations, ordinances, and policies
• Preparing and administering a budget
• Making effective presentations to the City Council, various boards and commissions, community groups and the public
• Exercising sound judgment, tact, creativity, resourcefulness, and leadership in dealing with the public, City officials, commissions and boards, outside agencies, businesses, and other City departments
• Gaining cooperation through discussion and persuasion
• Public speaking and communicating clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing
• Promoting the mission, values and standards of an effective public organization; particularly in the area of customer service

Ability to:

• Maintain and exhibit discretion, honesty, and integrity when handling sensitive situations
• Participate in a collaborative and positive manner with all members of the organization
• Support and promote the City Manager and City Council's policies, goals, and vision
• Work well under the urgency of deadlines and effectively manage time
• Effectively apply City, department, and division policies, procedures, rules and regulations, terminology, information systems and standards in the performance of assigned duties

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public or Business Administration, Planning, Civil Engineering, Economics or a closely related field. A Master's Degree in Public Administration or other closely related field is desirable. Experience: Six years of progressively responsible community development experience including at least three years as a division manager with responsibility for program planning and development, supervision of professional, technical and clerical staff, and budgetary preparation and management. Licenses and Certifications: A valid State of California Driver's License. Employee must complete AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter. Supplemental Information 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-five pounds. Travel for training, meetings, and workshops. May be required to work evenings and weekends. Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions. Employees may interact with disgruntled staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. 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 Patricia Peñaloza, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (831) 758-7416 or [email protected]

Veteran's Preference: A veteran is defined in accordance with California Government Code 18540.4. In order to exercise this preference, the veteran must submit the City's Veteran's Preference Application (Download PDF reader) and provide a copy of the DD-214 form at time of application as proof of military status. Failure to submit the required forms will be deemed a waiver of veteran's preference. Military veterans shall be given preference in initial appointment to City service. Further details can be obtained from the Human Resources Department, at 831-758-7254.

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all City of Salinas employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

Selection Process: Applicants' qualifications will be evaluated based on the information provided on the employment application. The exam process may consist of an application appraisal, oral interview, assessment center and/or written exam. The City reserves the right to use alternate testing procedures if deemed necessary. CITY COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE SELECTION PROCESS WILL BE VIA E-MAIL. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE E-MAIL ON YOUR APPLICATION. Finalist interview/assessment will be held with the City of Salinas.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The City of Salinas does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor. The City of Salinas makes reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with a disability. Individuals requiring any accommodation in order to participate in the testing process must inform the Human Resources Director in writing no later than the final filing date stated in this job announcement. Requests for accommodation should include an explanation of the type and extent of accommodations needed to participate in the selection process and/or to perform the duties of the job for which they have applied. EEO Utilization Report is available for candidate review upon request.

Salary Steps: The following applies for Full-Time Regular positions only. Appointments are normally made at the first step. Consideration is given for increase to the second step after successful completion of the probationary period. (Employees appointed at a higher step will be eligible for consideration for the next step after one year, providing they successfully complete a probationary period.)