Job Description: Community Development Director

Company: City of Wausau
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin (Central WI - Stevens Point)
Job Category: Executive
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $$85,280.00 - $127,899.20 - Yearly

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Community Development Director

The CITY OF WAUSAU, WI, population 39,000+, is seeking a proactive, forward-thinking Director of Community Development.  The right candidate must be detail-oriented and possess a track record of results and successful projects; will demonstrate a regional perspective and be a visible presence in the community; able to work collaboratively with the policy body; a thorough presenter of creative solutions and an advocate for customer service; proven team leader who is able to support team members and establish clear directives; have extensive experience in urban renewal, downtown redevelopment, and economic, housing and community development.  City of Wausau residency is not required for this position but highly recommended.

 

Purpose of the Position

The Community Development Director is responsible for the coordination of the City’s Economic Development Division, Community Development Division, Planning Division, and also acts as the Executive Director of the Wausau Community Development Authority. The position provides direction and oversight for all department functions including, supervision of department activities, strategic planning, programs and personnel, implementing economic and community development, planning, redevelopment and housing authority functions for the City of Wausau and the Wausau Community Development Authority. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Serves in a leadership role in the community by directing related boards and organizations involved in economic and community development including the City of Wausau’s Entrepreneurial & Education Center, Marathon County Economic Development Corporation (MCDEVCO) gap loan committees, Main Street, and Central Wausau Progress.
2. Leads the implementation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan and community planning processes, including contributing to the Planning Commission and professional consultation to the City’s zoning ordinance with the City Planner.
3. Supervises professional staff to ensure programs are administered effectively, including planning, urban design, zoning, economic development, the Wausau Business Campus development, redevelopment of blighted and disused properties, public housing, and all aspects of the community development block grant (CDBG) program.
4. Selects, trains, mentors, and evaluates Community, Planning and Economic Development employees.Provides work guidance to employees.
5. Researches and analyzes County, State and Federal legislation, rules and regulations regarding community development and housing matters.Prepares recommendations, goals, and policies for City Council and Community Development Authority commissioner consideration.
6. Develops, manages, and reviews annual budgets for the Department, including the Community Development Authority.
7. Develops and executes requests for proposals (RFP’s), agreements, contracts, and monitors staff for compliance of terms.
8. Implements City Housing Authority programs.Reviews, inspects and revises housing programs.Initiates new programs aimed at increasing self-sufficiency in the community, all according to legal standards.
9. Promotes and encourages commercial and retail business development.Manages business development financial assistance programs including policy development.
10. Identifies and initiates urban renewal strategies and needs within the community.Negotiates with private sector developers/landowners. Designs financing and proposes new development support program(s).
11. Develops re-development plans and recommends repurposing properties for higher and better uses.Recommends high impact property acquisitions.Reviews and approves re-development documents.
12. Maintains effective public relations.Develops public/private partnerships.
13. Prepares and makes public presentations regarding community/economic development, serves on state, regional, national and international boards that aim to enact legislation that affects local housing and commercial initiatives.Calls on federal, state and local representatives for political support of initiatives.
14. Provides information to news media representatives, business/industry representatives, civic groups, and service organizations, local, state and federal government officials both in oral and written form.
15. Initiates and collaborates with foundations, private sector groups and individuals with the capacity to launch initiatives in protective services, arts, culture, recreation and economic development.
16. Launches strategic planning processes and establishes best practices for City of Wausau, MCDEVCO, Community Development Authority and department.
17. Works with other organizations and non-profits to establish capital requirements for improvements including new facilities and/or redevelopment of high-impact community properties.
18. Acts on behalf of the City of Wausau and represents City at various functions including ground breakings, press conferences, open houses and political announcements.
19. Oversees the City’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plans and strategy in conjunction with the Finance Director.
20. Manages compliance with US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rules and regulations for public housing, Section 8, and related programs.Oversees the day-to-day operations of the City’s Housing Authority properties and programs.
21. Negotiates the City’s economic development incentives and agreements.Coordinates the City’s external marketing strategy.
22. Serves as a subject matter expert on Community programming, urban design, and land use regulations including the City’s zoning code.

 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs industrial, commercial and housing projects inspections.
• Represents the City and/or Mayor at public meetings.
• Participates in civic and other organizations on development/housing issues.
• Performs various duties and special projects as assigned.

 

Education and Experience Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in related field
• Minimum of 10 (ten) years of progressively responsible experience in community and economic development/redevelopment, program formulation, operation and administration
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Wisconsin motor vehicle operator's license, or access to transportation

Preferred Education and Experience

• Masters of Business Administration concentrated in Marketing or Finance and/or Master’s degree in Urban/Regional Planning, Public Administration, Economics or related field
• Previous experience as a Director or Executive Director of a planning, community or economic development department, agency or commission
• Certification of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) or like professional designation

A combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to modify existing policies, strategies and/or methods to meet unusual conditions within the context of existing management principles.Ability to analyze and categorize data and information, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.Ability to decide the time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution.
• Ability to manage and direct a group of workers, including the ability to provide counseling and mediation. Ability to persuade, convince and train others.Ability to obtain consensus.Ability to advise and interpret regarding the application of policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to utilize a variety of advisory and design data and information such as financial statements, housing authority documents and reports, grant applications, job applications, housing plans, agreements, audit reports, budgets, re-development plans, maps, progress reports, contracts, press releases, HUD regulations, ordinances, State statutes, FLSA, census data, employee handbooks and accounting methods.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with City Council and Committee members, Community Development Authority board members, business owners/operators, City property tenants, Department personnel, other City Department personnel, attorneys, architects, engineers, State agency personnel and news media representatives.
• Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals, volumes, ratios, present values, and spatial relationships. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.
• Ability to use functional reasoning in performing synthesis functions.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
• Ability to operate, maneuver and/or steer equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments, such as computer keyboard/terminal.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing slightly-skilled movements such as typing.
• Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling.
• Ability to perform at a proficient level all functions of MS Office suite products.

Physical and Working Environment

Limited exposure to disagreeable elements such as dirt, temperature fluctuations, and/or limited exposure to weather conditions.  Limited travel.  Normal mental and visual attention is required.  Light physical demands to include bending, twisting, turning, and light lifting.  Limited exposure to workplace hazards.