Community Development Director

Requisition #26-0012

About the role

The City of Ventura is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as its next Community Development Director. As a key member of the City’s strategic management team, the Director will lead a high-performing department and help shape the future of Ventura through strong leadership, collaboration, and meaningful community engagement. This high-profile role requires a leader who can build trusted relationships, navigate complex community issues, and bring people together around a shared vision for a well-planned, well-designed, accessible, and prosperous community.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Community Development Department, overseeing diverse divisions such as planning, building, code enforcement, and housing.
• Develop and implement long-range plans, policies, and programs that align with the City’s strategic goals and community needs.
• Foster collaboration across departments, with elected officials, community stakeholders, and external partners to advance shared objectives.
• Present complex planning and development issues to the City Council, Planning Commission, and other governing bodies.
• Oversee departmental budgets and staff, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery.
• Engage with the community to build trust, gather input, and ensure transparency in decision-making processes.
• Address and resolve high-profile, sensitive, or controversial land-use and development matters.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in urban planning, community development, or a related field, with progressively responsible leadership roles in the public sector.
• Proven ability to manage large budgets and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience presenting to governing boards, commissions, or similar bodies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build consensus and navigate complex community issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in community development practices.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public administration, architecture, or a related field. A master’s degree is highly desirable.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license.
• Certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is preferred but not required.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Experience managing budgets of $5 million or more and teams of 20+ staff members.
• Background overseeing multiple divisions within a public agency, such as planning, building, code enforcement, and housing.
• Demonstrated success in leading high-profile projects or initiatives that required collaboration across departments and with external stakeholders.
• A track record of fostering innovation and creative problem-solving in community development.
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to listen, empathize, and build trust with diverse communities.
• Passion for sustainability, equitable development, and creating vibrant, inclusive communities.