DEPUTY DIRECTOR

About the role

The Division of Administration/Disaster Recover Unit (DRU) has a vacancy. This job is Unclassified. The Louisiana Office of Community Development (LOCD) administers Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation (CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT) grants and other federal and state funding allocated to the State of Louisiana. These programs support long-term recovery, resilience, and mitigation for communities affected by Presidentially Declared Disasters. LOCD’s grant portfolio exceeds $20 billion and encompasses multiple federal awards, each containing numerous programs, funding activities, and implementation timelines.

Responsibilities

• Support to the Director / Section Chief in the following areas:
• Provides review and input on the State’s Action Plan and Amendments for the Louisiana Office of Community Development Programs.
• Provides input for proposals and applications for disaster recovery programs.
• Supervises assigned aspects of the disaster recovery programs which could include those relating to public facilities, infrastructure, housing recovery, economic development, and other recovery programs.
• Interprets federal and state policies as they relate to the Disaster Recovery CDBG Program.
• Oversees the implementation of those policies in the disaster recovery programs.
• Covers the implementation of disaster recovery programs.
• Coordinates and provides input on interaction with federal officials particularly from HUD, to obtain clarification and/or interpretations on a diverse number of issues which arise as new federal requirements and new concepts become effective.
• Keeps abreast of the overall economic development, housing, infrastructure and other recovery programs as they relate to the situation in the State.
• Tracks the status of the financial assistance through the Louisiana Office of Community Development to ensure adherence to agency policies.
• At the direction of the Director / Section Chief, represents LOCD-DR at meetings with local officials, legislators, organizations, private sector institutions, federal agencies and other state department officials to outline the federal and state requirements applicable under the disaster recovery programs.
• Provides guidance to the Director / Section Chief in structuring disaster recovery programs and projects which are financed through disaster recovery funds, private investors, local financial institutions and local government financial resources.
• Maintains oversight of the contracts between the State and units of local government (municipalities and Police Juries) as well as cooperative endeavor agreements with other state entities and organizations utilizing disaster recovery funds.
• Coordinates and assists in training programs with LOCD-DR staff, local community development officials and professionals on disaster recovery programs.
• Provides technical guidance to LOCD-DRU staff, grantees, sub-recipients and other community development planners in the general administration of the disaster recovery programs.
• Directs and provides technical assistance (guidance) in the area of monitoring and evaluation of ongoing recovery projects.
• Attends local, regional and national workshops to keep abreast of new concepts, requirements, regulations and the law as it relates to the disaster recovery programs.
• Monitors program workflows, contract deliverables, progress reports, and other key metrics and measures to identify critical risks to the program.
• Recommends gap closure plans and process improvements to the Director / Section Chief.

Requirements

• Knowledge of Community Development Block Grant
• Knowledge of Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program
• Professional experience with communications/public relations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Project Management Qualifications
• Experience serving elected officials and the public

Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Planning, Engineering, or a related field, plus three years of professional level experience in matters related to housing, economic development, project management, disaster recovery, and/or HUD related programs.
• Six years of full-time professional experience in disaster recovery may substitute for degree.
• A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience or two (2) years for a specialized degree in related fields.

Skills

• Knowledge of Community Development Block Grant
• Knowledge of Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program
• Professional experience with communications/public relations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Project Management Qualifications
• Experience serving elected officials and the public

Benefits

Benefits for unclassified employees are determined by the individual hiring authority.

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Not specified