Deputy Director of Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods

Essential Job Functions

• Serves as a key executive leader within the Vibrant Community and Neighborhoods work system, partnering with the Director to establish strategic direction, advance organizational priorities, and ensure alignment with City Council goals, the City's strategic plan, and community needs.
• Provides executive leadership and oversight for assigned divisions, programs, services, and initiatives, ensuring effective service delivery, operational excellence, and achievement of departmental and organizational objectives.
• Acts on behalf of the Director as assigned, exercising delegated authority and providing leadership continuity during the Director's absence.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, inclusion, continuous improvement, and customer service consistent with the City's mission, vision, values, and leadership expectations.
• Responds to complex, sensitive, or high-profile community concerns and issues, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication with stakeholders.

Essential Supervisory Duties

• Develops and/or participates in the development of staff work plans, measures and tracks progress towards goals, prepares and conducts timely and constructive performance appraisals.
• Makes decisions or recommendations for hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary action, and other personnel actions as necessary.
• Counsels and supports staff to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Consistently educates and advises staff on organizational rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Supports creative thinking and problem solving and encourages participatory decision making when appropriate.
• Provides training and job enrichment opportunities and encourages professional growth and development.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of public administration, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and municipal government operations.
• Solid knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies governing assigned service areas.
• Knowledge of policy development, legislative processes, and governmental decision-making.
• Knowledge of contract administration, procurement practices, intergovernmental agreements, and public-private partnerships.
• Ability to provide visionary and strategic leadership in a complex and dynamic public sector environment.
• Ability to effectively lead diverse operational areas, programs, services, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to develop and implement long-range strategies that align organizational resources with community priorities and City Council direction.
• Ability to evaluate complex issues, analyze alternatives, and make sound recommendations and decisions considering operational, financial, legal, political, and community impacts.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with elected officials, residents, business leaders, partner agencies, boards and commissions, and employees at all organizational levels.
• Ability to navigate politically sensitive situations with professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Ability to lead organizational change initiatives and foster innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to negotiate and administer complex contracts, agreements, and partnerships.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex projects while maintaining focus on strategic objectives and operational effectiveness.
• Ability to effectively communicate information, both verbally and in writing, to support organizational objectives and interact with all levels of personnel within the city in a positive and cooperative manner.

Knowledge, Skills Abilities Preferred

• Knowledge of parks and recreation services, urban design, open space management, neighborhood services, housing, cultural arts, environmental stewardship, community development, or related municipal functions.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary departments with diverse operational and community-facing responsibilities.
• Experience working directly with elected officials, boards and commissions, and community advisory groups.
• Experience overseeing capital projects, public infrastructure investments, and large-scale community initiatives.
• Familiarity with municipal performance management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.

Education & Experience

• Degree: Bachelors Degree (BA, BS, BBA)
• Major: Parks and Recreation, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resource, Housing or related field
• Required Education: Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Related Experience: Eight (8) or more years of experience managing related issues and three (3) years of supervisory experience.