Director of Community Development

The City of Mission Viejo is seeking an experienced and motivated leader to join our team as our Director of Community Development. The City is committed to promoting public health, safety and general welfare by preserving or enhancing the high quality of life in Mission Viejo.  Reporting to the City Manager, the successful candidate will have excellent teambuilding and interpersonal skills and will assume management responsibility for all services and activities of the Community Development Department, including current planning, advance planning, code enforcement, CDBG administration, and building plan check and inspection administration.

This department head classification oversees, directs and participates in all activities of the Community Development Department and provides assistance to the City Manager in a variety of administrative, coordinative, analytical and liaison capacities.  Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of public policy, municipal functions and activities, including the role of an elected City Council, and the ability to develop, oversee and implement projects and programs in a variety of areas.  Responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the department with those of other departments and agencies and managing and overseeing the complex and varied functions of the department.

This position requires the ability to exercise a high level of independence and the use of sound independent judgment, discretion, along with political sensitivity and acumen. The incumbent is accountable for accomplishing departmental planning and operational goals and objectives and for furthering City goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.

Strategic goals for the department include:

• In coordination with the City Manager’s Office and the Public Services and Administrative Services departments, identify and make recommendations for any planning issues related to implementation of the next steps for the Core Area Vision Plan.
• Implement the goals and policies of the newly adopted Economic Development Element, particularly facilitating business outreach and development through community partnerships and business-friendly events.
• In coordination with the City Manager’s Office, Recreation & Community Services, Police Services, and Administrative Services departments and other governmental agencies and non-profit organizations, continue working collaboratively to develop regional solutions for homelessness and affordable and transitional housing needs using Building Homes and Jobs Act (SB-2) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
• Implementation of the City’s certified Housing Element for the period 2021-2029.

Please click on the below link for more information regarding this position and to view the recruitment brochure:

                                                Director of Community Development

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in urban planning, community development, business or public administration or a related field and six (6) years of supervisory or administrative experience in planning, building and safety, redevelopment and/or public administration in a municipal setting.  Possession of a master’s degree in a field noted above and certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) are highly desirable and may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

License and Other Requirements

Candidates must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving record.  

APPLY BY:  3:00 p.m., June 24, 2024.  Applicants are required to apply on-line directly by visiting the City’s website at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/missionviejo

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