Description
The City of Norfolk is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Bureau Manager to oversee the Neighborhood Transformation division within the newly established Department of Housing and Community Development. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of housing and community development in Norfolk, with a focus on revitalizing neighborhoods and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
The Department of Housing and Community Development is committed to creating vibrant, thriving, and resilient communities. We work to ensure that all Norfolk residents have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality housing, while fostering economic mobility, education, and health and wellness. The goal is to develop, preserve, and revitalize neighborhoods through transparent, responsible, and inclusive processes.
The Bureau Manager plays a critical role in the planning, coordination, and management of the Neighborhood Transformation Division. This division focuses on revitalizing select neighborhoods through place-based, human-centered approaches. The Bureau Manager will support efforts to create mixed-income, resilient communities of choice, with particular emphasis on the St. Paul’s area and other strategic neighborhoods throughout Norfolk. Collaboration with public and private sector partners will be essential to achieving the City’s goals in affordable housing development, community preservation, and economic inclusion. Learn more here: https://stpaulsdistrict.org/.
The City of Norfolk values diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. Applicants from all backgrounds, including women, minorities, and underrepresented communities, are encouraged to apply and contribute to this transformative work.
This position will report directly to the Assistant Director of Housing Development within the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Essential Functions
Essential functions include but are not limited to:
- Provides direct supervision over the assigned Bureau and a staff of five, including assigning and guiding project work, monitoring and reviewing work produces, developing project budgets and supporting staff with professional development goals.
- Develops policies and procedures to ensure the Bureau's programs reflect the best use of allocated funds for the division.
- Plans, develops and evaluates program objectives, service levels, and resource utilization..
- Assists with coordinating work and developing plans and strategies by attending meetings with various personnel, contractors, and associations.
- Directs the preparation and implementation of goals and objectives of the bureau.
- Administers the monitoring process of all service contracts and development agreements within the bureau.
- Performs important and difficult public liaison work in explaining and interpreting bureau programs.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Drive strategies to support affordable housing, economic development, poverty reduction, and neighborhood revitalization. Represent the department in housing programs at local, state, and federal levels, and oversee budget planning and housing forecasting.
- Project Management: Oversee large-scale redevelopment in St. Paul’s and other target neighborhoods, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and deliver measurable community impact.
- Contract and Program Management: Oversee program contracts and neighborhood services, ensuring budget compliance, monitoring deliverables, resolving conflicts, and managing third-party contracts to ensure effective service delivery through the City’s People First Program.
- Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary liaison with the city, civic groups, and residents, attending meetings, facilitating communication, and incorporating community feedback into plans
- Housing Development: Manage all phases of housing projects, from feasibility studies to funding, ensuring successful execution and timely delivery.
- Collaboration & Coordination: Partner with city departments, vendors, contractors, and agencies to manage projects impacting infrastructure and resident well-being.
- Staff Leadership: Lead and mentor a high-performing team, conducting evaluations, promoting development, and fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
- Reporting & Analysis: Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership, the City Manager, and City Council on project progress and outcomes.
Education/Experience
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Public Administration or Public Policy, Human Services, Real Estate Development or a related field.
At least four years of professional experience in the field of community development, housing program management, and/or urban planning, with a focus on affordable housing, redevelopment, and neighborhood revitalization, including evidence of increasing responsibilities, project management and staff supervision.
Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:
- Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring high standards of professionalism and operational efficiency. Experience in supervising staff and guiding organizational development is highly preferred.
- Contract Management: Proven experience in managing complex contracts, including the ability to negotiate and resolve ambiguities or unforeseen issues that arise during the contract term.
- Community Engagement Expertise: Demonstrated competence in engaging with diverse communities, including low-income and culturally diverse populations, to drive inclusive neighborhood transformation.
- Technical Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of affordable housing financing mechanisms, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), HUD programs, bond financing, and mixed-income development strategies.
- Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels, including City leadership, community groups, and external partners.
Additional Preferred Qualifications
- A combination of advanced training in economic development, affordable housing, community development, or real estate, along with proven experience managing complex contracts.
- Expertise in structuring financing deals using public and private sector programs, such as LIHTC, HUD 221(d)(4), Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI).
- Experience in executive-level stakeholder management and navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Additional Information & Requirements
- Valid Driver's License may be required based on assignment
Signing Bonus: This position is eligible for a one-time $5000 sign on bonus.
- Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
- Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
- Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
- Retirement
If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
- The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant’s school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.
Note
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.
- I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.
02
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?
- Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
- Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
- No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee
03
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
04
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
05
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.
- Less than High School Diploma/Equivalency
- High School Diploma/GED
- Some College (6 months or more)
- Vocational/Technical Degree
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
06
How many years of experience in the field of community development, housing program management, and/or urban planning do you possess?
- No experience
- Less than a year
- 1-3 years
- 3-5 years
- More than 5 years
07
How many years of supervisory experience do you possess?
- No experience
- Less than a year
- 1-3 years
- 3-5 years
- More than 5 years
08
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)
- I am not a Veteran
- I am a Veteran
- I am a Disabled Veteran
- Required Question
