Position Description
Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services
To Apply for this position: The City of Durham is partnering with POLIHIRE to identify the Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services.
For immediate consideration you must submit a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and a resume to: Neighborhood_Services@polihire.com. First review of applications will take place in late July.
Once your application is successfully transmitted, you will receive an auto-generated acknowledgment email. Please be aware that this confirmation email may be in your junk/spam folder.
Please contact info@polihire.com if you do not receive an acknowledgement or have any questions. No applications are able to be submitted, or will be accepted, through this website/application system.
The City of Durham is seeking a visionary leader passionate about creating equitable housing opportunities and thriving neighborhoods. This is your chance to make a real difference in the lives of Durham's diverse community leading the newly established Housing and Neighborhood Services Department. The new Housing & Neighborhood Services Department will combine portions of the Neighborhood Improvement Services Department (Neighborhood Improvement Services Department | Durham, NC) and portions of the Community Development Department (Community Development Department | Durham, NC).
The Combined Functions Include
- Human Relations
- Code Enforcement
- Multifamily Housing Development
- Neighborhood Stabilization (down payment assistance, home repairs)
- Contract Monitoring & Compliance
- Finance & Planning
In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead the department in driving the development and maintenance of affordable and mixed-income housing, ensuring building safety, and addressing land-use considerations that impact housing and community development. Your strategic leadership will guide the department's direction, shaping policies and programs that promote innovative housing solutions. You will also foster employee engagement within the department, recognizing the importance of internal staff work alongside external community collaboration. Your efforts will support a vibrant, inclusive, and healthy environment for all.
Duties/Responsibilities
What You'll Do
- Lead with purpose: Set strategic direction, develop key partnerships, and empower your team through coaching and mentoring.
- Drive impact: Lead all department operations, manage budgets and contracts, implement programs that create housing choices and community development, and consider land-use impacts on housing availability.
- Shape policy: Advise city leadership on housing policy, housing codes, land-use strategies related to affordable housing, discrimination ordinances/policies, and propose solutions to address Durham's evolving needs.
- Build relationships: Collaborate with private, county, and state agencies to secure funding and coordinate services for Durham residents.
- Champion equity: Ensure all programs and services are delivered with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the forefront.
- Plan for the future: Establish and implement a strategic workplan to identify and address short-term and long-term goals to improve the availability of affordable housing, community development programs, and land-use considerations.
- Direct administration: Direct the administration of housing and community development programs and activities, including land-use planning aspects, ensuring equitable access, fiscal compliance, and programmatic integrity.
- Advise City Leadership: Advise the City Manager, Mayor and Council, and other City leadership on housing policy, housing codes, and land-use strategies related to affordable housing and community development, and their implications on the city and its residents.
- Focus on employee engagement within the department.
- Support the development of both affordable and mixed-income housing.
- Explore and implement innovative housing solutions, such as tiny homes and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Minimum Qualifications & Experience
- A bachelor's degree (advanced degree preferred) in public administration, community planning, public policy, or a related field.
- Ten (10) years of experience in affordable housing development, housing policy, community development, and/or land-use planning, with significant supervisory experience.
- Deep knowledge of housing policy, affordable housing finance, community development, land-use planning principles, Minimum Housing Code, and programs/services for protected classes.
- Experience investigating allegations of discrimination based on the City’s Non-Discrimination Ordinance, education, and outreach.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- A passion for serving the community and creating positive change.
Additional Preferred Skills
To Apply for this position: The City of Durham is partnering with POLIHIRE to identify the Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services. For immediate consideration you must submit a cover letter highlighting your qualifications and a resume to: Neighborhood_Services@polihire.com. First review of applications will take place in late July.
Once your application is successfully transmitted, you will receive an auto-generated acknowledgment email. Please be aware that this confirmation email may be in your junk/spam folder.
Please contact info@polihire.com if you do not receive an acknowledgement or have any questions. No applications are able to be submitted, or will be accepted, through this website/application system.
Benefits – General Full-Time Employees
- 12-13 paid holidays per year
- 13 standard work days of vacation per year
- 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
- 2 weeks paid military leave per year
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
- State and City retirement plans
- Short and long term disability plans
- Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
- City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
- Paid funeral leave
- Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
- Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
- 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
- 4 hours parental leave each year
- Workman's Compensation Insurance
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan
Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)
- 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
- Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service
