Location: Beaverton, OR

Community Development Director

Salary: $142,230 – $190,604

Closing: February 19, 2024

Description
The City of Beaverton is seeking a Community Development Director to provide leadership, oversight, and direction to the Community Development Department. Serving as an integral member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team, the Community Development Director acts as an advisor to the City Manager, City Council, and staff on a wide range of development issues, including but not limited to urban development, planning, annexation functions, building and site development plan review and inspection, economic development, transportation planning, and urban renewal. The Director reports to an Assistant City Manager and exercises wide latitude in determining objectives and approaches to the Department’s strategic objectives.

The Director provides strategic leadership in all community development-related issues. This position develops, reviews, and approves the departmental strategic plan and associated work plans. The Community Development Director also directs and manages departmental operations and services and develops department policies and procedures. The Director establishes performance standards, evaluates performance and program effectiveness, and recommends improvements. This position directs highly visible projects that support the implementation of City Council and community priorities. The Community Development Director may also serve as Executive Director of the Beaverton Urban Redevelopment Agency (BURA) and manages the implementation of the redevelopment plan.

Specifically, the Community Development Director provides leadership and direction to development-related functions, including all development reviews, planning policies, and annexations. This position also directs the building, site development, and planning functions for optimal efficiency and customer service and oversees building plan review, land use application processes, and engineering/building inspection functions. The Community Development Director supports Beaverton’s role as a national leader in the field and collaborates to ensure the Community Development Block Grant Program successfully allocates resources to meet community priorities and complies with federal and local regulations.

The Director routinely promotes the organizational values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and creates a culture that supports employee growth and development. The Community Development Director provides direction to seven direct reports, including the Assistant Community Development Director, Building Official, Development Division Manager, Economic Development Manager, Planning Division Manager, Site Development Division Manager, and Transportation Planning Manager. They remain a visible leader to all staff to ensure city goals and objectives are achieved.

The Director serves on boards and committees as designated by the City Manager and positively represents the City in all interactions. This position serves as a liaison and maintains effective working relationships with neighborhood, development, and business communities to promote high-quality planning and development. The Community Development Director may also represent Beaverton in public forums and as the official appointee to inter-agency groups involving regional planning, transportation, and development issues. The Director collaborates internally and externally to produce the highest quality results while working towards accomplishing the City’s vision.

Priorities

• Engage as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team. Effectively partner with colleagues and work across departments to advance Council goals and City priorities in alignment with Beaverton's organizational values and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Encourage continued internal connectivity and integration across divisions and departments. Remove barriers to collaboration, build shared knowledge, recognize where the work intersects, and continue to encourage cross-departmental collaboration.
• Allow for flexibility to adapt to a changing environment and retain the talent required to execute strategies. Be mindful in determining why and how to drive organizational change while maintaining employee morale, building strong teams, and growing and developing a resilient workforce.
• Collaborate with staff to update the Transportation System Plan creating a new vision for Beaverton’s multi-modal transportation system that reflects the community’s needs and aspirations.
• Lead Beaverton Urban Redevelopment Agency (BURA) staff in continuing to capitalize on the opportunities within central Beaverton and to meet the community's desire to create a revitalized, vibrant downtown core.
• Support the ongoing work of the Cooper Mountain Community Plan. Proactively collaborate with Public Works staff as plans evolve for the development of 1,200 acres that includes housing, commercial areas, natural resource protection, parks, trails, and roads in Cooper Mountain neighborhoods.
• Actively engage City Council and City Leadership in support of the Downtown Loop project. Collaborate to realize the vision for a vibrant downtown that links key destinations and makes it easier for people to safely walk, bike, take the bus, and drive.
• Champion and support the City's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives. Purposefully weave inclusive principles and equitable practices into Community Development's work including the implementation of the Downtown Equity Strategy.
• Dedicate time for genuine and authentic regional collaboration. Develop relationships and partnerships with neighboring cities and Washington County to discuss inclusive and innovative solutions to the challenges of the changing region.

Successful Candidate
The Community Development Director is a strategic, forward-thinking leader excited by the opportunity to influence the continued growth of the Beaverton community. A visionary leader, the successful candidate brings a fresh, yet experienced, voice and perspective to community development with the ability to think ahead, anticipate issues, and proactively develop solutions. The Director, who embodies the values of a change agent, has a strong background in strategic planning and execution and embraces aligning community development initiatives with larger organizational goals. The Community Development Director will maintain an understanding of the issues affecting the Beaverton community and leverages that knowledge to drive decisions.

The Community Development Director is a collaborative leader and recognizes the importance of relationships and partnerships at all levels. With strong emotional intelligence, the successful candidate navigates political relationships with ease, values the diversity of thought, and believes in fostering mutual respect at all levels. The Director understands the big picture and can clearly articulate the vision while remaining grounded and realistic in what is possible. A person of exceptional character, the Community Development Director offers confidence grounded in experience in order to make balanced decisions for the best outcomes.

With a true passion for community development and planning, the ideal candidate is familiar with the work and input of organizations like Urban Land Institute. The Community Development Director monitors best practices, trends, and current thinking in urban and transportation planning, housing, economic development, redevelopment, sustainability, and urban renewal. The Director evaluates alternative approaches and presents informed solutions while considering the proper timing, resources, and community support to bring community development initiatives to reality.

The Community Development Director leads with a holistic perspective. The Director effectively builds and maintains relationships with leaders in other departments and supports collaborative partnerships between community development employees and staff in other departments. The successful candidate brings a proven track record in coordinating and managing complex, multifaceted projects involving multiple stakeholders. The Community Development Director is a highly effective communicator, provides transparency in interactions, and works to ensure routine communication throughout the organization.

The successful candidate leads and empowers staff while promoting a forward-thinking culture that embraces change for the better. An approachable leader, the Community Development Director models behaviors expected throughout the organization and actively promotes an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society. They establish clear expectations and provide transparent communication while effectively delegating and holding others accountable. The Director is a visible leader known for actively supporting staff and removing barriers to enable success while maintaining a commitment to high-quality work.

Qualifications
Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in community development and planning with at least three years in a leadership role is required. Experience working directly with an elected body, ideally in a council-manager form of government, is desired. Prior experience in change management with the ability to leverage best practices in a growing community is ideal. Prior experience developing and managing a budget is required, as is prior experience with strategic planning. A combination of both public and private sector experience is beneficial. A commitment to supporting the diversity of the Beaverton community is essential to success.

A bachelor's degree in planning, real estate, business or public administration, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience enabling the successful candidate to perform the essential functions of the position is required. A master’s degree is preferred.

It is widely stated—and supported by studies—that candidates, especially women, are less likely to apply for a job unless they believe they meet 100% of the hiring criteria. The City’s talent acquisition goals include hiring the candidate who is best able to meet the performance objectives of the role. We, therefore, encourage persons with non-traditional skill sets and experiences to apply, even if you believe you do not meet 100% of the qualifications and hiring criteria described.

How to Apply
Apply online at: https://jobs.crelate.com/portal/Raftelis/job/grfrixi5to1tp1wpuute6aarey

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. Open until filled with first review of applications on February 19, 2024.