Community Development Specialist
City of Willits, CA

Position Summary: The Community Development Specialist is responsible for a wide variety of duties in support of grant administration, economic development and city planning. Under supervision, this position will implement and evaluate grant program activities; conduct compliance monitoring and reporting; work closely with staff and members of outside agencies to manage grant funded programs and projects including the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG); provide support to implement economic development strategies and activities; review development applications for conformance with applicable polices and regulations, serve as a liaison between the City and local businesses, and do related work as assigned.

The highly qualified candidate is a critical thinker who possesses excellent writing and presentation skills and a strong foundation in the principles of general plan and zoning in California. The successful candidate has a strong background in public outreach and desires to be part of a dynamic team working to effect economic, housing and planning policy in our community.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist with planning, organization, writing, and coordinating grant applications and
  • supporting materials (such as research, letters of support, project budgets, etc.) in response
  • to grant opportunities.
  • Coordinate and conduct community meetings associated with projects/programs and
  • respond to community issues and concerns.
  • Conduct presentations to governmental and regulatory agencies, community groups and the
  • City Council.
  • Conduct research and evaluation, in collaboration with appropriate agency representatives, to determine needs and assess feasibility of all new program ideas and proposals.
  • Ensures timely completion and submittal of grant applications, including budget and financial plans, tracking of applications, and receipt of grant.
  • Coordinates with auditors to ensure the required processing of annual audits for grants and programs.
  • Monitors grant activity to ensure adherence to grant timelines and budgets; assist with coordination and /or submittal of requests for extensions and amendments as necessary.
  • Develops, publishes, and distributes an agency wide calendar to give guidance and responsible parties regarding reporting time, deadlines, and anticipated announcements.
  • Manages and designs, in coordination with applicable agency representatives, programs that fit within existing agency operations and resources as well as external programs that compliment and/or augment current operations.
  • Prepares quarterly, semi-annual, annual and close-out grant reports for review and submission to grantor and/or other regulatory agencies.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

  • Modern office practices, procedures, equipment (computers), programs and techniques
  • Principles and practices of federal and state grants administration
  • Effective grant management techniques • Principles, methods and procedures of governmental planning and zoning
  • Federal, state and local laws, codes and ordinances related to planning, zoning, and environmental analysis

Minimum Qualifications: Any combination of education, training and experience which would provide the knowledge and skills listed. A skilled writer and communicator who prioritizes organization and meeting deadlines. The preferred applicant has a college degree in planning, geography, public administration, economics, business, community development or a related field and/or two (2) years of full-time professional government or other experience in planning, grants management, community/economic development, or other closely related profession.

Physical Requirements: Constant sitting in office chair; use of hands for operation of office equipment; frequent moving from sitting to standing position; occasional lifting of office equipment, storage boxes and supplies of less than 30 pounds.

Apply by Friday October 21, 2022

For Further Information:

Telephone: 707-459-7176

Website: https://cityofwillits.org/