Blight Reduction & Abatement Manager

DeKalb County•Decatur, GA

3h•$84,321 - $135,756

About The Position

The Blight Reduction & Abatement Manager supervises staff and manages departmental blight reduction programs, including initiatives addressing unsafe structures, nuisance properties, and recurring neighborhood conditions. The position develops work plans, priorities, and performance measures; coordinates staffing and resources; and collaborates with departmental units and area supervisors to identify properties, review referrals, and coordinate inspections, case development, corrective actions, and follow-up. The manager oversees preparation and review of in rem complaints and blight tax referrals, ensuring case materials are accurate, complete, procedurally compliant, and ready for legal review. The role coordinates departmental submissions and authorized filing activities with the Law Department, manages court preparation and case tracking, and coordinates hearings, evidence, witnesses, notices, deadlines, court orders, and follow-up actions. Legal determinations and County representation remain under the authority of the Law Department. The position also coordinates authorized abatement work with staff, contractors, partner agencies, and County offices; verifies required approvals and resources; monitors projects, inspections, completion records, and cost recovery; and tracks compliance and case closeout. It leads development of program policies, procedures, reporting, and quality assurance, analyzes program outcomes, and recommends improvements to the Deputy Director and Director. The manager exercises program management and supervisory authority under the direction of the Deputy Director.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in legal case preparation, code enforcement, nuisance abatement, real property matters, public administration, or a related field.
At least two years of program, project, or personnel management experience.
Experience in evidence review, court document preparation, case management, deadline tracking, and policy or procedure development.
A valid Georgia driver’s license that must be maintained.
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered if they provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Nice To Haves

Active membership in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia; required when assigned duties involve the practice of law.

Responsibilities

Supervise, direct, evaluate, train, and support assigned staff; manage schedules, timesheets, employee concerns, performance appraisals, and work assignments.
Organize and prioritize work, provide staff with necessary resources, monitor progress and completed work, advise staff on complex matters, and report activities to management.
Manage departmental blight reduction programs and initiatives, including work plans, priorities, performance measures, and coordination of resources and assignments.
Coordinate with area supervisors and departmental units to identify candidate properties, evaluate referrals, and establish responsibilities for inspections, case development, corrective actions, and follow-up.
Oversee case review and preparation for in rem complaints and blight tax referrals; assess factual support, completeness, procedural compliance, and readiness for legal review.
Prepare or oversee case narratives, referral memoranda, draft complaint materials, exhibits, witness information, and supporting documentation; coordinate collection and review of property, ownership, inspection, enforcement, appraisal, and other technical evidence.
Coordinate departmental case submissions and authorized filing activities with the Law Department, including case package assembly, reviews, approvals, transmittals, filing materials, and follow-up.
Manage court preparation and case tracking, including hearing preparation, exhibits, witness availability, inspections, technical reports, notices, deadlines, court orders, compliance periods, and cost-recovery actions.
Attend hearings and case conferences, provide factual testimony as required, document case dispositions, and coordinate operational assignments and clarification of court orders.
Coordinate authorized abatement actions; verify approvals, funding, procurement, permits, and work scopes; monitor progress; and oversee final inspections, completion records, invoices, and cost documentation.
Coordinate cost-recovery submissions, blight designation and remediation documentation, compliance monitoring, further review when property conditions change, and case closeout.
Lead development of policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, checklists, forms, case submission standards, and program reporting; coordinate legal review and implement approved changes through training and quality assurance.
Analyze case aging, filing and court activity, compliance outcomes, expenditures, and operational challenges; prepare reports and recommendations for the Deputy Director and Director.
Coordinate blight reduction projects with County departments and community partners, respond to inquiries under established protocols, and maintain accurate records in compliance with County requirements.
Exercise program management and supervisory authority under the direction of the Deputy Director while ensuring that legal reviews, pleading approvals, litigation strategies, and court representation are coordinated with and remain under the authority of the Law Department.