Community and Housing Services Director

City of Mesa•Mesa, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Mesa, Arizona, is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next Community and Housing Services Director. The Community and Housing Services Department encompasses a broad range of services, including housing, community development, neighborhood and cultural engagement, human services, civil rights compliance, accessibility initiatives, and animal control. The department administers federally funded housing assistance and community development programs; leads neighborhood engagement, homeless response, and human services initiatives; advances diversity and accessibility efforts, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and provides animal control services. The Director provides strategic leadership for departmental operations, policy development, organizational performance, federal grant administration, community partnerships, and long-range planning while advancing City Council priorities and organizational goals. The Director serves as a strategic advisor to the City Manager's Office and provides executive analysis, policy recommendations, and organizational leadership on matters related to community services, housing, human services, neighborhood development, diversity and accessibility, animal control, and federal grant administration. The Director develops and implements innovative approaches to improve service delivery, evaluates results, and presents recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and City Management. The Director also represents the City on departmental policy and program matters and cultivates effective relationships with residents, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, regional partners, and other community stakeholders to advance shared priorities and strengthen public trust. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and community-focused leader with the ability to lead diverse, multidisciplinary operations and advance City Council and organizational priorities. Strong communication, relationship-building, problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills are essential; along with the ability to build effective partnerships with residents, community organizations, governmental agencies, and City leadership. The successful candidate will be forward-thinking and innovative, with a demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into effective programs and measurable results while fostering a high-performing and inclusive organization.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree.
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible managerial, supervisory, and administrative experience.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in one or more areas related to housing, community development, human services, neighborhood services, federal grant programs, or a closely related municipal service area.

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree in Public or Business Administration, or a related field.
Bilingual proficiency in Spanish and English.
Five (5) years or more of experience in management or executive leadership capacity with responsibility for strategic planning, budget administration, organizational leadership, and personnel management.
Experience in one or more areas related to housing, community development, human services, neighborhood services, federal grant programs, or a closely related municipal service area.
Experience leading multiple service areas or complex, multidisciplinary municipal operations.

Responsibilities

Provides strategic leadership for departmental operations, policy development, organizational performance, federal grant administration, community partnerships, and long-range planning.
Serves as a strategic advisor to the City Manager's Office.
Provides executive analysis, policy recommendations, and organizational leadership on matters related to community services, housing, human services, neighborhood development, diversity and accessibility, animal control, and federal grant administration.
Develops and implements innovative approaches to improve service delivery.
Evaluates results and presents recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and City Management.
Represents the City on departmental policy and program matters.
Cultivates effective relationships with residents, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, regional partners, and other community stakeholders.

Benefits

4 day – 10-hour/day work week (M-Th 7 a.m.-6 p.m.)
11 holidays per year
96 hours of vacation annually for the first two years, increasing to 144 hours after year two, with additional increases based on years of service continuing up to 20+ years
40 hours of discretionary time granted as a new hire, 30 hours of discretionary time thereafter
96 hours of sick time annually
Executive physical and 1.5x salary life insurance
Variety of medical insurance plans for all full-time Mesa employees and their dependents
Lifetime health insurance benefits for retirees who have worked for at least 20 years for the city
Wellness center (primary and preventive care) at no cost for employees and their dependents enrolled in a city medical plan
Dental and Vision insurance
Group life insurance
Flexible benefits plan to meet the employees’ needs
Deferred compensation program, including employer participation with a minimum of one-year of service
Arizona State Retirement System