Community Development Specialist I - Disaster Recovery (OPEN & PROMOTIONAL)

Spokane County

About The Position

WHO MAY APPLY: This recruitment is open to all applicants meeting the minimum requirements. Priority consideration will be given to Spokane County employees in a position covered by the 1553 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) submitting applications between 4/3/2026 and 4/10/26. First consideration will be given to applicants working in Community Development in a position covered by the 1553 CBA; second consideration given to County-wide applicants in a position covered by the 1553 CBA; third consideration given to all other applicants, including the public. The position allocated to this class is responsible for providing assistance on specifically assigned projects and programs related to Affordable Housing and Community Development. The incumbent provides planning, technical assistance and administrative support to higher level personnel. Duties include data collection and analysis. This is the entry level class in the Community Development Specialist series. Positions of this class differ from those of Community Development Specialist 2 classification by lesser emphasis on supervisory or project management duties and more emphasis on specifically assigned project support duties. Employees are expected to perform work of a higher class for limited periods of time for training or relief purposes.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Urban Planning, Community Development, Business or Public Administration, Social Sciences or a related field, OR An Associate degree from an accredited college or university in one of the above areas AND two (2) years of experience in the field of grants management, project management, social services, current or long-range planning, or a related area, OR An equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Knowledge of research, data analysis and report writing techniques.
Knowledge of federal and/or state grant program principles and practices.
Knowledge of local government.
Knowledge of or ability to learn community development block grant programs, including citizen participation requirements, environmental requirements, eligible activities, recipients and beneficiaries, etc.
Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, officials, behavioral health providers and the general public.
Ability to deal with the public in a pleasant, courteous and calm manner, often under stressful situations.
Ability to gather and organize data and to prepare synopsis of data.

Responsibilities

Researches and interprets statistical data into understandable formats; maintain current data base, maps and tabular information.
Provides information for major projects and programs; develops techniques for monitoring grant funded project activities; and performs various special studies.
Assists in administration and implementation of specific established programs and projects.
Gathers demographic, housing and community development data and information by conducting surveys and researching various sources.
Drafts, revises and/or edits documents.
Assists and prepares or directs mail to residents or personal interviews with personnel of various agencies and businesspeople.
Provides information to and interacts with the general public concerning Community Development and Affordable Housing related matters.
Contributes to the production of planning and reporting documents, community wide needs assessments, citizen participation processes and development of objectives and use of funds, including the project selection process.
Presents data and analysis to urban consortium members, Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee (HCDAC), HCD staff and the Board of County Commissioners.
Performs administrative and program support activities essential to the Division and as needed for backup coverage to the Department.
Performs other related duties as required/assigned.