Deputy Director (Housing Operations)

City of Tucson

1d • $89,024 - $133,536

About The Position

Provides executive leadership and oversight of the Housing Choice Voucher, Public and Affordable Housing, and Housing First divisions of the City of Tucson Housing and Community Development Department. The Deputy Director reports to the HCD Director and directs division administrators and managers responsible for rental assistance administered for the City of Tucson and Pima County Public Housing Authorities, City-owned affordable housing, and homelessness response. The role establishes integrated priorities, directs resources, and holds division leaders accountable for financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, service quality, workforce capacity, and measurable housing outcomes. It exercises broad independent judgment within delegated authority, advises the Director on policy and operational risks, and represents the Department in regional partnerships and public forums.

The Deputy Director directs the three Housing Operations divisions through their administrators and managers, translating policy into coordinated workplans, staffing and resource decisions, and measurable results. The position provides executive oversight of voucher programs, public and affordable housing operations, and Housing First services, while coordinating with City and community partners on homelessness response and housing stability.

The role directs assigned operating and capital budgets, funding and contract priorities, oversight and internal controls, policy development, workforce planning, performance measurement, and process improvements. It represents HCD with government agencies, housing and service partners, residents, and community organizations; presents recommendations and results to leadership and public bodies; resolves significant operational issues; and coordinates responses to urgent housing, shelter, property, and service disruptions. The position may act for the Director when designated and performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five years of relevant experience; any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.
• The position requires a criminal background check.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizen; the City does not offer visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience administering public housing, rental assistance, affordable housing operations, homelessness response, or closely related public programs, including responsibility for complex budgets, regulatory compliance, and organizational performance.
• Five or more years of management experience, including supervision of senior managers and leadership of multiple programs or service units through subordinate supervisors.
• Demonstrated leadership across more than one of the three assigned service areas, integrating housing assistance, housing operations, and homelessness response into coordinated service delivery.
• Experience managing Housing Choice Voucher subsidy and administrative resources, public or affordable housing operating performance, or complex federal and State homelessness funding, including forecasting and mitigation of financial, legal, and compliance risks.
• Experience leading audit or monitoring responses, improving performance measures, implementing corrective action, and maintaining effective internal controls.
• Experience advising executive leadership or elected officials, developing policy, and leading organizational change while improving resident, participant, and employee experience.
• Master's degree in public administration, housing, urban planning, human services, or a related field.
• Recognized public housing, Housing Choice Voucher, or housing executive certifications.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Housing Choice Voucher, Public and Affordable Housing, and Housing First divisions through their administrators and managers; establish goals, priorities, service expectations, and accountability.
• Translate policy into coordinated workplans, staffing and resource decisions, and measurable results; resolve competing priorities and advise the Director on organizational changes and significant risks.
• Oversee City of Tucson and Pima County Housing Choice Voucher operations, including tenant-based and project-based assistance, special-purpose vouchers, inspections, landlord engagement, and participant support programs.
• Direct voucher utilization, leasing, administrative performance, and subsidy sustainability strategies; evaluate payment standards, assistance payment forecasts, funding, and shortfall risks, and recommend policy or corrective actions.
• Oversee public and affordable housing admissions, occupancy, property management, maintenance, resident services, safety, and preservation of City housing assets.
• Establish expectations for occupancy, unit turnaround, rent collection, property condition, operating performance, and resident experience; coordinate asset repositioning transitions with the Development Division and relevant partners.
• Oversee Housing First services, including street outreach, housing navigation, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and housing stabilization services; align City-operated and contracted services around housing access and stability.
• Partner with the City of Tucson Community Safety Program, elected officials, and internal and external stakeholders to coordinate responses to homelessness in the Tucson area.
• Direct assigned operating and capital budgets with division and fiscal leaders; review revenues, expenditures, restricted funds, reserves, staffing costs, and multiyear forecasts, and recommend allocations and adjustments.
• Evaluate funding opportunities, grant renewals, service costs, and financial commitments; direct procurement and contract priorities, performance expectations, provider oversight, fiscal controls, and grant compliance within delegated authority.
• Establish oversight and internal controls for HUD, other funding, and City requirements; direct quality assurance, audit and monitoring preparation, and corrective action, including for PHAS and SEMAP performance.
• Guide development and implementation of administrative plans, admissions and continued occupancy policies, PHA plans, and other operating policies; coordinate legal and regulatory interpretation and ensure required approvals and public processes.
• Ensure consistent fair housing, reasonable accommodation, accessibility, language access, and resident protections.
• Select, supervise, evaluate, and develop division leaders and other direct reports; establish authority and expectations, review results, and take or recommend personnel actions consistent with City policies and delegated authority.
• Direct workforce and succession planning, leadership development, training priorities, and organizational design; foster a respectful and accountable workplace and support managers with workload, retention, performance, and service delivery challenges.
• Establish division and portfolio performance measures and conduct regular operational and strategic reviews using financial, housing, property, and homelessness system data.
• Direct process improvements, program coordination, and technology priorities; ensure reliable reporting, secure records, and data quality, and hold leaders accountable for strategic goals and sustained improvements.
• Represent HCD with HUD, State agencies, Pima County, City departments, housing owners, service providers, health systems, resident representatives, and community organizations; negotiate partnerships and operating agreements within delegated authority.
• Prepare and present recommendations, budgets, program results, and policy analyses to the Director, City leadership, Mayor and Council, boards, and community groups as assigned.
• Communicate complex requirements clearly, support resident and community engagement, and coordinate public information with authorized City staff.
• Resolve significant operational issues and escalated concerns involving residents, participants, landlords, providers, or staff; assess service, financial, legal, and reputational consequences, document decisions, and elevate matters requiring approval.
• Coordinate responses to urgent housing, shelter, property, and service disruptions with City and community partners; support continuity of essential operations and act for the Director when designated.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage.
• Defined benefit pension plan with five-year vesting, the ability to transfer from other Arizona pension plans, and the ability to purchase service credit.
• Voluntary 457(b) plan and optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings.
• 38 paid days off in the first year for new hires, with time off increasing in subsequent years.
• Twelve weeks of paid parental leave.
• Paid tuition reimbursement.
• Student loan repayment.
• Off- and on-the-job training.
• Employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive