The City of Bloomington seeks to hire an inclusive and visionary leader to serve as its next Community Development Director. The Department delivers planning, inspection, assessing and development services in a manner that balances the need for speed, accuracy, safety, public input/reflection, customer service and innovation. The successful candidate will bring not only technical skill and knowledge in the areas of development, code enforcement, and planning, but most importantly the emotional intelligence, leadership qualities and cooperative team skills necessary to advance the City's vision of a strengths based high performing organization.

CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS

• Develops, supports, and models a positive and productive workplace culture based on respect, dignity, honesty, and integrity. Allows staff to grow and succeed by providing opportunities for increased responsibility and creating a positive work culture
• Supports and advances organizational development efforts such as developing a high performing organization, employee engagement, workforce development, inclusion and equity, and performance measurement efforts
• Works cooperatively with others; develops and maintains respectful and effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions
• Proactively resolves conflicts and misunderstandings in order to ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace
• Seeks to understand the legacy of structural racism, and its impact on employees and the residents we serve; identifies any implications and adverse equity impacts when developing or reviewing policies, projects, activities and interactions with stakeholders
• Embraces the City's shared values and contributes towards accomplishing the City's vision and goals by being creative, innovative, continuously learning, and communicating clearly

• Departmental Strategic Planning: Prepares and recommends goals, objectives, strategies, and schedules for Community Development programs. Develops contingency strategies which anticipate obstacles.
• Delegation and Optimization: Assigns responsibilities, allocates resources and coordinates the activities of Community Development staff to meet objectives efficiently and effectively. Insures maximum utilization of all assigned staff.
• Proactive Leadership: Provides strong and positive leadership for all Community Development programs and determines and recommends program parameters as well as determining the need for appropriate personnel.
  • Initiates actions directing the activities of individuals and groups toward the accomplishment of meaningful objectives. Adapts leadership strategy to different situations.
• Performance Measurement: Monitors the progress of all Community Development functions and reviews and evaluates final results.
  • Ensures that work is complete, sound, and that programs and staff are providing results consistent with City policies, goals, and codes.
• Operational Excellence: Formulates and implements sound procedures, methods, and practices for directing and controlling the functions in accountability and assures their proper application.
  • Appraises the need for new or modified practices or procedures and promptly initiates any required corrective action.
• Departmental Coordination: Promotes and maintains a coordinated and cooperative work effort between the divisions of Community Development to ensure the most effective functioning of the Department.
• Budget Forecasting: Prepares manpower, materials, and other requirement forecasts with supporting data in preparation of operation as well as capital expenditures for the budget.
• Fostering Innovation: Creates an environment that promotes idea generation, new thinking, and leading change.
• Public Representation of Bloomington: Represents the Department with other City officials, other government agencies, and the general public in a manner that will ensure the best interests of the City and Department are being served and improve the effectiveness of the Community Development Department.
• Code Review: Reviews all proposed changes in codes to ensure they will effectively meet the needs of the City and makes appropriate changes to ensure sound and effective inspection planning and environmental programs.
• Cross-Organizational Education: Provides technical input and leadership to various commissions of the City to ensure their thorough understanding of overall programs and plans and their effective functioning in support.
• Staff Development: Proactively supports and suggests development for direct reports.
• City Council Interaction: Makes recommendations to the City Council on programs in Community Development and provides documentation and other resource information for their deliberation.
• Develops original approaches, drawing on diverse information sources. Encourages creativity.
• Keeps City Manager promptly informed of matters needed to know to perform effectively in that position.
• Performs other work as apparent or assigned.

• Technical skill and/or awareness in the areas of development, code enforcement, and planning
• Overall goals of the Department are met consistent with established Council actions.
• All programs are carried out in such a manner as to create a favorable image with citizens and public officials toward the Department.
• Programs of the Department are effectively communicated to commissions, Council, and citizens.
• Dissent is used productively to enhance decision quality. Arrives at constructive solutions while maintaining positive working relationships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5 years of progressively responsible community development experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Planning, Finance, or equivalent.
• Four years of experience in administration including two years with increasingly responsible supervisory functions.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively develop and supervise the work of others.
• Able to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees, commissions, City Council, and the general public.
• Be a creative and innovative thinker.
• Be able to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• More than 5 years of progressively responsible community development experience.
• Master’s Degree or other relevant advanced education.
• Experience leading staff in a Strengths-based environment.
• Experience securing state and federal grant funds.
• Experience leading economic development initiatives, including business development and retention programs.
• Experience working with legislators and other interagency elected officials to effect organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated experience formulating and implementing workforce development strategies.
• Thorough knowledge of government policies as well as codes affecting Department.
• Effective public speaker.
• Experience in local government.
• Ability to speak a second language, in addition to English that has a recognized presence in the community. (Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, Cambodian, etc.)

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

This position supervises the Community Development Department which includes the services of Assessing, Building & Inspections, Environmental Health, Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Planning, and Port Authority.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $ 158,614 – $183,877 Annually

2024 Full Salary Range: $158,614 – $211,459 Annually

Full-Time; Exempt; Non-Union; Benefits Eligible

The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.