Director of Development

Strengthening Communities.

Building Partnerships.

Improving Lives.

Characteristics of the Class: Reporting to the Chief Strategic Development Officer, the Director of Development plans, implements, directs, and oversees the operations of activities related to the Housing Authority’s real estate portfolio, to include acquisition, disposition, financing, development, redevelopment and repositioning of assets.

Additionally, the Director of Development will provide guidance and oversight of the Development Department’s participation in larger infrastructure and community development projects undertaken individually or in partnership with third party developers and/or the City of Los Angeles.
Insofar as the portfolio of the agency is concerned, the Director of Development will drive the citywide strategy for large multi-family sites to include mixed-use, mixed income redevelopment as well as the repositioning and development of other properties owned or recently acquired by HACLA or its affiliates.

The incumbent will oversee the financing plan for department-wide initiatives, including the pursuit of legislation, negotiation of fees & participation, bonds, financing districts, and access to a variety of competitive sources of funding options.
From a community perspective, the incumbent will organize and lead community outreach efforts and facilitate stakeholder communications related to all development and redevelopment efforts.

The Director of Development is charged with developing partnerships and collaborative leadership opportunities to further the mission of the Housing Authority.

Moreover, the incumbent will also serve as the contact person for political offices as well as governmental and regulatory agencies inherent in the redevelopment of large public housing sites, community redevelopment & real estate transaction deals.
The incumbent serves at the will of the Chief Strategic Development Officer.

Examples of Essential Functions:
Assumes full management responsibility for all Development Department services and activities including affordable and market-rate housing development and rehabilitation programs and operations as well as all associated infrastructure and community & economic development projects.

The Director recommends and administers policies and procedures.
Manages the development and implementation of Development Department goals, objectives, policies, budgets and priorities of each assigned service area; serves and participates as a member of the Housing Authority’s senior management team; establishes, within Housing Authority policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; allocates resources accordingly.
Continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; directs the implementation of changes.
Structures real estate development deals; compiles, analyzes, prioritizes and recommends projects based on detailed proforma.
Represents the Development Department to HUD, other Housing Authority departments, public officials, and outside agencies; explains, justifies, and defends Development Department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
Selects, trains, motivates, and evaluates Development Department personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures.
Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate level managers, the Development Department’s work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures. 
Manages and participates in the development and administration of the Development Department budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of approved expenditures; directs the preparation of and implements budgetary adjustments as necessary.
Coordinates Development activities with those of the other departments and outside agencies and organizations, including various outside counsel and third party consultants; provides staff assistance to the Chief Strategic Development Officer, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Commissioners; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
Participates on a variety of redevelopment, real estate and housing-related boards and commissions, attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of real estate, urban planning, redevelopment and affordable housing development and rehabilitation.
Prepares funding applications including low income tax credit, bond and market-rate applications.
Reviews real estate loan financing; coordinates the development and purchase of housing units and/or land through dedicated funds or bond financing.
Conducts field inspections to determine affordable housing project feasibility; determines extent of rehabilitation necessary for new housing projects.

Oversees design and quality standards for all developments, incorporating best practices for sustainability and cost.
Responds to and resolves, in a timely manner, difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
Interacts and leads community stakeholder and tenant meetings.
Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
Strong operational knowledge and successful experience in large-scale multi-family development and redevelopment activities is essential.
Strong experience and successful track record in developing and implementing financial models as well as competitive applications for funding – including bonds and tax credit financing.
Inter-governmental relations in a large, urban, municipal setting.
Skilled at interacting with the community stakeholder groups related to real estate development projects, including knowledge of relocation issues.
Experience in construction management and project implementation demonstrating ability to take large complex projects from concept to completion.
Knowledge of and experience with Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI), Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and other HUD development processes (highly desirable).
Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a comprehensive public or subsidized housing program, including rehabilitation.
Organization and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of assigned programs, policies and operational needs.
Modern and complex principles and practices of housing development program development and administration.
Laws regulating housing development programs and financing of the Housing Authority including mixed finance development regulations.
Principles and practices of municipal planning, including strong experience with environmental regulations and public policy issues, land use entitlements and obtaining approvals and permits from other agencies.
Principles and practices of contract administration, real estate negotiations.
Grant application and administration.
Principles and practices in architecture and engineering.
Principles and practices of redevelopment, including public/private partnerships.
Methods and procedures in real estate financial matters, including cost estimating, residential, multi-family, infrastructure, commercial and/or industrial construction and real estate market analysis.
Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
ABILITY TO:
Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of assigned personnel, delegate authority and responsibility and create a collaborative, value-based work environment.
Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction to the Development Department.
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Understand and implement economic analysis and long-range planning by developing, implementing, and administering goals, objectives and procedures for providing effective and efficient development services.
Develop strategic work program for the department in collaboration with partner organizations and teams in other departments within HACLA to help expand its capacity to deliver outcome-based plans and programs through a matrixed leadership framework.
Develop internal policies, best practices and trainings focused on advancing division-wide priorities through alignment of work, increasing professional skill & acumen to maintain and expand diversity of knowledge and ability to be effective and outcome-driven.
Track, guide, and influence broader policies and adapt new tools on a local, state and national level to improve HACLA’s ability to fund, deliver and maintain affordable housing for all income levels in communities with equitable amenities and opportunities.
Identify and utilize diversify revenue sources and achieve greater operational efficiencies through collaboration and shared services and development opportunities.
Develop department capacity to engage in self-development, full master planning, as well as expand public-private partnerships to effectively administer a

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