Career Opportunity

Director of Place-Based Initiatives (0903-Mayoral Staff XV)

Recruitment: RTF0121792-01149815

Published: July 25, 2024

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About:

Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD)

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD)’s mission is to support San Franciscans with affordable housing opportunities and essential services to build strong communities.  The Department is organized into four divisions: Housing, Community Development, Homeownership and Below Market Rate Programs, and Finance and Administration, and includes additional teams that report directly to MOHCD’s Director including: Communications, Policy and Legislative Affairs, and Place-Based Initiatives. 

Place-based Initiatives

MOHCD’s Place Based Initiatives (PBI) seek to transform neighborhoods and improve outcomes for residents by comprehensively addressing the physical (housing and infrastructure), social and economic needs of a community.  PBI employs a holistic community development model that: a) coordinates housing development activities with programs and services with a focus on integrating once-isolated communities into the City’s broader physical, social and economic fabric; b) elevates resident voice and supports resident leadership in the execution of programs; c) develops and sustains strong partnerships with residents and community-based organizations; d) mobilizes and channels resources across multiple City Departments and from philanthropic partners; and e) supports economic mobility through targeted programming and mixed-income housing development.  Focused on addressing the needs of neighborhoods that have suffered from a history of disinvestment and isolation, MOHCD’s PBI programs build on community resilience to create integrated (economically and socially), equitable, and vibrant communities that remain affordable to both existing and new residents.  While PBI is a separate division within MOHCD, its work is inherently collaborative requiring strong cross-departmental coordination, and close collaboration with MOHCD’s Housing Development and Housing Services teams, as well as with the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA). 

Currently, the Division’s primary focus is on HOPE SF, which was previously led by a HOPE SF Director.  The newly created role of Director of Place-Based Initiatives will provide leadership to HOPE SF, as well as expand HOPE SF’s community development model and core principles to other neighborhoods and communities.

HOPE SF

HOPE SF is the nation’s first citywide mixed-income transformation initiative that prioritizes equitable outcomes for current public housing residents by replacing dilapidated public housing with new residential development without displacement, elevating resident input, and providing services and supports for residents from the early stages of the neighborhood transformation process. HOPE SF combines physical development (mixed-income housing and infrastructure) with well-coordinated human development. The four sites— Alice Griffith, Hunters View, Potrero, and Sunnydale—are all located on the southeastern side of San Francisco in three neighborhoods: Bayview Hunters Point, Potrero Hill, and Visitacion Valley. These neighborhoods are home to the city’s largest African American population as well as immigrant populations including Latinos, Asians, and Samoans. Residents of these isolated former public housing sites have lived with disproportionately high levels of crime, violence, and concentrations of racialized poverty in the midst of an economically thriving city. 

HOPE SF community development model includes the following core principles:

• Rebuild existing affordable housing without displacement, and increase access to new affordable housing resources
• Build new market-rate and workforce housing to create vibrant mixed-income communities
• Collaborate across systems and sectors to achieve lasting change, bringing community partners and city leaders together to remove systemic barriers to health and prosperity
• Advance anti-racism policies through reparative and trauma-informed practices
• Uplift resident voice and vision
• Use data to inform decision-making toward advancing racial and economic equity
• Create a culture of inclusion and belonging
• Be innovative

Role description

The Director of Place-Based Initiatives is responsible for leading and coordinating strategic initiatives aimed at improving both the physical and social fabric of historically marginalized neighborhoods. This role focuses on enhancing the quality of life for residents by addressing not only the need for better affordable housing, but also underlying social challenges, to create racially and economically integrated communities, and reduce isolation through improvements to the physical infrastructure and the diversification of housing types. A key focus is to address the harms caused by Urban Renewal policies and Redevelopment practices, and to promote racial and social equity through place-based strategies, including real estate development (housing and infrastructure), resident engagement, coordination of programs and services, and the channeling of both public and philanthropic resources. Essential to the role is the ability to work collaboratively with MOHCD’s program divisions (Housing, Community Development and Homeownership), and to create and sustain productive relationships with other City agencies and philanthropic partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Building on the success of HOPE SF to date, develop and implement comprehensive place-based strategies that address the unique needs of target neighborhoods.
• Manage and supervise a dedicated team of six professionals, providing leadership, guidance, and professional development opportunities with an emphasis on equity and inclusion.
• Support masterplan development partners in meeting both housing development and human capital development goals through the execution of site-specific revitalization plans. 
• Engage with residents and community members on all strategic elements, ensuring their voices are included in the planning and execution of initiative priorities.
• Foster resident leadership by creating opportunities for community members to take active roles in shaping and leading projects within their neighborhoods.
• Ensure coordination and alignment across key policy and program areas, including housing development, health and wellness, economic empowerment, education and youth development, and housing retention and stability.
• Partner with key city agencies, including primarily the San Francisco Housing Authority, but also the Department of Public Health, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, the Human Services Agency, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, to address comprehensive needs and leverage resources.
• Partner with philanthropy to secure targeted funding and resources for innovative programs and resident support.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of place-based programs and initiatives, making adjustments as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
• Represent the City and County of San Francisco at public meetings, community events, and other forums to promote the work of HOPE SF and other place-based programs.
• Prepare and present reports on program activities and outcomes to city officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as applicable.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, promoting the professional growth and engagement of team members.
• Develop performance metrics and conduct regular evaluations to ensure team effectiveness and the successful achievement of project goals.

How to qualify

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field.  Alternative work experience may be accepted as a substitute. 
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in community development, urban planning, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Strong understanding of place-based development principles, practices, and regulations.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale projects and initiatives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in community engagement and fostering resident leadership.
• Experience in securing funding through grants and partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders, with a strong commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Proven experience in leading and supervising a team, with the ability to mentor and inspire team members to achieve high performance.
• Experience in working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, including government agencies and community organizations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field.
• Experience working in a government or public sector environment.
• Knowledge of the specific needs and challenges within San Francisco.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills.

What else should I know?

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

Online application available on: Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Filling Deadline - Friday, August 9, 2024 - 11:59 pm

Classification - 0903 - Mayoral Staff XV (Director of Place-Based Initiatives)

Salary - $148,746 and $189,852 (Range A) - $189,878 - $219,752 (Range B)

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process. • Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen 7 Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or receive

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at Karen Henderson - karen.henderson@sfgov.org - 628-652-5933

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.