Housing Planner

Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values. Under the general supervision of the Housing Planning Manager, performs work related to the implementation of bond funded programs and the 10-Year Housing Plan, analysis of data, development and preservation of affordable housing, and related programs. Using independent judgment in making decisions; may be assigned full responsibility for projects or phases of work and performs functions such as project preparation, analysis, and presentations. Performs administrative and professional level duties associated with collaborating on plans and administering programs that ensure a variety of housing opportunities are available to a diverse population at every level of the housing continuum.   In conjunction with appropriate commissions and committees, employees of this class are expected to exercise considerable independence, initiative, and professional expertise in the formulation and implementation of the City’s housing strategy.   

            This position requires a high degree of collaboration with federal, state, and local governments as well as local for-profit and non-profit service providers. This position requires maintaining strong lines of communication with pertinent entities associated with affordable housing issues. This position coordinates programs and policies with the Housing & Grants Administrator, Housing Program Manager, Housing Specialist, and reports to the Housing Planning Manager in the City’s Housing Section.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
• Budgetary: This position may assist with the budget by providing cost estimates and carrying out day-to-day activities within the approved budget.
• Strategic Planning: This position assists with identifying needs and developing and implementing short- and long-term goals. 
• Policies/Procedures: This position assists with developing and implementing policies. The incumbent in this position also answers general questions relating to departmental policies and practices.
• Compliance: This position ensures compliance with and enforces federal, state, and local regulations, as well as City policies and procedures.  
• Council Communications: This position writes presentations, staff summaries, and other reports ensuring performance measures are met, and balancing needs with council’s adopted priorities and direction.   
• Reporting: This position gathers information, completes reports, and assists in addressing discrepancies in reporting to federal, state, and local agencies.

EXAMPLES OF THE WORK PERFORMED (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Works with key stakeholders to implement the goals, strategies, and objectives in the 10-Year Housing Plan.
• Responsible for helping create, implement, and report on Housing Bond programs.
• Works with Planning & Development Services and the development community to increase the affordable housing stock in Flagstaff.
• Attends the Interdepartmental Staff (IDS) meetings to review projects that incorporate affordable housing and other relevant development plans.
• Provides technical assistance and education to developers regarding the City’s incentive policy and the Zoning Code as related to affordable housing.
• Assists in administering the City’s incentive policy and the Zoning Code as related to affordable housing.
• Assists the Housing Planning Manager in writing restrictive covenants and agreements for all developments incorporating affordable housing.
• Assists in the administration on the City’s Affordable Homeownership and Rental Programs.
• Works with Comprehensive Planning, Economic Vitality, and Planning & Development Services to assist in the creation of neighborhood revitalization strategies and plans.
• Performs professional level current, mid-range and long-range planning duties associated with developing housing plans and strategies. 
• Obtains public review of proposed strategies and policies through contact with local commissions, professional associations, ad hoc committees, non-profit agencies, local government agencies, and the public.
• Provides technical assistance to for-profit and non-profit organizations involved with housing and housing related services. 
• Keeps current on state-of-the-art housing strategies and financing mechanisms and incorporates viable working principles of such into the formulation of City housing plans and policies. 
• Keeps current analysis of housing market data for the purposes of conducting accurate planning and securing funding from public and private resources.   
• Interprets, explains, and enforces federal, state, and local rules and regulations governing housing.
• Attends agency, council, commission, staff, and community meetings relating to housing.
• Initiates, schedules, and conducts public meetings.
• Generates citizen involvement in housing issues.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports to the city council, commissions, city manager and department heads.
• Performs related duties, as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in urban planning, public administration, business, or related field.
• Two years of experience working simultaneously on multiple projects including data collection and analysis. 
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements. 

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Master’s degree in urban planning, public administration, business, or related field.
• Experience with affordable housing program for a non-profit, for-profit, municipality, or unit of local government.
• Experience with project management, housing development, and/or property management.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Ability to coordinate and write professional level plans and policy documents.
• Ability to make professional level oral presentations.
• Strong team building skills and ability to obtain consensus with citizen groups.
• Ability to conduct original research, gather data, and make sound administrative analysis relating to policy and program management.
• Ability to monitor and interpret state and local legislation, regulations, and incentives for affordable housing. 
• Working knowledge of the fair housing and landlord tenant law and enforcement.
• Strong word-processing, spreadsheet, Internet, power point and mapping computer skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit, talk, and hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include close and distance vision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Salary : $61,651 - $77,064