Director of Housing and Community Services

Director of Housing and Community ServicesIt is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.Why Work for Aurora?Make a difference in the lives of real people every dayDiverse communityCompetitive total compensation packageWell-Funded General Employees Retirement PlanLight rail station minutes awayOn-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programsInternal educational programs to assist with career advancementAccess to innovation workspacesThe Director will provide leadership and direction on the city's Housing and Community Services initiatives and programs, including community engagement, homelessness programs, housing and community development, code enforcement, intervention programming, and animal services. This individual will lead a large, diverse team with multiple functions, requiring strategic leadership, establishing a vision for the department, and ensuring alignment of people to roles.Primary Duties & ResponsibilitiesThe listed primary duties and responsibilities are not a comprehensive list of expectations for the job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice. Employees may be assigned other duties.Strategically directs Housing and Community Services functions and programs; ensuring division responsibilities are carried out effectively, efficiently, and timely.Establishes short and long-range departmental priorities, goals, and objectives.Establishes and maintains short and long-range financial plans and strategies including overseeing the budget of the department.In collaboration with the Manager of Community Development, oversees the implementation of the city's Housing Strategy through program implementation, new funding, collaboration with community organizations, for profit and non-profit developers, and other city departments.Oversees the design and implementation of federally funded housing and community development programs (HUD, CDBG, HOME, ESG).Oversees the city's code enforcement efforts, including both complaint and proactive enforcement within the division's priority areas (zoning, fences, trash, parking, weeds, and housing).Collaborates with city departments, service providers, hospitals and clinics, and other governmental jurisdictions to implement an integrated strategy to address homelessness and behavioral health needs of the community.Oversees a manager of Animal Care responsible for ensuring that animals are sheltered in a humane fashion according to state and city regulations and codes.Manages intervention program efforts, including overseeing the implementation of the Standing Against Violence Everyday (SAVE) and the Aurora Mobile Response Team (AMRT) programs.Identifies and works with transitional neighborhoods to encourage stabilization and improved problem solving.Effectively coordinates the department's activities with other city departments to ensure a consistent approach towards common goals and the cost-effective delivery of services.Effectively manages department employees including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, safety, performance management, discipline, termination and general supervision.Performs other duties as assigned.Minimum Qualifications & Working ConditionsAn equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.Education:Bachelor's degree in social services, public administration, business administration, community planning, or related field.Experience:8 years of related experience including 5 years of supervisory experience.Preferred Qualifications:Master's degree in a related field.Leadership experience in a large agency supporting housing and community services.Knowledge:Advanced knowledge of principles, practices and operating requirements of community and neighborhood services functions, including neighborhood service delivery, federal grant, human services, and community relations programs; code enforcement; and municipal management, budgeting, planning, and regulatory requirements.Skills:Strong analytical, project and people management skills, including a thorough understanding of the city of Aurora policies, procedures, and processes to interpret business needs and translate them into operational requirements.Abilities:Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city leaders, elected officials, the media, and citizens.Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.Ability to manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines.Leads teams with empathy, ensuring a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.Identifies and facilitates team-based solutions.Communicate effectively both orally and in writing including synthesizing complex information into useful format for decision-makers and tailoring messages to various audiences.Gather, correlate and analyze facts and devise solutions to administrative and technical problems.Adapts quickly to a changing environment, demands, business needs, and shifting priorities.Working ConditionsEssential Personnel: When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.Physical Demands: Sedentary physical work moving no more than 10 pounds at a time. Occasional lifting, carrying, walking and standing. Constant hand/eye coordination to operate personal computer and office equipment. Constant vision for reading, recording and interpreting information. Constant speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with others.Work Environment: Works primarily in an office environment.Equipment Used: Uses standard office equipment including personal computer and common office software such as email, internet, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive) and databases. This job may require the incumbent to use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.The city of Aurora will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026. The scheduled furlough dates are January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.For Veterans preference: Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application. The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer. We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants. It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission. Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace. A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References: As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check.Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.

Created: 2026-03-16