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The City of Newark's incredibly successful Deputy Economic Development Director’s relocation left big shoes to fill, and we are confident there is a candidate who is ready to take on the challenge! We are searching for our next Deputy Economic Development Director to lead the city’s thriving Economic Development Division. The Deputy Director is a high-level management position responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and managing the operations related to the City’s Economic Development programs. Division staff work independently and in partnership with other City departments to accomplish economic development objectives and goals; provide policy, technical, and market support on projects; establish metrics for evaluating the success of economic development programs and initiatives; conduct regular assessments and prepare comprehensive reports for stakeholders and senior management.

The Economic Development Division is highly regarded by the City Council and has developed exceptional trust within the organization and with our business community. The trust developed within and outside the organization is based on a strong foundation of communication and outreach. Staff regularly visit businesses in person to establish and maintain connections. The Division offers a variety of workshops that further strengthen ties between businesses and the City. Future work includes assistance with development and growth of our local chamber of commerce, identifying new opportunities for advance manufacturing and life science industries, and growing our tax base with our existing and new businesses. 

Newark is well known within the community as a wonderfully diverse place to live, grow a business, volunteer, eat at fabulous local restaurants, and enjoy the outdoors. Companies including Lucid Motors, ATUM, Freewire, Allogene, and Cepheid are at home in Newark and thanks to Cargill, we also harvest salt! Ohlone College's health, environment, and technology campus is in Newark and our Sunday Farmer's Market is very popular. Newark’s central location allows us to have one foot in Silicon Valley, another in the East Bay, and just a short ride on the Dumbarton bridge to the Peninsula.

Our next Deputy Economic Development Director will take advantage of what Newark has to offer to promote our businesses, develop policies and programs to grow and attract new companies, and continue our success into the future.

For more information about the Community Development Department, please visit our website at www.Newark.org, click the “Departments” tab, and select “Community Development”. 

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, Public Administration, or a related field.
• A Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Public Relations or Public Administration is desirable.

Experience:

• Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in economic development, redevelopment, real estate development, or related field including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

License:

• Possession of a valid driver license and a satisfactory driving record throughout employment.

Under general supervision, the Neighborhood Preservation Inspector. ensures compliance with applicable sections of the State, Federal, and Municipal Codes, ordinances, and in relevant areas, such as property maintenance, abandoned vehicles, planning, zoning, signs, community nuisance, and related areas.  This is a classification in the Economic and Community Development Department.

CLASS CHARACTERISITICS:

The Neighborhood Preservation Inspector is the full journey-level classification.  This position requires experience in both Municipal and Zoning Codes and Regulations. Employees at this level are expected to work with property owners independently and to coordinate City resources to solve neighborhood issues.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (illustrative only):

• Work closely with homeowners and businesses to achieve compliance.
• Interpret ordinances, policies and procedures, and code enforcement concepts.
• Prepare reports and recommendations on code enforcement matters, and gain voluntary compliance.
• Coordinate actions with other departments or jurisdictions.
• Prepare reports, legal documents, and letters.
• Prepare case information and present evidence at appeal hearings and other legal proceedings.
• Inspect and investigate land use, and site and environmental conditions.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Under the supervision of the Building/Code Compliance Coordinator and the Chief Building Official/Senior Plans Examiner, the Building/Code Compliance Inspector performs work in the areas of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy, green, zoning, and residential fire protection inspections; various aspects of code enforcement; and other duties as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the journey-level, professional class that is expected to read plans, make code interpretations, have comprehensive knowledge of construction materials and techniques, and be able to perform field inspections (both Building and Code Enforcement) on their own.

This position is distinguished from the next higher class of Senior Building/Code Compliance Inspector by the latter providing training, technical advice, and lead assistance to incumbent inspectors. The Building/Code Compliance Inspector is further distinguished from the lower level of Building/Code Compliance Trainee in that the latter is the entry-level class, and is in training, learning the full scope of the assigned duties and responsibilities.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (illustrative only):

• Inspecting residential, commercial, and industrial occupancies for compliance with building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy, green, zoning and fire protection codes and standards.
• Recommending solutions or corrective actions to problems and taking follow up actions to ensure discrepancies are corrected.
• Performing various functions related to code enforcement (e.g., inspections, noticing, follow-up with owners, and research).
• Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing, to a wide variety of audiences.
• Writing reports and preparing correspondence pertaining to assigned duties.
• Keeping pertinent records.
• Utilizing personal computers to access the permitting system, GIS (geographic information system, various other software applications, and perform word processing functions.
• Consulting with architects, engineers, contractors, business owners, and homeowners.
• Using appropriate safety practices.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Why City of Berkeley?

Berkeley is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, we’re home to over fifty parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay. And we’re famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts.

As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally sound and culturally rich city.

The Position

The Community Development Project Coordinator (CDPC) acts as a project leader in the City's community development program activities. This position is responsible for coordinating various phases of projects and implementing activities of economic development and housing. Duties include handling requests for grant funding, contract compliance matters, operations support, data analysis, and development and administration of policies, procedures, and budgets. 

View the class specification here.

The Departments

Health, Housing & Community Services

• In Affordable Housing Programs, the CDPC provides project leadership and implements a variety of programs related to affordable housing development, rehabilitation, program administration, and policy development and implementation. Candidates will have significant interaction with housing developers, owners, managers, tenants and applicants. Ideal candidates will have a solid understanding of affordable housing financing and/or housing policies and programs, resourcefulness in responding to challenges, and proficiency in drafting, negotiating and executing the mechanisms for ensuring the community's interests. 

• In Labor Standards and Employment Programs, the CDPC works to ensure the City is in compliance with relevant local and federal ordinances/regulations. The Berkeley Municipal Code (BMC) contains several locally adopted labor and employment programs. The City is also an entitlement jurisdiction, and receives an annual funding awards from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

Public Works

• In Real Property Services, the CDPC provides lead direction to staff, advises City Management on program implications of operational or financial activity, and makes recommendations regarding areas such as project restructuring, funding alternatives, and cost analysis. Incumbents have considerable latitude to exercise independent judgment, particularly when representing the City Manager or department in meetings with other agencies, boards and commissions and community groups.

• In Electric Mobility, the CDPC leads the City's efforts to fulfill the Berkeley Electric Mobility Roadmap. This plan aims to create a fossil-free transportation system that integrates with and supports the City’s ongoing efforts to increase walking, biking, and public transportation use in the City, and ensures equitable and affordable access to the benefits of clean transportation. Incumbents will organize the Electric Mobility Implementation Working Group, manage the development of City-owned electric vehicle charging infrastructure, track and develop programs utilizing emerging mobility options, and catalyze actions such as pilot projects and new best practices.

City Manager 

• In the ​​​Office of Economic Development, the CDPC provides assistance to new and growing businesses in Berkeley and the business district organizations that represent them. They will perform a range of economic data analysis, prepare reports and presentations for the City Manager, City Council, and various boards and commissions, manage Berkeley's Revolving Loan Fund, and manage contracts with one or more Berkeley Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). Incumbents will also act as liaison with various district-based business organizations to help them promote and develop their districts, build local capacity and promote positive neighborhood economic development outcomes. They will advise businesses seeking to grow in or relocate to Berkeley and link them with property owners, brokers and other sources of business assistance. 

Required Qualifications

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college with major coursework in business, planning, or public administration or a closely related field.

AND

Four (4) years of professional project management experience in community development, such as housing, economic development, public works, or planning. Lead and/or supervisory experience is desirable.

A master's degree in a related program is desirable and can be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: A valid California driver's license is desirable. Must be able to attend evening meetings.

TO VIEW JOB ANNOUNCEMENT, CLICK JOB PDF BELOW.