Community Development Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Community Development Director provides executive leadership and strategic direction across the Tribe’s Community Development portfolio; aligns land use, infrastructure, housing development, and ensures coordinated execution of Tribal Council and executive priorities. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Community Development Director integrates land use, infrastructure, development, and capital investments to ensure coordinated execution of Tribal Council priorities. This position supervises assigned department directors and is responsible for integrating Public Works, Planning, Trust Services, housing development initiatives, and related capital projects.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership of the Community Development Portfolio

Department Oversight and Performance Management

Public Works, Planning, and Community Development Integration

Trust Services, Realty, and Property Coordination

Tribal-Funded Housing Development and Program Coordination

Capital Project Planning, Coordination, and Execution Oversight

Budget, Contracts, Procurement, and Administrative Oversight

Policy, Governance, and Executive Reporting

Intergovernmental, Community, and External Coordination

Other Duties

EDUCATION - EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, urban or regional planning, civil engineering, construction management, community development, tribal administration, business administration, public policy, environmental planning, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in one or more of the following areas: public works, infrastructure, community development, planning, land use, trust/property coordination, housing development, capital projects, utilities, tribal government operations, or related public-sector, tribal government, or community development functions.
• Five (5) years of senior management or executive leadership experience with responsibility for supervising managers or directors, managing budgets, and leading complex cross-functional operations or projects.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing or coordinating capital projects, infrastructure initiatives, land or development-related work, and multi-department operations in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and managing budgets, monitoring expenditures, and working with contracts, consultants, procurement, and project or operational reporting.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet Tribal driving requirements.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in public administration, planning, engineering, business administration, tribal administration, community development, public policy, or a closely related field.
• Experience working in tribal government or in a setting involving Tribal sovereignty, Tribal governance, trust land, or Tribal community development.
• Experience overseeing Public Works, Planning, infrastructure, utilities, housing development, trust/property, or land use functions in a tribal, local government, or similarly complex public-sector environment.
• Experience working with fee-to-trust, property acquisition, intergovernmental coordination, environmental review, or land development processes.
• Project management, public works, planning, engineering, or related professional certification(s) relevant to the position.

SPECIFIC SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION

Skills:

• Executive leadership and portfolio management skills, including the ability to lead multiple departments and initiatives with competing priorities.
• Skill in building productive working relationships with Tribal leadership, staff, community members, consultants, contractors, agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Strong executive leadership, organizational, analytical, communication, project management, budgeting, contract administration, and performance management skills.
• Skill in resolving conflicts, navigating sensitive issues, and maintaining professionalism and accountability in a politically and operationally complex environment.
• Proficiency in standard business software, including Microsoft Office and other systems used for budgeting, reporting, communication, project tracking, and document management.

Ability:

• Ability to lead a diverse portfolio of operational, planning, infrastructure, and development functions in a coordinated and disciplined manner.
• Ability to translate Tribal leadership priorities into executable work plans, project strategies, and operational expectations.
• Ability to resolve competing priorities and resolve disputes among departments, managers, and stakeholders while maintaining alignment with Tribal priorities and executive direction.
• Ability to lead a complex executive portfolio while coordinating multiple departments, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operations, and exercising sound judgment in a sovereign Tribal government environment.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and political awareness in a sovereign Tribal government environment.
• Ability to respond effectively under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing organizational needs and evolving portfolio structures.
• Ability to interpret and apply Tribal policies, procedures, codes, ordinances, and other applicable rules and requirements relevant to assigned functions.

Knowledge:

• Principles and practices of executive leadership, public administration, organizational management, and departmental oversight.
• Principles and practices related to community development, public works, planning, capital project coordination, infrastructure, housing development, and related operational functions.
• Principles of budget administration, financial oversight, contract management, procurement coordination, and operational reporting.
• Planning, land use, development, and project coordination processes, including the intersection of infrastructure, land, permitting, and development implementation.
• Trust/property, fee-to-trust, land acquisition, or related land coordination concepts relevant to Tribal or public-sector development work.
• Tribal governance structures and the relationship between executive leadership, Tribal Council, committees, boards, and operational departments.
• Tribal, federal, state, and local governmental processes relevant to assigned work, including intergovernmental coordination and regulatory review where applicable.
• Effective supervisory practices, performance management, and workforce development principles.
• Community-facing leadership practices, including public communication, stakeholder coordination, and issue resolution in sensitive environments.
• Computer applications and information systems are commonly used for executive administration, budgeting, reporting, and project management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet

Licenses or Certifications Required