Community Development Specialist II positions perform professional planning, support and coordination of community development and/or economic development programs, activities and services; implement and monitor contracts, projects or programs that include community development, economic development, business finance, community revitalization, housing rehabilitation, real estate, public infrastructure or public services components; assist with the development and management of budgets; assist with coordination of project activities or programs with community advisory boards, the community at-large, private sector stakeholder, other governmental entities and elected officials; provide business assistance and business outreach services; assist businesses with the entitlement process; administer business incentive programs; promote workforce development, sustainability planning and development; data collection and research; and/or assist in the preparation of community development or economic development studies and reports (such as the 5-Year Consolidated Plan, the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report, the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, Annual Action Plan, Promise Zone Annual Report and/or the Economic Development Strategy); assist with the management of various projects including commercial development, residential/affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and business lending activities; work in land development functions, including finance, land use planning or zoning; assist with various project feasibility analyses; assist with state and federal grants; prepare reports to the City Council, Council Committees or other audiences; participate in community engagement and outreach; and perform other duties as assigned.
NOTES:
- Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
- 2% effective 1/1/25
- 5% effective 7/1/25
Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education (i.e., minimum completed college units = 120 semester/180 quarter).
EXPERIENCE: Two years of full-time professional-level experience as described below. Qualifying experience must include performing the full range of professional-level duties in at least ONE of the following areas:
1. GRANT, CONTRACT AND/OR PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Grants management and administration, including managing and monitoring grants, subrecipient agreements, and ensuring compliance for programs, such as for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement programs; special assessment district formation and management (authorized under California or local law); contract or project management, with for-profit or nonprofit entities.
2. BUSINESS ASSISTANCE: Development, implementation, management, and/or marketing of: Business assistance, attraction, expansion and/or retention programs; workforce development programs; state or federal incentive programs or resources (e.g., Foreign-Trade Zones, EB-5, Opportunity Zones, EDA); business finance and lending programs.
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS: Program development, implementation, management, monitoring, community engagement and/or marketing of: Community service programs; government-assisted or affordable housing programs; homeless and shelter programs and services; neighborhood revitalization programs.
4. PLANNING, PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT: Land development entitlement processing and building permitting; sustainability planning and development; community development and neighborhood infrastructure project implementation.
5. FINANCE, COMMERCIAL LENDING AND BUDGETING: Program or project financial, budgetary or data development, management and/or analysis of: Business finance and commercial lending programs; infrastructure/public facilities financing (e.g., tools such as redevelopment, tax increment, Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs) and/or Community Revitalization and Investment Authorities (CRIAs)); contract administrative/budgetary analysis; data collection and analysis (e.g., econometric modeling).
6. SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE ACTION AND EQUITY: Community engagement best practices and application; development of metrics related to climate action and equity; development and/or implementation of programs supporting climate equity; tracking and application of local, state and federal funding that relates to climate and equity.
NOTES:
- A Master’s Degree in Public or Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Planning, Management or a closely related field may substitute for a MAXIMUM of one year of the required experience.
- City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify must submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
HIGHLY DESIRABLE:
Depending upon the specific Community Development Specialist II position available for recruitment, one or more of the following may be highly desirable:
- Knowledge of federal regulations and guidelines relating to programs and initiatives such as the Promise Zone and Opportunity Zone.
- Experience and training in social equity, community service programs focused on economic and social justice, and inclusive community engagement strategies.
- Experience assisting businesses on complex permitting issues (local, state and federal regulations).
- Knowledge of City taxes and fees, including when and how such taxes and fees are imposed on business establishments and development projects.
- Experience preparing written reports.
- Experience presenting in a public setting (e.g., City Council or community-based organizations).
- Bilingual (English/other).
For official details and additional information please visit our City of San Diego website.
