Community development director

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Community Development Director

Grand Rapids, Michigan

October 13, 2025

Full-time

National Career Group, LLC

Community Development Director

About Grand Rapids

Nestled along the scenic Grand River and just 25 miles from Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids offers the perfect balance of natural beauty and urban opportunity. Only a three-hour drive from Chicago, the city provides easy access to beaches, trails, and year-round outdoor recreation.

As West Michigan’s economic and cultural hub, Grand Rapids boasts a vibrant downtown filled with award-winning museums, diverse dining, and a nationally acclaimed craft beer scene. This growing metropolitan area is recognized for its strong economy, affordable cost of living, and welcoming neighborhoods—making it not only an ideal place to build your career, but also a wonderful place to call home.

Honors & Recognition (2025)

#1 – LinkedIn Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent (LinkedIn)

#20 – Best U.S. Cities for Women in the Workplace (Checkr)

#20 – Best Run Cities in America (WalletHub)

#20 – 25 Best Places to Live, Quality of Life (US News)

#5 – Metros Where Young Homeownership is Most Accessible (Consumer Affairs)

#28 – Best Cities for Jobs (WalletHub)

#40 – Best Place to Retire in US (U.S. News & World Report)

#40 – Best Cities to Buy a House in America (Niche)

#41 – Best Cities for Young Professionals in America

Named Beer City 2025 by USA Today

Named AARP Age-Friendly Community

City Government

Grand Rapids operates under a Council–Manager form of government, with strategic direction from an elected City Commission and daily operations led by a professional City Manager. As one of Michigan’s largest municipal organizations, the city employs over 1,700 full-time staff across 30 departments, serving a diverse and growing population.

The FY 2026 budget totals approximately $735 million, including nearly $196 million in the General Operating Fund to support core services like public safety, parks, and administration. This investment reflects Grand Rapids’ commitment to fiscal responsibility, innovation, and service excellence.

Vision: Grand Rapids will be nationally recognized as an equitable, welcoming, innovative, and collaborative city with a robust economy, safe and healthy community, and the opportunity for a high quality of life for all.

Mission: To elevate the quality of life through excellent City services.

Community Development Director

Values: The City of Grand Rapids’ core values are embodied in its strategic plan, emphasizing Accountability, Collaboration, Customer Service, Innovation, Equity, and Sustainability.

The Candidate

The Community Development Director is responsible for leading the overall operations of the Community Development Department. Key duties include administering federal and state grant programs, running housing rehabilitation and homeownership programs, and enforcing City ordinances. The Director is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinate managers overseeing operations, administration, code compliance, and contract compliance. This position reports to the Senior Managing Director of Community Services.

The ideal candidate will be able to manage financially complex department operations, assess overall department effectiveness, and establish effective community development and code compliance programs. The position requires a proven track record of working effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse community while coordinating activities with contractors, other government officials, business, and civic leaders, and explaining department activities to the media and citizen groups.

The successful candidate must uphold the highest level of ethics and integrity in performing work and representing the City. They will have demonstrated experience and a good record managing the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs. The successful candidate will have proven experience leading housing and building code compliance and will be skilled in addressing complex issues among diverse stakeholders.

Leadership Competencies

Stewardship of Resources: Ethical and sustainable management of all resources in a way that supports long-term wellbeing, equity, and resilience.

Decision Quality: Making timely and informed decisions based on sound judgment, analysis, and stakeholder impact.

Strategic Planning & Prioritization: Aligning efforts with goals and prioritizing tasks based on impact, urgency, and resources.

Organizational & Community Savvy Understanding and navigating internal and external dynamics, policies, and relationships to build positive influence.

Continuous Improvement: Implementing creative, inclusive, and adaptive solutions that improve outcomes and support collaboration.

Emotional Intelligence: Recognizing and managing one’s own emotions while showing empathy and adaptability in relationships.

Community Development Director

Servant Leadership Prioritizes the growth, well-being, and needs of others while sustaining their own capacity and well-being to serve effectively.

Effective Communication: Sharing timely, clear, and audience-appropriate information that fosters understanding and collaboration.

Instills Trust Demonstrating integrity, reliability, and transparency to earn and maintain the confidence of others.

Manages Complexity: Breaking down complicated issues, anticipating outcomes, and adapting with clarity and logic.

Drives Results: Achieving meaningful outcomes by setting goals, mobilizing resources, and maintaining focus and perseverance.

Inclusive Leadership Fostering a culture of belonging by valuing diverse perspectives, addressing systemic inequities, and modeling equity-driven behaviors to ensure all individuals feel respected, empowered, and included.

Community Development Director

The position involves high-level professional and managerial responsibilities for leading the Community Development Department. This includes planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing all department activities.

Key Duties Include

• Administering federal and state grant programs,
• Running housing rehabilitation and homeownership programs, and
• Enforcing city ordinances.The Director also oversees and evaluates the work of subordinate managers who handle operations, administration, code enforcement, and contract compliance.Essential Duties and Responsibilities The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
• Plans, organizes, prioritizes, and directs the activities of the department; assures the total operational effectiveness of the department.
  
  

Community Development Director

• Establishes and implements operational policies, goals, and objectives for the department; assures operations and programs are carried out according to federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
• Develops long and short-range planning and needs assessments for the improvement of programs and services; leads the development of comprehensive plans; and develops innovative programs in accordance with federal guidelines.
• Prepares and presents the annual department budget; determines resource needs and financing requests; oversees budgetary administration.
• Plans and participates in technical and administrative studies and reviews reports of program needs and accomplishments; maintains records and prepares reports on a variety of subjects
• Oversees contract compliance for a variety of federal and state programs and develops and submits respective plans and reports as required
• Evaluates the work of subordinate managers and support staff; identifies training needs; provides counseling as needed; hires and disciplines, as necessary, all departmental employees.
• Develops and implements public information programs explaining the programs and development goals of the department.
• Represents the City on federal, state, and local legislative, program, and policy issues; presents the City’s position on issues; provides information on city programs; makes policy, programs, and funding decisions as a member of boards and commissions; makes presentations at state and regional conferences.
• Monitors and analyzes federal and state legislation to determine impacts on programs and services.
• Reviews periodicals, legal developments, and other materials to keep abreast of developments in community development and code compliance work.Required Education and ExperiencePossession of a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, urban planning, or related field (master’s degree desirable). Additionally, five (5) years of managerial experience in a field related to community development. An equivalent combination of training and experience may be considered. Salary
  
  

The City of Grand Rapids offers a competitive salary range ($121,204 to $159,189) and a comprehensive benefits package.

Community Development Director

Relocation assistance will be available for the successful out-of-area candidate.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should forward a cover letter, 3 references, and a resume to: [email protected].

The City of Grand Rapids is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

To apply for this job email your details to [email protected].

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By Nadia Sellers|2025-10-13T13:40:05-04:00October 13, 2025|Comments Off on Community Development Director

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About the Author: Nadia Sellers