Neighborhood Development Specialist, Senior

Full Job Description

The Department of Neighborhood Services promotes the social, physical and economic resilience of Norfolk communities by engaging residents, neighborhood organizations and businesses and working with them to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

The Bureau of Neighborhood Engagement focuses on:

• Encouraging and supporting civic participation,

• Community partnerships,

• Accessibility to city services,

• Developing organizational and leadership capacity within resident organizations

The Senior Neighborhood Development Specialist will be responsible for community development and program implementation.

Work involves using active listening, effective communication, and facilitation skills to build capacity, trust and strong working relationships with residents, neighborhood organizations, and other city department staff.

Requirements

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Represent the city and develop and maintain ongoing relationships with neighborhood groups and city departments to support neighborhood improvement and community building efforts.
• Facilitate community engagement sessions to identify community assets, needs, and strategies.
• Work with civic leagues to build capacity.
• Serve as a resource for neighborhood groups and collaborate with residents to make decisions that support socially resilient neighborhoods.
• Staff task force meetings.
• Plan, prepare, and schedule community meetings.
• Research, review, and analyze problems and issues, identify options and the potential outcomes, and make recommendations to stakeholders.
• Participate in neighborhood projects and provide a city staff presence at community events.
• Prepare and make presentations to community groups, commissions, and other advisory bodies.
• Keep city management and city policy makers apprised of neighborhood issues, activities, and events.
• Serve as the division’s representative on inter-departmental committees.
• Facilitate advanced Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) Academy sessions.
• Assist with the training of Neighborhood Development Specialists.
• Serve in the absence of the Team Lead when needed.
• Travel within and outside of City limits to perform the assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Work weekends and evenings when needed.
• Promote the City’s mission, values, and standards, particularly in customer service.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a bachelor's degree in liberal arts or equivalent.

Required:

• Three years of experience in community development, community engagement, community outreach, and/or implementation of housing programs and services for individuals and families.

Preferred:

• The preferred candidate will possess major college coursework in Public Administration, Urban Studies, Human Services, Sociology, or other related areas of study.

Additional Information

• Valid driver's license required.

Work Hours:

• Monday - Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Some evenings and weekends required
• Recurring telework