City of Fort Collins CO - Housing and Community Vitality Director

The City of Fort Collins is taking a strategic step forward in aligning its services to better support residents neighborhoods and the historically underserved. The Housing and Community Vitality Director leads the evolution of a department designed to deliver more cohesive inclusive and effective programs and services of the Social Sustainability and Neighborhood Services teams will likely form the core of this department and as the Housing and Community Vitality department evolves the Director further aligns the teams and develops the department within the context of the larger evolution across the Sustainability Services service area. The emergence of the department is driven by the vision to strengthen community relationships enhance accountability and visibility optimize partnerships and align resources more effectively with Council priorities.

This is an opportunity for a visionary leader with a strong background in organizational leadership change management and policy development to foster a culture of collaboration and accountability. The Housing and Community Vitality Director provides leadership and direction on policies programs funding and issues related to housing affordable housing human services community partnerships affordability programs and related matters as directed by the City Council City Manager or Chief Sustainability Officer. With the ability to lead through complexity drive measurable outcomes and engage diverse stakeholders the Director plays a pivotal role in shaping Fort Collins as a city that serves individuals families and neighborhoods ensuring that every resident feels a sense of belonging in the larger Fort Collins community.

The Housing and Community Vitality Director reports to and supports the Chief Sustainability Officer and actively collaborates with their peer directors in the service area and their staff. This work is deeply rooted in equity and strong partnerships both internal and external formal and informal and the Housing and Community Vitality Director plays a critical role in aligning resources staff capacity funding and policy tools with evolving community needs. The Director develops strategic partnerships and collaborates with staff to actively represent the new department and City to community groups public forums City Council and other boards or commissions. This position also routinely speaks at engagements delivers presentations and works with the media.

First Year Priorities

• Lead the integration of programs and services from across the service area by establishing a clear vision and strategic direction for the emerging department. Foster a unified culture ensuring alignment on values priorities and operational processes while respecting the strengths and legacy of the individual teams.
• Quickly engage with internal and external partners to build trust and strengthen working relationships with departmental staff City leadership and Council. Engage with community organizations nonprofits and regional partners to align efforts and enhance collaboration.
• Support ongoing staff efforts to accelerate progress on the Citys affordable housing goal 10 of housing stock as incomerestricted affordable housing). Continue to strengthen and align housing policies and funding strategies to achieve annual affordable housing targets (increase the annual average number of new affordable housing units to between 185 and 282.
• Optimize human services funding to make a deeper impact and ensure that limited City resources are effectively directed to the communitys top human services and homelessness needs. Provide thoughtful and strategic guidance on these efforts in an uncertain and dynamic funding landscape.
• Guide the organization toward sustainable proven strategies that support and enhance collaboration and coordination internally and across the region to achieve functional zero making homelessness rare shortlived and nonrecurring.
• Ensure alignment of the departments efforts with Council priorities the Citys strategic plan and community needs. Evaluate current programs funding structures and policies to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation. Develop and track measurable outcomes to assess impact and inform decisionmaking.
• Ensure programs and policies are designed with and for the historically underserved. Increase and sustain engagement with underrepresented communities to ensure equitable access to all programs and services.

The Successful Candidate

The Housing and Community Vitality Director is deeply committed to equity social sustainability and fostering resilient communities. They are excited to evolve this emerging department and to identify the strategies that address the complexities associated with integrating the different yet connected functions. The successful candidate embraces servant leadership and aligns with the Citys core values of partnership service safety and wellbeing sustainability integrity and belonging. They bring a peoplecentered approach to leadership ensuring that policies and programs are designed to serve disproportionately impacted communities while benefiting the broader community.

A natural convener and facilitator the Housing and Community Vitality Director navigates complex political hierarchical and multisector relationships with ease. They recognize the importance of partnerships at all levels working seamlessly with nonprofits community groups businesses and regional partners to align strategies and enhance service delivery. An effective transparent communicator and active listener they integrate diverse perspectives to develop equitable solutions that reflect community priorities.

As the service area undergoes significant organizational change the Director is an adaptive systems thinker with experience in change management and organizational transformation. With a holistic perspective they embrace the opportunity to evolve and integrate teams fostering a unified culture that maximizes resources strengthens partnerships and enhances service impact. The ideal candidate has a visionary mindset and proactively anticipates internal and external needs ensuring that policies programs and funding strategies align with Council priorities and community goals.

With a balanced approach the Director supports innovation collaboration and continuous improvement while cultivating a safe healthy and highperforming culture. The ideal candidate is a proactive strategic leader who quickly builds trust and rapport empowers employees and fosters an environment of accountability transparency and teamwork. Remaining grounded in equity the Director prioritizes inclusive decisionmaking and ensures that the departments work reflects the needs and aspirations of all Fort Collins residents. With a passion for housing affordability human services and neighborhood wellbeing they lead with integrity compassion and accountability to make a lasting impact on the community.

Fort Collins Leadership Competencies

• Manage Complexity Making sense of complex high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Decision Quality Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
• Instill Trust Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty integrity and authenticity.
• Cultivate Innovation Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Value Differences Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.
• Build Effective Teams Building strongidentity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Growth Mindset Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Drive Results Consistently achieving results even under tough circumstances.
• Action Oriented Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency high energy and enthusiasm.

Sustainability Services Service Area

Purpose: To create and transform humancentered systems that support basic needs create meaningful value and progress toward a thriving and engaged community.

Established in 2012 Sustainability Services works in alignment with the City of Fort Collins mission to provide exceptional service for an exceptional community by fostering a thriving inclusive and resilient city. Sustainability Services shapes systems that support the Citys triple bottom line of economic vitality environmental stewardship and social wellbeing. Through four key areas of Economic Health Environmental Services Social Sustainability and Neighborhood Services the service area promotes the safety and wellbeing of all residents advances climate action reduces waste supports equitable access to housing and human services and strengthens neighborhood connections. Guided by community informed strategic policies and a commitment to sustainability the service area aims to create a vibrant forwardthinking city where all residents can prosper and by nurturing partnerships with residents businesses and community stakeholders embodies the core values of partnership and service.

Sustainability Services fosters a collaborative and forwardthinking work environment where innovation learning and accountability drive meaningful impact. Team members are empowered to adapt to changing conditions assess challenges and take informed risks to drive sustainable solutions. They are committed to operating with integrity by exemplifying the highest ethical standards in everything they do ensuring transparency and inclusivity in their work. The service area values diversity equity inclusion and access creating a supportive space where all voices are heard and new ideas are welcomed. Through collaboration innovation and shared leadership Sustainability Services remains committed to addressing todays challenges while preparing for tomorrows opportunities. Together with residents businesses and partners we continue to build a more sustainable connected and prosperous Fort Collins for generations to come.

Housing and Community Vitality Department

This evolving department represents the strategic combination of expertise in affordable housing human services neighborhood capacity development and community support to create a more unified transparent and impactful approach to serving Fort Collins residents. Housing and Community Vitality is an emerging department dedicated to fostering safe resilient and connected communities where all residents have stable housing and access to services supporting their basic needs.

The Housing and Community Vitality department plays a critical role in advancing Fort Collins City Council priorities specifically Operationalize City resources to build and preserve affordable housing and Improve human and social health for vulnerable populations. The department seeks to expand affordable housing enhance community resilience and promote equitable access to services by aligning staff expertise funding resources and policy efforts.

The evolving department integrates key functions from previously separate teams to form a dedicated team of up to 30 employees. The talented team is tasked with providing a holistic citywide approach to housing and community support. As an evolving department major focus areas likely include:

• Affordable Housing and Homelessness Coordination Striving for at least 10 of the Citys housing stock to be incomerestricted affordable housing and making homelessness rare shortlived and nonrecurring.
• Federal and Local Funding Management Administering Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) HOME funds human services grants and neighborhood support grants to bolster housing and social programs.
• Neighborhood Services and Community Engagement Supporting rental registration mobile home park assistance conflict resolution and neighborhood programs that enhance civic engagement and quality of life.
• Human Services Coordination and Affordability Programs Advancing priorities that address caregiving prevention intervention food security and financial stability.

The department may also operate through a combination of federal and local funding sources including:

• HUD CDBG and HOME Funds Supporting affordable housing development and nonprofit service providers.
• City General Fund Allocating resources for housing human services and neighborhood grants.
• Competitive Grant Programs Directing funds toward human services rental/homeowner support and neighborhood improvement initiatives.

As Housing and Community Vitality emerges and brings together previously distinct teams it faces organizational financial and external pressures including merging separate teams into a cohesive highperforming unit navigating shifts in federal funding while addressing increasing demand for programs and services such as immigration and eviction legal support improving housing affordability given limited land supply and rising costs and expanding community programs and neighborhood engagement amid evolving needs. Despite these complexities the new department is positioned to drive transformational change leveraging partnerships aligning resources and innovating solutions to ensure Fort Collins remains a place where everyone can thrive.

The Community

The City of Fort Collins sits nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains alongside the Cache La Poudre Riverbanks. At 5000 feet in elevation residents enjoy a moderate fourseason climate with an average of three hundred days of sunshine per year. With 174800 residents Fort Collins is Colorados fourthlargest city and spans 57 square miles. With the 20year growth projection the City of Fort Collins is expected to reach 255000 residents.

The first people who hunted in this region arrived approximately 11000 years ago and Northern Colorado remains an integral part of the traditional and ancestral homelands of many Tribal Nations including the Arapaho Cheyenne and Ute. Today Fort Collins has a vibrant Native American community that represents numerous Tribal affiliations. European American trappers and traders arrived by the early 1800s but rarely established permanent settlements. Gold and silver discoveries in the Colorado mountains in the mid1800s and the prospect of land for farming and ranching attracted people from eastern cities and across the globe to the Colorado Territory including what would become the town of Fort Collins: an agricultural colony that emerged from its founding days as a military camp. The expansion brought new residents whose descendants still live here today including Mexican American families from Southern Colorado New Mexico and Northern Mexico Germans from Russia and other immigrant families who settled here in the 1800s.

Since 1879 Fort Collins has been the home of the states land grant institution Colorado State University which currently enrolls 34000 students. Along with the University the Citys major hightech and manufacturing companies and breweries attract new residents from all over the country and the world. The City is known for its unique innovative entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that brings together the public and private sectors and the Colorado State University community. Fort Collins is the home of the Colorado State University Energy Institute whose mission is to deliver realworld energy and climate solutions that address societys most pressing global challenges and Innosphere Ventures a science and technology incubator that accelerates the business success of startups and emerging growth companies.

Our adaptability openness to failure risktaking the overarching character of collaboration and strong ties between leaders from the University city government and local businesses and a sense of community led to Fort Collins being chosen by Smithsonian Institute curators as one of the countrys most innovative places for the exhibit Places of Invention. People can make a difference here and have contributed to the Citys reputation for breakthrough inventions in clean energy and socially responsible innovation.

We have exceptional medical systems strong public and private K12 schools and a lot of recreational offerings for families. We like to think every age can live work and play in our community and with three hundred days of annual sunshine mild temperatures and record snowfalls it is always an enjoyable time to come to Colorado.

The communitys overall social diversity continues to grow and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities are available to the many residents who enjoy healthy lifestyles. The nearby Horsetooth Reservoir is a key attraction as is the Cache La PoudreNorth Park Scenic Byway. Thanks to voter support of sales tax ballot measures the City conserves valued lands and provides recreation and educational access to our community treasures.

There are 53 natural areas and over 100 miles of trail encompassing more than 38000 acres. Fort Collins has a strong appreciation for arts culture and entertainment and is known as the cultural hub of Northern Colorado. There are numerous outstanding performance theaters museums and art galleries to visit. The Downtown district offers a variety of options for live music shopping dining and nightlife. Fort Collins is widely regarded as the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado. Several national organizations and magazines recognize Fort Collins as one of the best places to live in the nation. As a result many people are drawn to the City and want to build their lives here.

The Organization

The City of Fort Collins aspires to provide exceptional services to the community while cultivating an outstanding organizational culture for its employees. To achieve its vision both internal and external services are datainformed and implemented according to organizational values.

The City develops resiliency and sustainability through organizationwide systems and processes that ensure consistent employee work practices and alignment across service areas. The City highly values public input and strives to include community members as fellow problemsolvers whenever possible. Residents can expect to receive highquality service engage with decisionmakers provide input regarding the allocation of City resources and access government information promptly and transparently.

The City of Fort Collins recognizes and honors the legacy inherited from the decisions relationships and thoughtful planning of those who care deeply about our community. We also realize we are a more robust and better community when we welcome everyone to participate in shaping our future. The 2019 City Plan serves as our longrange vision and development framework and the 2024 Strategic Plan shapes decisionmaking and funding priorities to implement the future the community desires. Whether building a more inclusive and equitable community supporting entrepreneurship and innovation addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change or creating additional transportation and housing options we are committed to partnering to make Fort Collins an even better place for future generations. We know this means keeping our current infrastructure updated and maintained while thinking ahead.

The City is a dynamic and continually evolving organization. However the Citys vision mission and core values remain a constant that helps all employees focus on the primary goal: service to our community members. This commitment is one that the over 2500 City employees take seriously. From exceptional snowplow drivers and emergency dispatchers utility crews and recreation officials IT specialists vehicle mechanics and police services the Citys workforce provides highquality municipal services around the clock employing their wide variety of talents.

Fort Collins is a community with a strong sense of place. It has gained accolades as one of the best places for job seekers in Colorado one of the best towns in America and among the healthiest most livable and bicyclefriendly.

Awards and Memberships over the past few years include:

• Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting: Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) December 2022
• Certified Healthy Workplace Award: Healthy Links 2023
• No. 23 Top 150 Best Places to Live: U.S. News & World Report
• American Public Works Association (APWA) Operations/Maintenance Large Community Award for the Harmony Road Overlay Project 2024
• Top 100 Best Places to Live: Livability April 2024
• Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award: Multicultural Business and Entrepreneur Center 2024
• Cities A List Climate Action Leader: CDP November 2023
• No. 1 Best Place to Live in Colorado: Forbes October 2022
• Best Places to Work in Local Government: Engaging Local Government Leaders July 2021
• What Works Certified City: Bloomberg Philanthropies 2021
• Municipal Equality Index 100 November 2022
• No. 3 Most Dogfriendly City in the U.S.: Rocket Homes February 2022
• No. 5 2021 Top 10 RemoteReady Cities in the U.S.: Livability January 2021
• No. 8 Colorado City Ranked Among Most Relaxed in Country: Out There Colorado April 2021
• No. 4 25 Best Cities in the U.S. to Own an Electric Car: 24/7 Wall St April 2021
• No. 8 Most Fitness Friendly Places for 2021: Smart Asset December 2020
• No. 2 Best Tasting Drinking Water in North America: American Water Works June 2021
• No. 42 2021 Top 100 Places to Live: Livability October 2021
• No. 6 Safest Cities for Cyclists: Your Local Security May 2021
• No. 18 20 Safest Cities in Colorado: SafeWise April 2020
• Clean Air Champion: RAQC December 2020

We believe these awards are possible due to our employees volunteers community members partnerships in the City and region and strong leadership from City Council.

The City of Fort Collins is involved in Bloomberg Philanthropies and has received funding and consulting for several key projects. This philanthropic organization focuses its resources on five areas: the environment public health the arts government innovation and education. Councilmembers and City leaders are engaged nationally and internationally in issues facing our community.

Fort Collins was selected as one of 30 U.S. cities to participate in the City Budgeting for Equity & Recovery program from Bloomberg Philanthropies through What Works Cities. This new effort will help cities confront budget crises while strengthening their commitment to equity in the wake of COVID19. The program was designed to help cities develop and implement plans to drive financial recovery and ensure their budget crises do not disproportionately harm lowincome residents and communities of color. From the Citys 2021 application we acknowledged The City of Fort Collins has a strong desire to invest in longterm meaningful equity advancement and yet in the absence of the requisite models knowledge and abilities this is uncharted territory for our organization.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States is a nonpartisan American public policy think tank and grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting cooperation and understanding between North America and Europe. Fort Collins was chosen as one of 12 cities to participate in Cities Fortifying Democracy a firstofitskind cohort of American and European cities come together in teams to collaborate on what cities are and can be doing to strengthen their resilience and the foundation of democracy from the ground up.

Total Compensation

The City of Fort Collins offers a competitive comprehensive benefits package including a market salary commensurate with education and experience. The annual salary range is $98482 $164183 and the anticipated hiring range is $122000 $151000; salaries are paid biweekly. Benefits include medical dental vision life and short and longterm disability insurance. Additionally the City of Fort Collins offers additional benefits including 401(a) and a 457 deferred compensation plan with an employer contribution an optional Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts a significant Wellness Program and relocation assistance for the successful outofarea finalist.

Education and Experience

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge skills education and experience to meet minimum qualifications.

At least five years of progressively responsible housing human services or community supportrelated experience is required. Prior experience leading change and transformation is essential as is advanced knowledge of public affairs organizational leadership and development and public policy. Demonstrated cultural competency to effectively collaborate and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities perspectives and cultural backgrounds is required. Prior policy and program development experience is highly desired. A strong financial background including funding streams fiscal considerations and complex budget work is essential. Knowledge of the private sector and/or publicprivate partnerships is beneficial.

A bachelors degree or equivalent experience in organizational leadership and development public affairs health or social sciences planning housing sustainability public policy or a field related to sustainability is required. A masters degree in public affairs planning housing or sustainability or public policy is desired. An equivalent combination of experience and education that enables success as the Housing and Community Vitality Director will be considered.

Residency

The Housing and Community Vitality Director is subject to residency requirements under the Citys Charter (Article IV Section 3 which requires the incumbent to reside at the time of appointment and throughout employment in this classification within five 5 miles of the City limits as measured by a straight line connecting the parcel of property upon which the residence is situated to the nearest boundary line of the City. City limits and the Urban Growth Area /Growth Management Area can be found on FCMaps.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. For full consideration please apply by Monday May 5 2025.

Questions

Please direct questions to Heather Gantz at or.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal history credit and drivers license check prior to the interview. Under the Colorado Open Records Act information from your application or resume may be subject to public disclosure.

Download the Recruitment Brochure