Assistant Community Development Director
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Job Location:
Walnut Creek, CA - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 164132 - 228800
Posted on:
Yesterday
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Position Description
The City of Walnut Creek is recruiting for an Assistant Director to join the Community Development Department.This is an at-will position and serves at the will of the City Manager.
SALARY
The current salary range is $164132 $228800 annually. Placement in the range will depend on qualifications.
CLOSING DATE
The City is accepting applications through Sunday January 18 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. However this job announcement may close at any time without notice if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received prior to the closing date.
WHATS GREAT ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY:- Making meaningful impact in developing the general plan for the City of Walnut Creeks vision for the future
- Managing a dynamic team of planners
- Learning and growing professionally while providing leadership in innovative departmental and City initiatives to advance customer service employee experience and exceptional organizational performance
The City of Walnut Creek is located just 25 miles east of San Francisco. With its views of Mt. Diablo temperate weather upscale dining and posh shopping district Walnut Creek is an urban jewel of the East Bay. With a rare blend of 2800 acres of open space a vibrant downtown and a performing arts center Walnut Creek offers something for everyone!
Walnut Creek is the economic and entertainment hub of Contra Costa County. The city is conveniently located and covers approximately 19.5 square miles. Home to more than 70000 people its rich history and thriving downtown are only part of what make Walnut Creek one of the most interesting Bay Area communities. With bustling San Francisco to the west the Napa Valley wine country to the north and the natural beauty of Mount Diablo State Park to the east Walnut Creek offers urban style and a treasured sense of community.
THE ORGANIZATION
Incorporated in 1914 the City of Walnut Creek operates as a General Law city with a City Council/City Manager form of government. The five-member City Council are elected at large for four-year staggered terms. Walnut Creek is widely recognized for its innovative programs that benefit its citizens as well as provide a dynamic stimulating work climate for City employees. CARE the Citys robust award-winning employee engagement initiative focuses on three (3) key areas: providing career development opportunities; promoting connections among employees; and supporting employee health and wellness. As part of the CARE program the City Offers compressed work schedules (i.e. 9/80) and hybrid remote work opportunities for eligible positions.
The Citys general fund budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $107 million which includes funding for 386 full-time equivalent positions. The budget supports the day-to-day services provided by operating departments while also accomplishing Council adopted priorities.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Community Development Department mission is to enhance the communitys quality of life economic vitality safety and a sense of belonging. The Department consists of the following divisions: Long Range Planning Housing Current Planning Building and Code Enforcement and is comprised of 43 full-time equivalent positions. The team is a dedicated and passionate group of professionals committed to creating a positive work environment through support of creativity innovation and teamwork. These professionals work collaboratively to review and facilitate development of safe healthy and sustainable residential and commercial development that both comply with applicable codes and regulations and foster a vibrant and connected community.Representative Duties
THE POSITION
Under direction of the Community Development Director the Assistant Community Development Director helps develop department goals and objectives works with managers to develop and implement the Planning Division and Housing Division work plans; assigns work activities projects and programs; monitors workflow; reviews and evaluates work products methods and procedures. Additional responsibilities include:- Assisting with the preparation of the department budget and preparing the Planning and Housing Division budgets; assisting in budget implementation; participating in identifying resources needed for staffing equipment materials and supplies; administering and approving the budget
- Recommending the appointment of personnel; providing and coordinating staff training; conducting performance evaluations coaching and performance management to ensure accountability
- Negotiating arbitrating and resolving program project and policy conflicts with other departments and community or business stakeholders
- Supporting excellent customer service by effectively resolving citizen complaints or problems related to departmental activities and keeping the Community Development Director advised on departmental and divisional activities through oral and written reports
- Representing the department to outside groups and organizations; participating in outside community and professional groups and committees
- Researching and preparing technical and administrative reports; preparing written correspondence
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Walnut Creek is seeking a creative collaborative team-oriented and hands-on Assistant Community Development Director. The ideal candidate will be a passionate and innovative leader who is committed to organizational development and represents the department with integrity and professionalism. They will foster trust strengthen the organizational culture and support the departments ongoing pursuit of excellence. The selected candidate will have extensive knowledge of federal state and local laws modern theories and best principles and practices related to urban planning environmental planning zoning land use control andcommunity development.
The ideal candidate will also have the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships based on leadership rather than authority. The Assistant Director will be open and willing to meet listen collaborate and find solutions to planning and development challenges. With responsibility for the overall management of community development services it is crucial that the selected candidate be a subject matter expert who can communicate complex ideas to a broad audience of varying levels of understanding. The Assistant Community Development Director must communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and must have the ability to plan organize and coordinate a variety of complex projects services and programs. Knowledge of City policies and procedures; principles and practices of effective employee supervision training and performance evaluations; and administrative management including goal setting program development organization and budgeting is required.Qualifications Guidelines
Any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the knowledge skills and abilities necessary for successful job performance will be considered.
EDUCATION
Candidates must possess a Bachelors degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in Urban Studies City and Regional Planning Environmental Planning Public Administration or related field. A Masters degree in a related field is highly desirable.
EXPERIENCE
A minimum of six (6) years of extensive progressively responsible administrative and supervisory experience in the administration of urban planning operations preferably in a municipality or other public agency including two (2) years of management responsibility; or any equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
Candidates must possess or have the ability to possess prior to employment a valid Class C California Drivers License.Supplemental Information
Sunday January 18 2026 at 11:59 PM PST. However this job announcement may close at any time without notice if a sufficient number of qualified applications are received prior to the closing date.
To be considered for this opportunity please visit possessing the MOST DESIRABLE qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process which will include a job-related exercise and interview tentatively scheduled for the week of February 9 2026.Department interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of February 16 2026.
All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process.
Applicants considered for appointment to this position will be subject to California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprinting a thorough background check and a credit check.
If you have a disability as defined by state and federal law that could impact your participation at any stage of the recruitment process please contact Human Resources at or to request a reasonable accommodation. Please provide the Human Resources Department with advance notice and every attempt will be made to consider your request.
As required by law all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers. As such all City of Walnut Creek employees may be called upon to assist in the event of fire flood earthquake or other natural or man-made disasters.
Please see the class specificationherefor a complete description of this classifications representative duties; knowledge skills and abilities; qualifications; working conditions; physical requirements; and for other details about this position.
Required Experience:
Director
Key Skills
- Fundraising
- Management Experience
- Biotechnology
- Clinical Development
- Clinical Trials
- Research & Development
- Training & Development
- Grant Writing
- Economic Development
- Leadership Experience
- Public Speaking
- Product Development
