Housing & Community Development Officer

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.

• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.

• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.

• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.

• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.

 By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.The City of Austin's Housing Department provides equitable, comprehensive housing solutions and community development services to enhance the quality of life for all residents. It aims to prevent households from being priced out of the city by fostering diverse, integrated communities through strategic housing solutions, investing in affordable housing, and creating new, affordable housing choices in all parts of Austin.Job Description:

Purpose:

Under general direction, this position provides department-wide and community-wide leadership on complex issues related to housing and community development, real estate transactions, and diverse financing strategies to create and preserve affordable housing and design and implement market responsive community development programs and initiatives.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

 Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Creates and enhances opportunities for partnerships with the development and business community, local community organizations, neighborhood groups, and residents.

• Oversees activities and provides recommendations to executive leadership of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to include the Corporation's bond issuance program; Housing Development Assistance loan programs; real estate portfolio; and programs facilitated by a Service Agreement with the City of Austin.

• Oversees coordination of the lending community, nonprofit organizations, builders/developers, and neighborhood organizations in order to increase low and moderate-income residents' access to homeownership.

• Ensures compliance with Federal, State, and Local legislation, regulations, and policies to determine impact to the City and its housing programs.

• Develops financing strategies to increase the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

• Provides direction for preparing procurement documents to include purchasing solicitations and contracts for execution of services. Assists in preparing and delivering grant proposals and agreements.

• Tracks the performance of programs and activities related to all departmental programs and reconciles reporting routinely with finance and accounting professionals.

• Develops and maintains standardized procedures for improved efficiencies in program implementation and program reporting.

• Prepares and administers program budgets and administers adopted budget for applicable departmental programs.

• Performs routine internal audits to assure compliance with regulations, policies and procedures, and requirements of City and Federal authorities and grants, loans, or other funding sources.

• Prepares relevant reports and presentations to the executive level management, boards and commissions, City Management, and City Council.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

 Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Federal and State regulations related to community development, with an emphasis on housing, both single family and multifamily development process.

• Knowledge of program administration and applicable performance measures reporting.

• Knowledge of housing market developments, regulations, and real estate practices.

• Knowledge of principals related to economic development and urban planning.

• Knowledge of public funding process as it relates to budgeting cost accounting, financial planning, and management.

• Knowledge of innovative financing strategies to advance affordable housing strategies.

• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and methods.

• Skill in facilitation and conflict resolution.

• Skill in public presentations to diverse audiences.

• Skill in oral and written communication.

• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.

• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.

• Skill in using computers and related software.

• Skill in planning and organizing.

• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

• Ability to plan and coordinate technical and administrative programs.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, the public, elected officials, and boards and commissions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban or Regional Planning, Finance or related field; plus, five (5) years of experience in community development, planning and project management, including three (3) years of experience which were in a managerial capacity.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

 None.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience leading or managing affordable housing development programs or financing initiatives within a municipal, nonprofit, or real estate development environment.

• Demonstrated experience structuring complex real estate transactions, including public-private partnerships, layered financing, or tax credit developments (e.g., LIHTC, Private Activity Bonds, CDBG, HOME).

• Experience working with or for a public housing finance corporation, community development financial institution (CDFI), or housing authority.

• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate affordable housing and community development programs that address market challenges and community needs.

• Strong understanding of Federal, State, and local housing policies, including compliance and reporting requirements for HUD-funded programs.

• Experience developing or managing budgets exceeding several million dollars and ensuring fiscal accountability and performance outcomes.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with a record of building effective partnerships across public, private, and community sectors.

• Demonstrated leadership in supervising multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration, and mentoring professional staff.

• Skill in analyzing housing market data, trends, and financial models to inform policy recommendations and strategic decision-making.

• Familiarity with Austin's housing and community development landscape and knowledge of local affordable housing tools and policies (e.g., Affordability Unlocked, SMART Housing, Density Bonus Programs).

• Knowledge of the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, Imagine Austin, and Citywide Strategic Plan

Notes to Candidate:

The Housing & Community Development Officer will oversee the Real Estate Development Division in Austin Housing. Responsibilities include oversight of single-family programs (Down Payment Assistance and Community Land Trust) and multi-family programs (Housing Development Assistance, Developer Incentives, and Partnerships). The ideal candidate will have a strong background in real estate development and finance, as well as economic development and urban planning. The ideal candidate will also have excellent communication skills, as clear and consistent communication with internal and external stakeholders (including public, City Council, and others) is crucial.

To view the City of Austin recruitment video, please click here.

When completing the City of Austin employment application:

• A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position.

  • Provide each job title and accurate employment dates for all jobs included on the application.

  • Your work history should include the duties you performed, any supervisory or lead responsibilities, and any equipment and computer software used.

• Statements such as "see résumé" will be considered incomplete.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Please include contact information from previous employers.

Benefits:

Working with Austin Housing provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more – click HERE for more information.

Salary: $112, $144,700.00

Work Location: 1000 E. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702

The Department may close this posting anytime after 7 days.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.

• And are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

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