Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Community Development Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Community Development Specialist is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating community-focused programs that improve neighborhood resilience, affordable housing, economic opportunity, and civic engagement. This role requires proactive outreach, cross-sector partnership building, grant and program management, policy analysis, and community-driven planning to deliver measurable outcomes and advance equitable development goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Outreach Coordinator supporting neighborhood programs
Program Assistant or Grants Coordinator in nonprofit or municipal settings
Case Manager or Social Services Specialist engaged in resident services

Advancement To:

Community Development Manager / Program Manager
Neighborhood Revitalization Director
Economic Development Planner or Housing Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Grants & Compliance Manager
Policy Analyst (housing, urban planning, or social services)
Stakeholder Engagement or Public Affairs Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead community engagement and outreach campaigns to solicit resident input, build trust, and co-design neighborhood-level programs that address affordable housing, small business support, public safety, or youth services.
Develop, write, and manage competitive grant proposals and funding applications (federal, state, foundation) to secure resources for community development initiatives and ensure compliance with funder requirements.
Coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships with city departments, nonprofits, developers, community-based organizations, and local businesses to plan and implement revitalization projects and social equity programs.
Conduct needs assessments and community asset mapping using qualitative interviews, focus groups, surveys, and demographic data to inform program design and priority setting.
Design and manage pilot programs that test scalable interventions (e.g., housing counseling, small business incubators, workforce training), including developing logic models, KPIs, and implementation timelines.
Oversee program budgets, monitor expenditures, prepare financial forecasts, and ensure fiscal responsibility for grants, contracts, and municipal funds tied to community development efforts.
Facilitate community meetings, public hearings, and workshops that are inclusive, culturally responsive, and designed to elevate underrepresented voices in planning and decision-making.
Serve as the primary liaison between residents and municipal authorities on zoning changes, land use proposals, public investment plans, and community benefits agreements to ensure transparency and accountability.
Track, measure, and report program outcomes and impact using mixed-methods evaluation approaches; prepare clear written reports, dashboards, and presentations for funders, elected officials, and the public.
Provide technical assistance and capacity-building to neighborhood associations, resident leaders, and small nonprofits on governance, grant readiness, program evaluation, and fundraising strategy.
Manage contracts, scopes of work, and deliverables for consultants, vendors, and service providers engaged in community development projects to ensure quality and timely completion.
Analyze policy proposals, municipal ordinances, and housing/economic development initiatives to assess implications for equity, displacement risk, and affordable housing preservation.
Develop communications and marketing materials (newsletters, social media content, flyers) to promote programs, events, and services while increasing community participation and awareness.
Implement equitable community benefit strategies, anti-displacement measures, and inclusionary practices as part of project reviews, negotiations, and public-private partnerships.
Support resident-led planning processes and participatory budgeting efforts by providing technical guidance, facilitation, and oversight that strengthen local leadership and shared decision-making.
Coordinate outreach and referral pathways to connect residents with supportive services (housing stabilization, employment, childcare, mental health) and track client outcomes through CRM systems.
Prepare and submit timely grant reports, regulatory filings, and performance documentation to funders and government agencies to maintain funding compliance and program continuity.
Maintain and analyze geographic, socioeconomic, and programmatic data (including GIS mapping) to prioritize investments, identify disparities, and inform strategic planning for neighborhood interventions.
Lead risk assessment and mitigation activities for project implementation, including community conflict resolution, permitting challenges, and stakeholder opposition, to maintain project momentum.
Represent the organization at community coalitions, advisory committees, and public forums to advocate for policies and resources that support equitable development and resident well-being.
Create and manage training curricula for volunteers, resident leaders, and staff on community organizing principles, culturally competent engagement, and project management best practices.
Conduct outreach to historically underserved populations and implement inclusive engagement strategies to reduce barriers to participation (translation services, childcare, accessible venues).
Track legislative and funding trends at local, state, and federal levels to identify new opportunities for community investment and to proactively adjust program strategy.
Lead continuous improvement cycles by collecting participant feedback, analyzing performance metrics, and implementing program refinements to increase impact and cost-effectiveness.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and update CRM and case management databases to ensure accurate client and stakeholder records and enable seamless referrals across programs.
Assist with preparing presentations and briefing materials for municipal leadership, boards, funders, and community advisory groups.
Support program recruitment and volunteer coordination for events, workshops, and neighborhood initiatives.
Contribute to the organization’s strategic planning by providing on-the-ground insights and recommending priorities based on community feedback and data.
Coordinate logistics for community events—including site selection, permitting, vendor contracting, and accessibility accommodations—to ensure safe and successful programming.
Support ad-hoc data requests, assist with basic exploratory analysis, and collaborate with evaluation staff to integrate findings into program updates and grant deliverables.
Monitor vendor performance and support procurement processes consistent with public sector or nonprofit procurement policies.
Provide backup coverage for related roles such as community outreach specialist, housing counselor, or grants coordinator during peak periods or absences.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Grant writing and grant management: demonstrated experience preparing winning proposals, budgets, and compliance reports for public and private funders.
Program and project management: ability to design workplans, create timelines, manage milestones, and coordinate multi-party deliverables.
Community outreach & stakeholder engagement: proven experience building trust with residents and facilitating inclusive public meetings and workshops.
Data analysis and reporting: proficiency with basic statistics, program evaluation methods, and translating quantitative/qualitative results into actionable recommendations.
Budgeting and financial oversight: experience managing program budgets, tracking expenditures, and creating financial reports for funders and leadership.
CRM and case management systems: experience using Salesforce, Apricot, ClientTrack, or similar databases to manage participant information and referrals.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and mapping: ability to use GIS or mapping tools to visualize demographic and service delivery data (preferred).
Policy analysis and land use knowledge: familiarity with affordable housing policy, zoning, economic development incentives, and public financing mechanisms.
Contract and vendor management: experience drafting scopes of work, overseeing consultants, and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards.
Microsoft Office suite and presentation tools: advanced skills in Excel for data tracking, PowerPoint for stakeholder updates, and Word for reports.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): experience developing logic models, KPIs, performance dashboards, and conducting outcome measurement.
Familiarity with public procurement and compliance requirements for municipal or nonprofit grant-funded projects.

Soft Skills

Exceptional verbal and written communication tailored for diverse audiences, including residents, elected officials, funders, and media.
Culturally responsive facilitation and empathy: ability to engage respectfully with diverse communities and reduce participation barriers.
Relationship-building and networking: proven capacity to build and maintain collaborative partnerships across sectors.
Conflict resolution and mediation: skill in de-escalating tensions and finding consensus among competing stakeholder priorities.
Strategic thinking and problem solving: able to translate community input and data into actionable plans and creative solutions.
Organizational skills and attention to detail: strong task prioritization, time management, and documentation practices.
Adaptability and resilience: comfort working in dynamic environments, adjusting to shifting policy or funding landscapes.
Leadership and team collaboration: ability to coach, mentor, and coordinate cross-functional teams toward shared goals.
Advocacy and political acumen: skill in navigating local government processes and advocating for resources and policy change.
Customer-service mindset with a strong focus on equity, inclusion, and resident-centered outcomes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Social Work, Community Development, Public Policy, or a related social science discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Public Policy, Social Work, Community Development, Economic Development, or a related field preferred for senior roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning / Community and Regional Planning
Public Administration / Public Policy
Social Work / Human Services
Economic Development / Nonprofit Management
Geography (GIS) / Data Analytics applied to social services

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in community development, neighborhood revitalization, nonprofit program delivery, municipal planning, or related fields.

Preferred:

5+ years of experience with demonstrated success in grant writing, program management, community engagement, and measurable program outcomes; municipal or nonprofit sector experience and demonstrated work with historically underserved communities preferred.