Director of Community Development

🎯 Role Definition

The Director of Community Development leads strategic planning and operational execution of community programs to improve neighborhood vitality, affordable housing, economic opportunity, and civic engagement. This role combines program design, partnership building, policy advocacy, budget and grant management, and data-driven evaluation to deliver measurable community impact. The Director of Community Development represents the organization to residents, public agencies, funders, and private-sector partners and drives inclusive initiatives that address housing, small business support, workforce development, and social services.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Manager / Community Engagement Manager
Program Manager, Housing or Economic Development
Grants Manager or Nonprofit Program Director

Advancement To:

Vice President of Community Development
Chief Community Officer / Chief Impact Officer
Executive Director / Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships

Lateral Moves:

Director of Neighborhood Revitalization
Director of Outreach & Engagement
Director of Housing & Economic Opportunity

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop and implement a multi-year community development strategy that aligns with organizational mission and measurable outcomes for housing affordability, economic mobility, and neighborhood health.
Lead, coach, and manage a cross-functional team (program managers, outreach coordinators, grant writers, and evaluation staff) to ensure consistent, high-quality program delivery and professional development.
Build, cultivate, and maintain strategic partnerships with local government agencies, funders, philanthropic organizations, housing providers, business associations, and community-based organizations to create coordinated service delivery and leverage resources.
Design and oversee complex community development programs, including affordable housing development pipelines, small business technical assistance, workforce development initiatives, and youth engagement programs.
Manage program budgets, monitor financial performance, and ensure fiscal accountability including budget forecasting, expense tracking, and compliance with funder requirements and contract deliverables.
Lead grant writing and fundraising activities—identify funding opportunities, prepare competitive proposals, manage restricted grants, and steward donor relationships to diversify revenue streams.
Serve as the primary organizational representative in community meetings, public hearings, and stakeholder convenings to advocate for policy changes, secure project approvals, and elevate community priorities.
Oversee community engagement and outreach strategies that center equity and resident voice—conduct needs assessments, lead participatory planning sessions, and ensure inclusive communication channels for historically underrepresented groups.
Coordinate multi-year planning, zoning, and permitting strategies in collaboration with municipal partners and developers to advance mixed-income housing, transit-oriented development, and neighborhood stabilization projects.
Establish program performance metrics and outcome indicators; lead data collection, impact analysis, and regular reporting to leadership, board members, funders, and community stakeholders.
Develop and implement policies and standard operating procedures for community programs that ensure quality, compliance, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement.
Lead advocacy campaigns and coalition building for local and regional policy initiatives related to housing, economic development, tenant protections, and community investment strategies.
Manage procurement processes and contractor/vendor relationships for professional services (e.g., developers, architects, evaluators, trainers) to ensure cost-effectiveness and high-quality deliverables.
Coordinate volunteer engagement and capacity-building efforts including training, supervision, and recognition programs that expand community leadership and local ownership of initiatives.
Oversee communications and public relations strategies for community development projects—craft key messages, oversee digital outreach, and prepare presentations, press releases, and impact stories.
Monitor local market and policy trends (housing markets, small business indicators, labor force shifts) to adapt programmatic priorities and identify new strategic opportunities or risks.
Ensure equitable access to programs by designing culturally competent services, removing barriers to participation, and partnering with grassroots organizations to reach underserved populations.
Lead cross-departmental initiatives (planning, public safety, parks & recreation, workforce) to integrate services that support holistic neighborhood outcomes and improve resident quality of life.
Implement pilot programs and scalable models—design tests, manage pilots, evaluate outcomes, and plan for phased expansion or replication across neighborhoods or regions.
Prepare and present comprehensive reports and dashboards to executive leadership and boards, translating qualitative community feedback and quantitative outcomes into clear strategic recommendations.
Oversee compliance with grant, regulatory, and contractual requirements including reporting timelines, allowable costs, audit readiness, and documentation standards.
Facilitate community conflict resolution and consensus-building processes when projects raise concerns—apply restorative practices and mediation to advance constructive outcomes.
Coordinate emergency response and resiliency strategies for communities affected by natural disasters, economic shocks, or displacement pressures, ensuring continuity of supports for vulnerable residents.
Champion inclusive hiring and supplier diversity practices in program implementation, working to increase opportunities for local minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

Secondary Functions

Support program evaluation design, data collection protocols, and ad-hoc analysis to answer stakeholder questions and improve program effectiveness.
Contribute to the organization's strategic plan and long-term community investment roadmap by providing subject matter expertise and evidence-based recommendations.
Collaborate with internal teams (finance, legal, communications, HR) to translate community priorities into operational requirements and ensure project readiness.
Participate in board committees, fundraising events, and stewardship activities to strengthen organizational funding and visibility.
Mentor emerging leaders and support succession planning within the community development team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Community development strategy and program design
Grant writing, fund development, and donor stewardship
Affordable housing development and financing (LIHTC, tax credits, HUD programs)
Budget planning, financial management, and fiscal compliance
Data-driven program evaluation and impact measurement (KPIs, RCTs, outcomes frameworks)
Knowledge of land use, zoning, permitting, and municipal planning processes
Project management methodologies and tools (e.g., MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet)
Policy analysis, advocacy, and coalition-building techniques
CRM and outreach platforms (e.g., Salesforce, NationBuilder) and community engagement tools
Contract management and procurement best practices
Familiarity with workforce development programs and small business assistance models
GIS and spatial analysis basics for neighborhood-level planning (preferred)

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management with a track record of building high-performing teams
Excellent verbal and written communication; persuasive public speaker and community convener
Strategic thinker with a results-oriented, outcomes-driven mindset
Cultural competence and demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and resident-centered approaches
Relationship building and stakeholder management across sectors and power levels
Negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus-building skills
Problem solving and creative program design in resource-constrained environments
Adaptability and resilience managing multiple priorities and shifting community needs
High emotional intelligence and active listening skills for resident engagement
Facilitation and group process skills to lead participatory planning and public meetings

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Social Work, Nonprofit Management, Community Development, Public Policy, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree (MPA, MURP, MSW, Master’s in Urban Planning, Public Policy, or related) strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Urban Planning and Community Development
Public Administration / Public Policy
Social Work and Human Services
Nonprofit Management / Philanthropy
Economic Development / Housing Policy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

7–15 years of progressive experience in community development, affordable housing, economic development, or nonprofit program leadership.

Preferred:

10+ years with demonstrated experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets, leading multi-stakeholder initiatives, successful track record in grant fundraising and housing pipeline development, and experience working with municipal partners and elected officials.