Housing Policy & Planning Administrator

Play an important role in advancing affordable housing within the Durango community as the Housing Policy and Planning Administrator. Reporting to the Prosperity Officer, you’ll support the Housing Division within the Prosperity Office. In this role, you will drive residential development and oversee affordable housing production programs, including Fair Share Administration.

Your responsibilities will include developing and monitoring Fair Share Agreements, calculating Fee-In-Lieu contributions, providing expert guidance to developers, fostering public-private partnerships, managing the Affordable Housing Fee Offset Policy, and contributing to the development of impactful housing policies. You’ll also conduct data analysis on our affordable housing portfolio, evaluate financing proposals for new multi-family construction, ensure the preservation of existing affordable housing, and secure state and federal funding to enhance community benefits. Collaborating closely with the Housing Programming and Operations Administrator, you’ll help implement comprehensive housing solutions.

What You’ll Do in This Role:
Administration:

• Manage administration for affordable and workforce housing strategies and initiatives, including Fair Share Administration and Affordable Housing Fee Offset Policy.
• Contribute to affordable housing policy development.
• Ensure compliance with Fair Share Housing provisions and residential project development through all phases (planning, permitting, and construction), coordinating with staff to delivery completed units.
• Develop and review financial pro formas and readiness-to-proceed documents to evaluate project suitability for public assistance.
• Research grant opportunities aligned with the City’s affordable and workforce housing initiatives.

Policy:

• Oversee policies for affordable and workforce housing, evaluating the City’s portfolio and policy objectives.
• Conduct research and analysis of best practices from peer communities and recommend regulatory and policy changes to support affordable and workforce housing projects and programs, including analyzing joint venture proposals.
• Develop, maintain, and implement program processes and documentation to ensure consistent application and administration of Fair Share Housing,
• Affordable Housing Fee Offset Policy, Land Acquisition, Land Banking, and other housing program requirements.
• Review program documentation and draft policy documents, regulations, and zoning amendments.
• Research housing program and development policy topics and stay informed about new and emerging affordable housing programs and tools.

Planning:

• Manage housing planning for affordable and workforce housing, including developing, coordinating, and maintaining the Housing Division’s work programs.
• Assist in assigning projects and programmatic responsibilities to the Community Development Planner.
• Lead coordination for large-scale developments with affordable and workforce housing components and oversee interdepartmental review of housing-related projects.
• Manage current housing projects exceeding Fair Share requirements and long-range planning projects aligned with housing objectives, including development project reviews.
• Coordinate review and revision ordinances, codes, plans, and departmental guidelines to achieve strategic objectives.
• Represent the Housing Division and Prosperity Office at City Council, Community Development Commission, Board meetings, and public meetings.
• Plan and manage public engagement campaigns and events to support the code and plan amendments and strategic plan objectives.

You Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, architecture, urban or regional planning, public administration, real estate development, or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Two years of experience in government administration, preferably in housing, community development, or urban planning.
• Three years of professional-level analytic or administrative experience, including at least two years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating increasing involvement in project leadership, policy development, or program management within urban planning, local government administration, community development, affordable housing programs, or strategic development.
• Knowledge of affordable housing policy formation, including experience with policy analysis, development, and implementation.
• Experience with affordable housing or other residential development, including familiarity with all phases of development process from project inception to completion.
• Demonstrated success in public sector development review or housing development in a municipal, state, federal, non-profit organization.

What We Can Offer You:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area.
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being.
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.

Belong at the City of Durango: 

We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences. 

The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.