The City of Champaign invests in its neighborhoods through the Neighborhood Wellness Program, which assesses neighborhood conditions and promotes safe and affordable housing, well-maintained private and public spaces, public safety, adequate public infrastructure, and community engagement. Consider joining the team that helps make these outcomes possible as a Community Development Specialist in the Neighborhood Services Department. The anticipated start date is February 2025.

Benefits include paid sick, personal, and vacation leave and 12 holidays per year, health and life insurance, and a pension through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). View the complete Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt Fringe Benefit Summary at www.champaignil.gov/salaries.

Responsibilities of Position

The Community Development Specialist develops and implements housing rehabilitation and community development projects, programs, and services that revitalize existing housing stock, create new housing, and/or enhance the physical environment within neighborhoods. Such programs and projects typically involve using federal and state grant funds and complying with regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in urban planning, business or public administration or a related field.

• Experience in program administration or project management.

• An equivalent combination of work experience and education demonstrating the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.

• Knowledge of urban planning or community development principles and practices.

• Experience collecting and analyzing information and preparing reports.

• Current state-issued driver’s license with good driving record.

• Ability to occasionally work outside of regular work hours to attend meetings and events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in urban planning, business or public administration, or a related field.

• Academic or professional experience with mapping and spatial analysis and graphics programs, including GIS and Adobe Creative Cloud products.

• Knowledge and/or experience with U.S. Housing and Urban Development programs (Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, etc.).

• Experience giving presentations.

• Experience with grant writing, regulatory compliance, contracting, and determining income eligibility/underwriting.

Drug screening, driving abstract, and criminal background check will be required. The annual starting salary range is $72,826 - $82,905, DOQ, plus an excellent fringe benefits package. Applications must be submitted online no later than Sunday, November 24, 2024.

The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Contact the Human Resources Department at (217) 403-8770 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process.

The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, the Illinois WorkNet Center and the City of Champaign City Building.

Our mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community.

These values guide our work:

Personal Integrity

We act in the best interests of the City

We behave in an ethical and legal manner

We are open and honest

We follow through on commitments

We are loyal to the City

Responsibility

We anticipate issues, problems, and opportunities

We take initiative

We act to prevent and solve problems

We take responsibility for the outcome of our actions and decisions

We hold ourselves and others accountable

Respect

We treat others in a fair, courteous, and equitable manner

We actively listen and seek understanding

We provide a direct response

We embrace ethnic and cultural diversity in the community and our workplace

We are positive and cooperative

We are willing to apologize

Teamwork

We know and respect our roles and responsibilities

We ask who needs to be involved and we involve others appropriately

We define and agree upon the goals

We collaborate to achieve organizational goals

We help others accomplish their goals

We share authority, responsibility, and credit

Results

We take pride in our work

We complete assignments and projects on time and within budget

We evaluate outcomes and seek feedback on our performance

We learn from our mistakes

We innovate