Director of Community Development

Salary : $183,792.00 - $223,357.22 Annually
Location : City Hall, 1110 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento, CA
Job Type: Regular Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00047
Department: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Division: COMM DEVELOP/ADMINISTRATION
Opening Date: 08/07/2026
Closing Date: 9/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: EXEC MGM

Application Deadline: September 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
The City of West Sacramento seeks a visionary and forward-thinking Director of Community Development who embraces growth, innovation, and public service excellence. This executive leader will champion a culture that is solutions-oriented, collaborative, and accountable while guiding one of the City's most dynamic departments through a period of continued growth and opportunity.
The ideal candidate is a strategic leader who understands that community development is about more than regulations and processes-it is about shaping the future of a community. They will inspire staff, build strong partnerships, and foster a culture where employees are empowered to grow, innovate, and continuously improve.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong growth mindset, balancing thoughtful planning with a willingness to challenge conventional approaches and pursue new opportunities. They will be comfortable navigating complex issues, making difficult decisions, and standing firm in their professional convictions when necessary, while maintaining a commitment to collaboration, transparency, and exceptional customer service.
This leader will align departmental priorities with the City's vision of responsible growth, economic vitality, housing opportunity, environmental stewardship, and organizational excellence. They will understand the importance of creating an environment where development can occur efficiently and predictably while preserving the community values that make West Sacramento a unique place to live, work, and invest.
Most importantly, the next Director will be a trusted leader who develops people, builds high-performing teams, and demonstrates the courage, integrity, and resilience required to lead through change.

The City of West Sacramento is seeking a collaborative, forward-thinking leader who is passionate about building strong teams and helping the community thrive. The ideal candidate will be:

• A strategic thinker who embraces innovation, continuous improvement, and responsible growth.
• A supportive leader who develops employees, builds trust, and fosters a positive, high-performing team culture.
• A confident decision-maker who is willing to make difficult decisions and stand by what is right, even when it is challenging.
• A strong communicator who can effectively work with elected officials, staff, residents, developers, and community partners.
• A problem-solver who balances excellent customer service with sound regulatory and planning principles.
• A leader who understands the importance of housing, economic development, sustainability, and community investment in shaping a vibrant and successful city.
• Committed to aligning departmental efforts with the City's vision, strategic priorities, and commitment to being a city of growth and opportunity.

The successful candidate will combine integrity, courage, and emotional intelligence with a genuine commitment to public service, organizational excellence, and the long-term success of West Sacramento.
DEFINITION: Under direction of the Assistant City Manager - Community Services, organizes, coordinates and directs the functions of the Community Development Department. The Director of Community Development is an at-will position that is appointed by and sits at the pleasure of the City Manager.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Receives direction from the Assistant City Manager - Community Services. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, administrative and supervisory staff.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS: This is a single, department head level position. The incumbent reports to the City Manager and has responsibility for providing daily supervision to department staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (Illustrative Only): Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, organizes, assigns and directs the activities, operations, projects, and programs of the Community Development Department, including, but not limited to Development Services, Code Enforcement, Planning, Environmental Services & Sustainability, and Building.
• Establishes, implements and evaluates departmental goals, priorities, procedures and policies.
• Provides staff assistance to the City Manager, Assistant City Manager - Community Services, City Council, commissions and committees.
• Represents the City and the Community Development Department to outside groups and organizations.
• Coordinates department activities with those of other departments and outside agencies.
• Directs the preparation, justification and administration of the department budget and work plan.
• Directs the selection, development, evaluation and discipline of department staff.
• Prepares or directs the preparation of reports, memoranda, correspondence, studies, research and special projects.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and skill. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:


Education: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major in business, finance, urban planning, public administration or related field.


Experience: Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible professional and high-level management experience in planning, finance, redevelopment, housing or economic development, including three (3) years of supervisory experience.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES : Possession of a valid California driver's license.

WORKING CONDITIONS : Serves as staff to City Council, boards and commissions and will be required to attend off-hour meetings.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS : Mobility to work in a standard office environment, use standard office equipment and attend off-site meetings. On an intermittent basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, twist, and reach while performing office duties. Manual dexterity to use standard office equipment and supplies and to manipulate both single sheets of paper and large document holders (manuals, binders, etc.); vision to read handwritten and printed material and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and by telephone; ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds such as files, manuals, or equipment for distances up to 50 feet.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS: Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing department guidelines, policies and procedures.
An applicant who qualifies for veterans' preference and successfully places on an eligibility list for initial entrance into employment with the city shall be advanced one rank on the final eligibility list. Where there are five (5) or less qualified applicants, no veterans' preference shall apply and all applicants shall be placed on the certification list forwarded to the departments for hiring consideration. The exercise of veterans' preference shall be exhausted upon appointment to a regular position from an eligibility list.
An official City of West Sacramento application form must be filled out, in its entirety. It is the applicant's responsibility to explain their qualifications fully and clearly. In addition, applicants must submit a resume and complete the required supplemental questionnaire (if applicable). Incomplete information on the application, resume and/or supplemental questionnaire may be cause for disqualification. Application packages will be reviewed and screened for qualifications. Additional screening criteria will be developed based on the supplemental questionnaire (if applicable).
Join the City of West Sacramento and unlock a world of exceptional benefits! We invite you to explore our comprehensive benefits package, tailored to support your well-being and professional growth. Click the link below to access a detailed summary of the rich benefits offered for your desired position. At the City of West Sacramento, we go above and beyond to show our appreciation for our dedicated employees.

Our benefits package includes not just the essentials, but also unique perks that set us apart. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with pet insurance for your furry family members. Stay fit and healthy with our discounted gym memberships. Take advantage of our voluntary benefits that allow you to customize your coverage to fit your lifestyle. And when life gets challenging, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Concern is here to support you with confidential counseling, work-life resources, and 24/7 support for personal and professional matters.

By joining our team, you're not just starting a job - you're embarking on a rewarding career path in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our comprehensive benefits package reflects our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. Experience the difference of working for an employer who truly values your contributions and well-being. Discover why the City of West Sacramento is the ideal place to grow your career and enrich your life. Click below to learn more about the benefits waiting for you!
01


To be considered for the position, all candidates are required to fully complete and submit the required supplemental questionnaire and application. An incomplete application or supplemental questionnaire will be grounds for rejection and cannot be revised after submission. Resumes may be attached but applications with "see resume" will be considered incomplete. The answers to the questions below will be evaluated along with the information provided in your employment application. Therefore, your answers must be consistent with your employment application information (especially in the "education" and "work experience" sections), must be unambiguous, and must contain sufficient but concise detail and organization to facilitate the screening process.All statements made on the application are subject to investigation and verification, including the use of copying and pasting answers verbatim from Artificial Intelligence (A/I) programs such as Chat GPT or Google Gemini. False statements may be cause for disqualification, or discharge from employment.By checking "yes," I certify that I understand and have followed the application instructions.

• Yes
• No

02


How many years of increasingly responsible professional and high-level management experience in planning, finance, redevelopment, housing or economic development do you possess?

• Less than 10 years of experience
• 10-12 years of experience
• 12-15 years of experience
• 15+ years of experience

03


Describe your leadership philosophy and how you create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Please include an example of how you have developed and supported a team through change or organizational challenges.
04


West Sacramento is committed to being a city of growth and opportunity. Describe your experience supporting housing, economic development, redevelopment, or other growth initiatives while balancing community needs, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities.
05


Tell us about a time when you had to make or recommend a difficult decision that was unpopular or faced significant opposition. What factors did you consider, how did you communicate your decision, and what was the outcome?
06


I certify that the statements made in this Supplemental Questionnaire are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and are made in good faith by me. I understand that any misrepresentation and/or falsification of my answers may result in my application being ineligible for this recruitment process.

• Yes
• No

Required Question