City Housing Coordinator/ Community Development Specialist

BASIC FUNCTION

Under the general supervision of the Redevelopment and Economic Development Director, this position supports the City's housing, redevelopment, community development, and fair housing initiatives. The position serves as the City's Fair Housing Officer and assists with housing strategy, CDBG coordination, data analysis, mapping, redevelopment property management, funding applications, public presentations, and implementation of policies and projects that expand homeownership, improve housing quality, support redevelopment, and balance the City's housing stock. This position is not responsible for routine rental inspections or rental inspection enforcement, which are assigned to the Building Commissioner Office.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

All duties are essential function of the job

1. *Coordinate the City's fair housing responsibilities, including fair housing education, outreach, annual presentations, training coordination, website updates, referral information, and documentation of fair housing activities.
2. *Assist with CDBG-related fair housing tasks, community development activities, required reports, public notices, citizen participation materials, monitoring, and documentation needed to support compliance with HUD and CDBG requirements.
3. *Assist with the City's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice or successor fair housing planning documents, and help apply identified impediments, goals, and action items to City policies, programs, projects, and public communications.
4. *Track updates to federal, state, and local housing laws, fair housing requirements, CDBG guidance, redevelopment statutes, funding programs, and related legislation; summarize impacts for staff and leadership.
5. *Collect, organize, analyze, and present housing, demographic, market, property, infrastructure, and economic data to support policy decisions, grant applications, redevelopment projects, council presentations, and public-facing materials.
6. *Prepare maps, exhibits, dashboards, infographics, and presentation materials using GIS, ESRI Business Analyst, Beacon, Granicus data, Placer.ai, IMPLAN, Excel, PowerPoint, and other available tools.
7. *Maintain accurate inventories of city-owned properties, potential redevelopment sites, vacant or underutilized properties, housing projects, market-rate and subsidized housing data, ownership information, property conditions, and project status updates.
8. *Assist with development and implementation of City housing strategies related to homeownership, mixed-income housing, missing-middle housing, infill development, neighborhood stabilization, owner-occupied housing, and balanced rental/owner-occupied housing stock.
9. *Monitor housing market conditions, building activity, development trends, financing models, infrastructure needs, best practices, and emerging housing types or programs that could apply to New Albany.
10. *Prepare and maintain property packets; organize deeds, resolutions, surveys, environmental records, appraisals, title work, offers, closing documents, and other records related to City or Redevelopment Commission properties.
11. *Prepare requests for proposals, requests for qualifications, property marketing materials, developer information packets, public notices, scoring materials, and recommendation summaries for redevelopment properties.
12. *Assist with property acquisition, disposition, donations, transfers, purchase agreements, real estate offer forms, deeds, sales disclosure forms, resolutions, recording of documents, and related administrative steps.
13. *Coordinate environmental due diligence, site access, surveys, demolition documentation, contractor coordination, notices, procurement materials, and follow-up records for vacant, unsafe, or redevelopment-related properties.
14. *Respond to developer questions, coordinate property walkthroughs, gather due diligence information, track proposals, and support negotiations or project implementation as directed.
15. *Research, prepare, and support applications for housing, infrastructure, redevelopment, and community development funding opportunities, including programs such as the Indiana Finance Authority Residential Infrastructure Loan Program and other state, federal, local, or philanthropic resources.
16. *Track program guidelines, eligible uses, match requirements, timelines, reporting requirements, reimbursement processes, and project applicability for housing and redevelopment funding sources.
17. *Coordinate with utility companies and City utilities, including Board of Public Works and Safety, Wastewater, Stormwater, City Engineer, Planning and Zoning, and other departments on housing and redevelopment projects requiring infrastructure review, relocation, extensions, permits, or approvals.
18. *Prepare clear, accurate, and professional presentations, staff reports, maps, exhibits, and talking points for the Mayor, City Council, Redevelopment Commission, public meetings, funding partners, and community stakeholders.
19. *Assist with meetings, open houses, surveys, resident communications, stakeholder coordination, and outreach related to housing, fair housing, redevelopment, and community development initiatives.
20. *Work with communications staff to update housing, fair housing, redevelopment, and property-related pages on the City website and maintain accurate public-facing materials.
21. *Work with Building Commissioner Office, Planning and Zoning, Legal, Engineering, Clerk/Treasurer, Controller, Fire Department, Public Works, Utilities, and other City departments as needed.
22. Perform other related duties as assigned.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

1. Demonstrate strong analytical, writing, presentation, and project coordination skills.
2. Prepare accurate reports, maps, grant materials, public documents, and presentations in a timely manner.
3. Maintain organized records for redevelopment properties, housing programs, fair housing activities, and funding applications.
4. Use data and mapping tools to support practical recommendations and decision-making.
5. Communicate professionally with residents, developers, property owners, elected officials, funding agencies, and partner organizations.
6. Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment with sensitive property, legal, financial, and resident information.
7. Act independently, identify issues, recommend solutions, and manage multiple priorities under deadlines.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
2. Ability to analyze data, interpret policies, synthesize information, and prepare written recommendations.
3. Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, meetings, datasets, and public requests simultaneously.
4. Ability to communicate effectively in writing, in presentations, and in meetings with technical and non-technical audiences.
5. Ability to visit properties, attend field meetings, and navigate uneven or active project sites when needed.
6. Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds occasionally.
7. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND CONDITIONS

1. Work is performed primarily in an office setting, with periodic field work at redevelopment sites, properties, public meetings, and project locations.
2. Field work may involve exposure to weather conditions, deteriorated structures, construction activity, and uneven terrain.
3. A flexible schedule, including occasional evenings or weekends, may be required for public meetings, presentations, community engagement, or project deadlines.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING

1. Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public administration, real estate, geography/GIS, economics, community development, political science, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
2. Experience in housing, community development, redevelopment, economic development, planning, real estate, grant administration, public-sector project management, or related work preferred.
3. Urban planning, real estate development, housing policy, land use, or GIS/map-making background strongly preferred.
4. Familiarity with fair housing principles, CDBG requirements, HUD programs, redevelopment processes, public procurement, property acquisition/disposition, and local government procedures preferred.
5. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and records management required; familiarity with ESRI, GIS, Beacon, Granicus, Placer.ai, IMPLAN, mapping tools, dashboards, and data visualization tools preferred.
6. Ability to research funding opportunities, interpret program guidelines, prepare grant or loan applications, and connect eligible funding sources to City projects.
7. Ability to prepare professional reports, maps, presentations, public materials, RFPs, and correspondence.
8. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and good driving record.

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS

1. Computer, phone, printer/scanner, presentation equipment, camera, and related office equipment.
2. Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, ESRI Business Analyst, GIS/map-making tools, Beacon, Granicus, Placer.ai, IMPLAN, online real estate platforms, and other data or project management systems.
3. Property, redevelopment, grant, and fair housing records, including deeds, resolutions, RFPs, surveys, environmental reports, appraisals, maps, and public meeting materials.