Closing Date:
09/05/2022 Salary: $36.9920 - $47.3930/hourly*

• Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for range.

Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm*

• Occasional evening and weekend work

NATURE OF WORK:
This position is responsible for implementing Housing and Economic Development programs and
projects funded by federal COVID relief CARES Act (CDBG-CV) and American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA) as well as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships
(HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. This includes monitoring internal and
external programs that receive federal funds from the City to ensure compliance with Federal and
local requirements, and evaluating how effectively the funded activities achieve City Council and
HUD Consolidated Plan goals. This position conducts research and develops recommendations
relating to housing and economic development programs and policies to provide equitable
services to residents with the greatest needs to address federal and City of Evanston equity goals;
prepares feasibility studies, cost-effectiveness analyses and special reports; and determines
regulatory conformance of housing proposals and programs. The position has primary
responsibility for developing and maintaining the compliance and monitoring plan for the portfolio
of City-assisted housing developments and programs in compliance with Federal and local
government requirements. Also works on related planning and community development issues as
needed.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignments will include some or all of the following):
Analyzes needs for housing and utility assistance, access to food, and other essential services
for residents, as well as grants/loans for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Develops
recommendations to address those needs using CDBG-CV and ARPA funding.
Implements and monitors housing and economic development activities funded with CDBG,
CDBG-CV, ARPA, and HOME funds.
Works with external agencies receiving CDBG-CV and ARPA funding to identify additional
resources available to Evanston residents, and ensures adherence to Stafford Act
requirements to avoid duplication of benefits (DOB).
Prepares housing and economic development components of the City’s Consolidated Plan,
Action Plans and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports as required for
CDBG, HOME, and ESG CARES Act and entitlement funding.
Prepares reports about the use of CDBG, HOME and ESG funds, and City Affordable Housing
Fund as needed; monitors programs and projects to ensure compliance with CDBG, HOME
and ESG regulations, and Affordable Housing Fund policies; maintains records in IDIS and
CDM databases.
Evaluates applications for economic development and housing programs, including reviewing
and evaluating proposals, budgets and staffing estimates, financial pro formas, etc.; requests
additional data as needed to determine feasibility.
Develops and updates policies and procedures relating to the City’s Inclusionary Housing
Ordinance to address housing needs of residents with incomes that do not exceed the area
median, including periodic reviews and updates to address changes in the housing market and
housing needs of different demographic groups.
Conducts field investigations, economic or public opinion surveys, demographic studies, or
other research as appropriate to gather required information; maintains collections of
socioeconomic, environmental, and regulatory data related to housing and related services for
use by planning and administrative personnel in government and private sectors.
Reviews plans and proposals submitted by other governmental planning entities and private
organizations to assist in formulation of local and regional housing plans.
Staffs the Housing and Homelessness Commission; schedules and manages virtual and in-
person meetings; develops agendas and meeting packets, and records minutes.
Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
Must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a preference
for Public Policy, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or substantially similar area.
Must possess three (3) or more years of work experience in housing policy, development or
management, economic development, business development, management, or related area.
Experience with programs and services for the homeless, affordable housing, and grant
management and compliance is preferred.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas:
Knowledge of a wide range of housing issues, including affordability and fair housing, and
the tools and best practices to address them.
Ability to develop policy and strategy recommendations for a variety of community,
economic and housing development programs and projects.
Ability to analyze business plans, marketing plans, real estate pro formas, and other
financial planning documents for feasibility and return on investment.
Knowledge of internet/digital marketing and ability to leverage online tools to adapt various
business functions to online/remote interactions to address changes due to COVID-19.
Ability to use personal computers and associated software, including G-Suite and Microsoft
Office, iCompass or similar agenda management software, and relational databases.
Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data,
establish facts and draw valid conclusions; interpret a variety of federal statutes and
regulations, and technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and deal with
multiple abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure; to perform the four
operations with like or common decimal fractions; to compute ratio, rate, and percent; draw
and interpret graphs; perform arithmetic operations involving all American monetary units.
Ability to read business letters, memoranda, technical journals, abstracts, financial reports,
and legal documents; write business letters, memoranda, abstracts, and financial reports
with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar; and use principles and methods of
effective and persuasive speaking to present to diverse audiences with poise and
confidence.
Considerable knowledge of and ability to use internet search engines, Microsoft Office, G-
Suite, and Windows operating systems.
Ability to attend evening meetings when necessary.
Ability to work with and relate to a diverse group of people from varying socioeconomic and
racial/ethnic backgrounds and to deal with individuals and groups at all levels.
Excellent organizational and project management skills.
Self-motivated, disciplined, organized, and reliable. Innovative, creative, resourceful and
independent thinker.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK:
Light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force
frequently, and or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Type of physical
demands: balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing,
crouching, or running on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces); stooping (bending body
downward and forward by bending spine at the waist); crouching (bending the body downward and
forward by bending leg and spine); reaching (extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction);
handling (seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hands); fingering (picking,
pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily); feeling (perceiving attributes of objects such
as size, shape,, temperature, or texture by means of receptors in skin, particularly those of finger
tips); talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word); hearing (perceiving
the nature of sounds by ear); seeing (the ability to perceive the nature of objects by eye); far vision
(clarity of vision at 20 feet or more); near vision (clarity of vision at 20 inches or less); depth
perception (ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as
they actually are, including safety to oneself and others); field of vision (observing an area that can
be seen up and in a given point, when required to see a large area while keeping the eyes fixed);
accommodation (adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus, especially important
when doing near-point work at varying distances from the eye); color vision (ability to identify and
distinguish colors).
SUPERVISION:
Reports to the Housing and Grants Supervisor within the Community Development Department
who outlines work assignments, reviews work in progress, and completed work. Works closely
with all relevant departments/divisions to assist and inform in the processing of planning related
issues and policies, as appropriate. Employee is expected to provide leadership/guidance to all
City departments in administration and management of grant-funded programs and projects.
Guidance is provided via the strategic plan, City Code, City policies and procedures, applicable
state and federal laws and regulations, and Consolidated Plan to ensure compliance with
requirements. Work is evaluated at least annually to determine progress toward achieving goals,
leadership, communication skills, customer service, ability to work productively and effectively with
employees at all levels in the organization as well as elected and appointed officials, community
groups and the general public.
PUBLIC CONTACT:
The employee has regular and frequent contact with department and division employees and other
City employees; regular contact with individual citizens and groups, including elected officials.
Presentations during public meetings are part of the scope of work for this position.
SELECTION METHOD TYPE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST LIFE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST
Structured Oral Interview
To apply for this position, please apply online at www.cityofevanston.org on or before the
closing date.
Chosen candidates will be required to provide proof of licenses, certifications, and
education required for this position. Candidates will also be subject to qualifying pre-
employment processes, including medical examination, drug/alcohol screen, employment
verification, and criminal background check.
The City of Evanston is an equal opportunity employer and ensures against discrimination in
employment on the basis of a person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin,
ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of
income, housing status, or gender identity. The City of Evanston is also committed to accessibility
for persons with disabilities. Any person needing mobility or communications access assistance
should contact Human Resources at 847-448-8204 (voice) or 847-448-8052 (TTY).