Program Analyst 4 Community Development Specialist 4 at City of Detroit

About the Department

The City of Detroit, through its Housing and Revitalization Department, has received $442M in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)for presidentially declared disasters in 2021 and 2023. CDBG-DR is designed to provide funding to communities affected by major disasters. The purpose of the funding is to help Detroit recover and rebuild by providing financial assistance for a variety of projects, such as housing and public infrastructure improvements. For more information, please visit:https://detroitmi.gov/departments/housing-and-revitalization-department/disaster-recovery.

Under general supervision, the Community Development Specialist IV will be primarily responsible for leading financial monitoring, compliance, and timeliness of CDBG-DR grants activities and overseeing the invoicing activities associated with contracts and/or subrecipient agreements. Community Development Specialist IV serves as an advisor to the management on evaluating the effectiveness and feasibility of programs and operations related to CDBG-Disaster Recovery projects, as well as the effective management of federal grants. Additionally, the Community Development Specialist IV will focus on reviewing, evaluating, and recommending approval of applications for programs, projects, initiatives, and the overall management and monitoring of funded grants and contracts through the life cycle of the grant. Other duties include overseeing the development, funding, and completion of Disaster Recovery projects. They will help with the development and implementation of divisional goals and initiatives.

The Program Analyst IV – Community Development Specialist IV is an advanced-level professional located within the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department’s CDBG-Disaster Recovery Team.

Position Duties

• Assist with the implementation of organizational goals, initiatives, and plans; analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of meeting established goals and objectives.
• Review and approve project budgets to ensure compliance with allowable expenses; work with subrecipients to create expenditure schedules that help them remain timely in drawing down funding and ensure compliance toward timeliness goals and contractual agreements.
• Act as compliance officer on behalf of the unit’s leader, ensuring subrecipient compliance toward federal regulations; oversee and track staff monitoring of all grants in compliance with federal grant terms and conditions of reporting requirements.
• Assist with the management, development, and execution of new programs and projects from inception to closure. Track and report project milestones and status reports to leadership.
• Assist the unit’s leadership in the management and compliance over the utilization of CDBG and other funding sources.
• Utilize data collection and analysis techniques to evaluate individual program cost (analyses of projects or performs cost benefit or economic evaluations); submit oral and written reports to management personnel for their consideration and decision-making.
• Interview candidates for positions in the division and make recommendations for appointment, promotion, or reassignment involving such positions.
• Testify before grant committees and at other public forums with recommendations in the area of funding, special conditions, and grant administration to provide expert technical advice.
• Research and investigate new or improved best management practices for application to agency programs or operations.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications (required):

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course of work in business administration, public administration, public health, public policy, economics, finance, urban planning and development studies, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience including project management-related activities, systematic review, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of community development, grants management, or economic development activities.
• Three (3) years of experience leading, administering and reporting on CDBG funded activities.
• Experience in public speaking and developing presentations.

 Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be substituted to meet the education and experience requirements of this position.

 Qualifications (preferred):

• Knowledge of Community and Urban Planning and Development.

Other Qualifications

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit:   15 points