Community Development Director

Community Development Director - Grand Rapids

Community Development Director

Nestled along the scenic Grand River and just 25 miles from Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids offers the perfect balance of natural beauty and urban opportunity. Only a three-hour drive from Chicago, the city provides easy access to beaches, trails, and year-round outdoor recreation.

As West Michigan’s economic and cultural hub, Grand Rapids boasts a vibrant downtown filled with award-winning museums, diverse dining, and a nationally acclaimed craft beer scene. This growing metropolitan area is recognized for its strong economy, affordable cost of living, and welcoming neighborhoods—making it not only an ideal place to build your career, but also a wonderful place to call home.

• #1 - Linked In Cities on the Rise 2025:
  The 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent (Linked In)
• #20 - Best U.S. Cities for Women in the Workplace (Checkr)
• #20 - Best Run Cities in America (Wallet Hub)
• #20 - 25 Best Places to Live, Quality of Life (US News)
• #5 - Metros Where Young Home ownership is Most Accessible (Consumer Affairs)
• #28 - Best Cities for Jobs (Wallet Hub)
• #40 - Best Place to Retire in US (U.S. News & World Report)
• #40 - Best Cities to Buy a House in America (Niche)
• #41 - Best Cities for Young Professionals in America
• Named Beer City 2025 by USA Today
• Named AARP Age-Friendly Community

Grand Rapids operates under a Council–Manager form of government, with strategic direction from an elected City Commission and daily operations led by a professional City Manager. As one of Michigan’s largest municipal organizations, the city employs over 1,700 full-time staff across 30 departments, serving a diverse and growing population.

The FY 2026 budget totals approximately $735 million, including nearly $196 million in the General Operating Fund to support core services like public safety, parks, and administration. This investment reflects Grand Rapids’ commitment to fiscal responsibility, innovation, and service excellence. (Strategic Plan)

Grand Rapids will be nationally recognized as an equitable, welcoming, innovative, and collaborative city with a robust economy, safe and healthy community, and the opportunity for a high quality of life for all.

To elevate the quality of life through excellent City services.

The City of Grand Rapids' core values are embodied in its strategic plan, emphasizing Accountability, Collaboration, Customer Service, Innovation, Equity, and Sustainability.

The Community Development Director is responsible for leading the overall operations of the Community Development Department. Key duties include administering federal and state grant programs, running housing rehabilitation and home ownership programs, and enforcing City ordinances. The Director is responsible for planning, organizing, coordinating, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinate managers overseeing operations, administration, code compliance, and contract compliance. This position reports to the Senior Managing Director of Community Services.

The ideal candidate will be able to manage financially complex department operations, assess overall department effectiveness, and establish effective community development and code compliance programs. The position requires a proven track record of working effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse community while coordinating activities with contractors, other government officials, business, and civic leaders, and explaining department activities to the media and citizen groups.

The successful candidate must uphold the highest level of ethics and integrity in performing work and representing the City. They will have demonstrated experience and a good record managing the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs. The successful candidate will have proven experience leading housing and building code compliance and will be skilled in addressing complex issues among diverse stakeholders.

• Stewardship of…