Division Manager; U

Housing Division Manager (U)
City of San Bernardino
• San Bernardino, California, USA

Shape the Future of Housing in San Bernardino!
Lead impactful housing initiatives, manage multimillion‑dollar federal funding and help drive equitable community development in one of Southern California’s most dynamic cities.

The Housing Division Manager (U) is a senior leadership role within the City of San Bernardino’s Community Development & Housing Department, providing high‑level oversight and strategic direction for all housing programs and initiatives. Reporting to the Deputy Director, this position plays a critical role in advancing the city’s housing goals through the effective management of federally and state‑funded programs including HOME, CDBG and other housing‑related grants.

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead complex housing initiatives with significant autonomy and executive‑level influence. The Housing Division Manager oversees program planning, policy development, budgeting, grant administration, and compliance while collaborating with internal departments, HUD, legal counsel, auditors, developers and community stakeholders. The incumbent also supervises and develops professional staff, prepares reports and presentations for City Council and advisory boards, and ensures housing programs are delivered efficiently, transparently and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.

The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligibility list only and does not guarantee an immediate appointment.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned housing development and project management professional with a proven track record delivering affordable housing projects from concept through completion in a public‑sector environment. They bring deep working knowledge of state and federal housing finance programs and understand how to translate policy goals into built housing outcomes.

This individual is comfortable operating with a high degree of independence and serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on complex housing development financing and regulatory matters. They thrive in fast‑paced, resource‑constrained environments and are motivated by the opportunity to produce tangible housing solutions in a community with significant need.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• Lead and mentor professional staff responsible for housing development finance and compliance
• Manage the full lifecycle of affordable housing projects, including feasibility analysis, developer selection, underwriting, construction oversight and project closeout
• Administer and strategically deploy housing funds such as HOME, CDBG, PLHA and related sources to support new housing production
• Work effectively with affordable housing developers, lenders, consultants, legal counsel and regulatory agencies
• Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements while maintaining a focus on timely project delivery
• Analyze complex financial, operational and policy issues related to housing development and recommend actionable solutions
• Communicate clearly and confidently with City leadership, elected officials, developers and the public

This position is focused on housing development and project delivery rather than rental assistance or voucher program administration.

No two days are exactly alike for the Housing Division Manager. A typical day may include a blend of strategic planning, staff leadership and stakeholder engagement.

The day might begin by reviewing housing program performance, grant expenditures or HUD compliance updates before meeting with division staff to discuss project timelines, funding benchmarks and emerging priorities. Throughout the day the Housing Division Manager may collaborate with the Finance Department on budgets, consult with legal counsel on housing agreements or coordinate with developers and community partners on active or proposed projects.

Time is also spent preparing staff reports, reviewing grant applications or proposals and developing work plans and quarterly reports for federally funded programs. The role…