Community Development Director

Overview

Adams, Massachusetts is seeking an experienced and energetic professional who will continue Adams’ evolution from mill town to premier community in the Berkshires by leading an aggressive and visionary multi-disciplined Community Development Department that seeks to enhance our community quality of life for residents while stimulating business development. Adams is a picturesque valley town of approximately 8,500 residents in beautiful northern Berkshire County at the base of Mount Greylock, the Commonwealth’s highest peak, with easy access to the region’s wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities. With both urban and rural characteristics, it is the third largest municipality in the Berkshires featuring an attractive and compact town center with surrounding residential neighborhoods and respect for its proud history. The Town is positioned to take advantage of its strategic location between the population centers of Pittsfield and North Adams with a variety of housing, small business, light industry and recreational opportunities to live, work and play.

The ideal candidate will possess the right mix of technical experience, aptitude and skills, including sufficient knowledge of community/economic development concepts, urban and regional planning principles and land use regulations/concepts; experience in policy analysis, program development/evaluation and project management; skills to identify and employ local, state, and federal programs, initiatives and financial resources available to advance the Town’s community and economic development objectives. The ability to multi-task, set goals and utilize a strategic approach to planning and managing multiple, complex issues is required. An innovative spirit is sought for this position.

Successful candidates will demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills, effective grant writing experience and a collaborative approach to working with other agencies. The ability to communicate effectively to diverse groups and individuals is a must along with the capability to establish harmonious working relationships with town officials, governmental representatives, community groups, the public and the ability to supervise subordinate personnel effectively in a teamwork environment.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s Degree in urban and regional planning, public administration, economic development, or related field; a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in project management and/or local planning; or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Preference will be given to candidates with a combination of experience, education, communication skills and aptitude for visioning and leadership. Salary range is $73,225-$96,119 and is commensurate upon qualifications and experience. Job description and application form is available from the Town of Adams website www.town.adams.ma.us or the Town Administrator’s Office, 8 Park Street, Adams, MA 01220.  Candidates should submit resume, cover letter, and application form to Ken Walto, Interim Town Administrator, Adams Town Hall, 8 Park Street, Adams, MA 01220, or via email to employment@town.adams.ma.us.  Applications should be received by 4:00 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025 but position will remain open until filled.  AA/EOE

General Duties

• Manages the Town’s Community and Economic Development programs; develops work plans and programs to meet Town’s growth and development goals. 
• Responsible for the Town’s community development planning program and the procurement/management of federal, state, and local grants for community, economic development, and infrastructure improvement initiatives and projects. 
• Manages and provides technical expertise in the development and implementation of municipal land use policies and in the development interpretation, and enforcement of land use and zoning bylaws and other regulations; all other related work as required.

Supervision

• Position reports directly to the Town Administrator. Position performs highly responsible tasks of a complex nature, requiring the exercise of considerable judgment and initiative.
• Position exercises full supervision over employees within the Community Development Department.

Job Environment

• Some work is performed under typical office conditions; some work is performed in the field under varying conditions. 
• Outdoor work includes the inspection of various land use developments and construction sites and involves exposure to all weather conditions.
• Makes frequent contact with town departments, state agencies, regional planning and community development agencies, town boards and commissions, downtown stakeholders, potential community investors, representatives of the business community and the public.
• With permission from the Town Administrator, may have periodic contact with state/federal elected and appointed officials.
• Has access to confidential information such as bid proposals and negotiating positions, which, if disclosed, could have fiscal and legal repercussions and result in poor public relations.
• Assigned responsibilities must be carried out in a manner that reflects commonly accepted professional standards for quality, objectivity, judgment, and organization. 
• Errors in either technical application, recognized planning procedures, or the interpretation of statistical and related data could result in fiscal and legal repercussions, damage to property, delay, confusion, or adverse public relations.

Essential Functions

• Assists the Town Administrator with the development and implementation of community development policy and planning, the identification and evaluation of municipal needs, the protection and improvement of community assets, and the monitoring of zoning and other land management regulatory mechanisms.
• Consistent with Town plans, positions Adams to realize maximum benefit from various state/federal program initiatives and funding opportunities. 
• Continually evaluates funding programs for relevance with Town goals and objectives, aggressively pursues funding for Town projects from a broad range of funding sources and serves as the liaison between state program managers and Town officials. 
• Manages the Town’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), which provides the potential for on-going funding assistance for housing, downtown revitalization, and economic development programs/projects, and department staff.  
• Responsible for overall administration of the federal CDBG program, including conceiving appropriate projects for funding, developing applications and project budgets, ensuring compliance with all state/federal reporting and program requirements, and conducting public participation processes.
• Procures, negotiates, and manages professional service contracts with architects, engineers, etc. to advance community development goals and specific department programs and projects.
• Identifies sources of grant funding, prepares applications, conducts public procurement process for the selection of construction contractors to carry out and complete grant-funded and other Town projects.
• Prepares annual department budget and report, monitors expenditures; ensures timely payment of all payables, including applications for payment from multiple construction contractors. 
• Prepares budgets for grant funding, ensures projects remain within budget, and manages the budgets of multiple grant projects simultaneously.
• Working closely with the Town Administrator and the Board of Selectmen, develops and coordinates economic development efforts to strengthen the local economy and promote Adams as a hub for outdoor recreation and a desirable community to live and work.
• Develops a media/public relations protocol using a variety of media platforms to promote development projects, initiates and to attract business investment.
• Maintains an informal inventory of available buildings and business and residential development sites within the community.
• Readies derelict sites for redevelopment through participation in the regional Brownfields program, and by obtaining and managing EPA Brownfields funding assistance for both environmental assessments and cleanup activities.
• Provides and packages information for developers to assist them in making investment decisions; assists in their accessing state/federal program incentives and funding.  
• Assists new and existing businesses within or locating to Adams benefit from the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) administered by the MA Office of Business Development.  
• Provide information and outline program incentives to businesses, develop TIF and other program agreements and recommend terms for consideration by the business and Selectmen, and prepare final documents for approval for the Selectmen and Town Meeting; work with state officials to satisfy all program requirements.
• Undertakes comprehensive planning studies, including the collection and analysis of data to identify existing and future land use, community development needs, and assets/resources warranting preservation and protection. 
• Develops and implements municipal programs, including downtown revitalization, tourism, and marketing.
• Directs the Town’s climate adaptation and resiliency efforts and implements the recommendations in the Town’s Action Plan approved under the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. 
• Directs the Town’s MS4 Stormwater Management Program administered by EPA.
• Leads the Town’s transportation planning efforts to ensure projects are funded under the Berkshire County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).
• Develops recommended zoning bylaw and map amendments; presents proposed changes to boards and public.
• Works with Building Commissioner, Town Counsel, and impacted parties to ensure proposals are appropriate and have desired impact.
• Acts as a contact person for federal, state, and local officials, community groups, and developers.  
• Provides information and/or makes presentations to boards, commissions, civic groups, and the general public on community and economic development issues, including the Selectmen, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Parks Commission, Downtown Development Committee, and the Capital Planning Committee.

Education and Experience

•  Master’s Degree in urban and regional planning, public administration, economic development, or related field.
• Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in project management and/or local planning; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill

• Thorough knowledge of community and economic development, urban and regional planning principles and practice, local government land use management, development review, environmental engineering, state and local land use laws and regulations, procedures, and standards.
• Proven planning or community development program administration experience.
• Extensive experience in policy analysis, program development and evaluation, preferably with direct experience in project and personnel management, and the promulgation of or written review of proposed regulations/bylaws.
• Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal programs, initiatives, and financial resources available to advance the Town’s community and economic development objectives.
• Ability to plan, analyze, and manage multiple, complex issues simultaneously. 
• Strong analytical skills, with specific ability to analyze complex programmatic issues for consistency with state/local standards. 
• Ability to think innovatively to advance effective solutions to encountered problems, whether programmatic or managerial.
• Ability to plan and manage an ambitious work program involving the completion of multiple projects; ability to supervise employees and promote a team environment.
• Ability to understand and interpret maps, surveys, architectural and civil engineering plans; ability to interpret, review, and amend various legal documents, including contracts, sales agreements, liens, and other securities, etc.
• Excellent communications skills needed, especially the ability to write effectively. 
• Ability to communicate effectively to groups and individuals, engineers, architects, contractors, developers, businesses, state and local officials, employees and co-workers, and the general public.
• Ability to establish harmonious working relationships with town officials, governmental representatives, community groups, and the public; ability to supervise subordinate personnel effectively.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid State driver’s license or have the ability to obtain one prior to employment.
• AICP certification preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Minimal physical effort required to perform functions under typical office conditions.
• Moderate physical effort required when performing occasional fieldwork.