Director of Community, Neighborhood & Housing Services

The City of Gaithersburg is seeking a community oriented, customer-focused, collaborative professional to oversee and lead the Department of Community, Neighborhood, and Housing Services (CN&HS) which includes four divisions: Housing & Community Development, Neighborhood Services, Community Services, and Homeless Services. The Director is responsible for strategic leadership, program administration, staff supervision, regulatory compliance, and advancing the City's priorities related to affordable housing preservation, neighborhood stabilization, and support services for vulnerable residents. Work involves a high level of independence, complex decision-making, and collaboration with internal and external partners and requires hands‑on departmental leadership within a municipal government setting. The Director reports directly to the City Manager or their designee; and as a member of the City's senior leadership team, collaborates with the City Manager and other department directors on strategy and policy to ensure that the City's mission, vision, core values, and long-range goals are incorporated into operational activities and services. The Department has an FY 2027 total budget of approximately $5.15 million and employs 27.6 FTEs (24 full-time). The position can accommodate both in-person and remote work at the discretion of the City Manager. Preparation for and attendance at meetings, events, and other work outside of regular business hours is required. Residency within the City of Gaithersburg is not required. For more details about the role and the Gaithersburg community, please review the Position Profile (PDF).The Position: The Director provides strategic direction and oversight for the department, ensuring high-quality service delivery across the four divisions. Directly manages division managers and is responsible for leadership development, performance management, and operational accountability. Maintains oversight of the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program as an entitlement city, including full program planning, implementation, regulatory compliance, reporting, and coordination with HUD.Oversees code compliance and Neighborhood Services operations, including property maintenance inspections, enforcement actions, and initiatives aimed at stabilizing “naturally occurring affordable housing” (NOAH).Works collaboratively with staff to develop strategies and partnerships that expand affordable housing opportunities, support reinvestment in aging multifamily properties, address deferred maintenance challenges, and protect low- and moderate-income residents. Ensures alignment of departmental programs with City goals and Council priorities. Prepares and administers budgets, contracts, and grants. Represents the department in meetings with community stakeholders, regional partners, County agencies, and other governmental entities. Priorities: Evaluate critical operations of Community, Neighborhood, and Housing Services Department. Establish familiarity with recently updated Chapter 13 of the City of Gaithersburg's Municipal Code (Landlord-Tenant Relations) and related ordinances. Oversee establishment and launch of a new, city-managed alternative to the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities. Ensure compliance for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award with HUD timeliness, reporting, and other program requirements. Assess property conditions at Wells/Robertson House and DeSellum House. Shepherd amendments and updates to the City's Affordable Housing regulations through the legislative approval processes. Work closely with Community Services staff on evaluating recently implemented processes for Community Service, Youth Enrichment, and Parent Resource Centergrants. Advocate for greater resources from Montgomery County for homeless support services and rental assistance funding. Develop and maintain positive relationships with the City Manager, Department and other City staff, the Mayor and City Council, and other related boards, committees, and commissions.

The ideal candidate for this position is an accomplished and innovative leader who has experience as a division or department manager overseeing multiple relevant functional areas in a local or county government setting. Experience managing all aspects of an entire CDBG program within an entitlement city (including management of CDBG-funded activities) is required; and experience developing and implementing strategies for stabilizing and enhancing older, multifamily properties is highly desired. The individual must be detail-oriented, an exceptional communicator and listener, and a strategic thinker who can translate strategies into actionable objectives, while also possessing the practical expertise to ensure accountability, high-quality service delivery, and operational effectiveness. With a solid understanding of local government administration and operations, the ideal candidate will bring both a visionary mindset and a hands‑on management style. They are committed to cultivating a positive departmental culture, developing their team through mentorship and coaching, and managing performance in a constructive, accountability-oriented manner. They will have a strong ability to foster interdepartmental collaboration while also cultivating and strengthening relationships with community members, nonprofit, government, and other regional partners. Compensation The anticipated hiring range is $170,00 to $190,000, depending on qualifications, with an excellent benefits package. For more information about the position, contact Assistant City Manager Tom Lonergan-Seeger at 240.805.1093 or Tom.Lonergan-Seeger@gaithersburgmd.gov. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at 301.258.6327 or hr@gaithersburgmd.gov. For demographic and other information about the City of Gaithersburg, please click here. Department Directors are in the unclassified service and not included within the City's merit system. The successful candidate will be subject to a background investigation. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post-accident and random testing.