
Community Development Specialist II - PG 13, Non-Exempt. $22.38/hour $45,550.40/annual
MAJOR FUNCTION
Administration and public contact work conducting negotiations with citizens, officials and other regulatory agency personnel representing various Community Development project activities. Supports the Program Supervisors in the preparation of all reports and mapping responsibilities for documentation of grant administration and fiscal accountability.
ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
• Manages various Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects, including comprehensive infrastructure and public facilities activities.
• Coordinates CDBG weekly activities.
• Prepares and presents grant informational meetings and training sessions with civic groups and/or other agencies.
• Prepares, presents, and assists citizens, civic leaders and other department and agency personnel with technical information for grant and/or loan packages.
• Assists in environmental determinations and requests historic determinations.
• Represents the Division of Housing and Neighborhood Development at the Citizens Advisory Committee Meetings.
• Acts as the county’s coordinator for the U.S. HUD Integrated Disbursement Information System (IDIS).
• Acts as a liaison between the county, state, and federal, private and/or public entities.
• Monitors project work, tracking systems and schedules.
• Proposes policies and procedures for performance improvements, verifies community impacts, reviews invoices and authorizes payment.
• Prepares related forms, annual reports, memorandums and documentation of project progress activities and fiscal accountability.
• Prepares and participates in contract negotiations, neighborhood meetings and in-field surveys.
• Conduct inspections, survey studies to assess countywide community development project needs and/or practicality and funding sources and/or availability.
• Interprets census data information to determine eligibility of projects.
• Obtains and assists in documentation for right-of-way, easements, roadway, drainage, and other community development projects.
• Ensures that all files are documented according to the fund source requirements.
• Ensures Davis Bacon and Section 3 meet HUD requirements on all projects.
• Conducts environmental reviews.
• Maintains project files, balance sheets and various spreadsheet data.
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
• Ability to learn documentation and recording of legal instruments.
• Ability to interpret and apply state statutes and federal regulations as they apply to community development activities.
• Ability to administer a program requiring coordination of diverse entities, i.e. municipalities, non-profit organizations, county agencies.
• Ability to produce clear, concise reports, analyses, and correspondence.
• Ability to formulate recommendations and make independent decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with individuals at various levels in both public and private sectors.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to research and maintain HUD compliance, EPA data and GIS mapping.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Graduate of an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma and have a minimum of four (4) years of experience in community development/HUD sponsored programs.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver's license at the time of employment within this classification.
• A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications at the sole discretion of the division director.
SPECIAL PREFERENCES
• Graduate of an accredited four (4) year college/university with a bachelor’s degree, and coursework in business, political science, banking, or related field.
• Special consideration given to individuals with GIS Arcview experience.

Overview
As outlined in the Polk County Charter, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is the governing body of Polk County. Each commissioner is elected by a countywide vote.
Duties and Powers
The County Commission adopts an annual budget which includes appropriations for services provided by county government including the Sheriff, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections. This budget also includes appropriations in support of the Circuit and County Courts, State Attorney, Public Defender and Clerk of the Court. Some other responsibilities:
* levying taxes and fees,
* provide and maintain county buildings,
* provide fire protection and ambulance services,
* provide health and welfare programs,
* provide parks, preserves, playgrounds, libraries, museums, historical sites, recreation and cultural facilities and programs,
* prepare and enforce comprehensive plans for the development in the county,
* establish, coordinate, and enforce zoning and such business regulations as are necessary for the protection of the public,
* adopt and enforce building, housing and related technical codes and regulations,
* establish and administer programs of housing, slum clearance, community redevelopment, conservation, flood control, air pollution control,
* provide and regulate waste and sewage collection and disposal, water supply and conservation programs,
* provide and operate public transportation systems, roads, bridges and related facilities.