Director of Community and Business Services, University City District (UCD)

Posted by on January 17, 2011

Director of Community and Business Services, University City District (UCD)

Posted on: January 5, 2011

Leadership position at UCD, a special services district focused on quality of life issues, economic competitiveness and commercial vitality in a 2.4 square mile stretch of West Philadelphia. Position reports to Executive Director, and serves as part of a six-person management team for our $7.1 million organization.

Management
• Direct — through line management — $3.1 million public space maintenance and public safety operation with 70 field service personnel and dozens of seasonal and temporary employees.
• Develop new program initiatives and work plans for the organization. Ensure meaningful goal setting, measurable outcomes and accountability for all projects.
• Make budget recommendations, approve expenses and assist Executive Director in negotiating multi-million dollar service contracts.
• Instill customer service culture in program operations, motivating and managing public safety and public maintenance staff to serve as true ambassadors to University City.

Community Outreach & Partnerships
• Build relationships with scores of business and property owners, civic associations and neighborhood residents to identify challenges and opportunities related to public space maintenance, public safety, license & inspection issues, and street and property repair.
• Manage relationships with University City police district substation and university-based police officials to coordinate public safety issues in the district.
• Partner with social service agencies to grapple with panhandling issues; maintain and analyze data on crime problems and implement strategic, data-driven approach to deploying field service personnel; work with police and partner organizations to establish solutions to specific long-term public safety problems.
• Develop and manage program to address neglected and dilapidated properties, working with landlords, the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections and other public agencies to resolve long-standing community eyesores.
• Re-formulate and manage University City Landlord Network, a loose association of property owners; provide access to data and information on market trends, connect landlords to resources for solving problems, explore opportunities for coordinated marketing and promotion of rental properties.
• Form working relationships at leadership and operational levels with various city agencies and public officials and within University City institutions; represent UCD at community meetings.

Qualifications
• Successful candidate must be entrepreneurial problem solver, identifying challenges and opportunities in the community and working with a sense of urgency to address them.
• Must have demonstrated ability to manage and motivate people at all levels of the organization, and to manage budgets.
• Successful candidate must be master relationship builder who is equally comfortable working with community residents, business owners large and small, and public officials.
• Position requires initiative and demonstrated ability to implement creative solutions in the context of an urban environment; high degree of judgment required.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Position requires excellent written and oral communications skills.

Competitive salary and benefits package; dynamic, fun, entrepreneurial environment.

University City District is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, religion, handicap, or sexual orientation.

To apply, please email thoughtful cover letter, salary requirements and resume to hr@universitycity.org.