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.

Please see full job posting and position profile on our website. Residency within the City of Gaithersburg corporate limits is not required.

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.

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, urban planning, housing and community development, or related field; master’s degree (MPA, MPP, MSW, or related) preferred. Significant and progressively responsible experience within a local or county government including supervisory experience at the division or department director level. Full program oversight experience of a CDBG entitlement city program (including management of CDBG-funded activities) required. Must have experience overseeing multiple functional areas such as housing, neighborhood services, code enforcement, community services, and/or homeless services, and experience developing and implementing strategies to stabilize older multifamily housing through code enforcement, reinvestment, or related programs.

Experience leading interdisciplinary teams in a hands-on municipal government environment; experience with multifamily housing preservation, NOAH stabilization strategies, or property maintenance prevention programs; and experience working in organizations with smaller or mid-sized teams where leaders directly support operations preferred. Possession of an appropriate driver’s license valid in the State of Maryland (preferred). Certifications such as HCD-related credentials, code enforcement certification, or HUD program management training are desirable.

First review of applications will begin by October 26, 2026. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are identified or all hiring decisions have been made. For more information about the position, contact Assistant City Manager Tom Lonergan-Seeger at 240.805.1093 or Tom.Lonergan-Seeger@gaithersburgmd.gov.