Head of Urban Redevelopment Strategy

City of Cleveland; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cleveland is seeking a Head of Urban Redevelopment Strategy to lead the Department of Development’s Asset Redevelopment Team. This role drives equitable, place-based neighborhood investment and coordinates cross-department partnerships to activate publicly owned land for growth.

Key duties include setting divisional priorities with the Deputy Director, overseeing RFQ/RFP processes, and using data and mapping tools to identify proactive redevelopment opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; substitution: two years for each year missing.
• Six years of full-time management experience required.
• Four years of demonstrated leadership experience.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills; ability to identify process inefficiencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; valid Ohio driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and manage the Asset Redevelopment team.
• Partner with the Deputy Director to design the strategy, development goals, policy improvements, and performance metrics for the division.
• Oversee all RFQ/RFP processes and ensure transparency, timeliness, and alignment with community and citywide priorities.
• Use data, mapping tools, and research to proactively identify redevelopment opportunities and target high-impact investments.
• Coordinate with other departments and divisions in the Integrated Development Cluster to advance redevelopment and site activation.
• Develop and refine best practices for asset disposition, adaptive reuse, and equitable redevelopment.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with residents, community stakeholders, and development partners.
• Monitor progress toward divisional goals and prepare reports, presentations, and updates for leadership.
• Support policy development and process improvements related to land strategy and redevelopment.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Data analysis

Project management

Equity & inclusion

Partnership building

Change management

Analytical reasoning

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s Degree in Urban Planning / Public Administration / Real Estate Development / Historic Preservation

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

Head of Urban Redevelopment Strategy

The Head of Urban Redevelopment Strategy leads the Department of Development’s Asset Redevelopment Team. The Asset Redevelopment Team is dedicated to fostering community-centered neighborhood investment through proactive, equitable, and place-based development strategies. The team works to preserve and enhance Cleveland neighborhoods by increasing access to development opportunities through collaborative partnerships with residents and stakeholders. This role manages the Asset Redevelopment team and provides strategic direction to ensure Cleveland’s publicly owned land becomes a catalyst for equitable neighborhood growth.

The Head of Urban Redevelopment Strategy is responsible for overseeing redevelopment initiatives, setting divisional priorities in partnership with the Deputy Director, and using data and mapping tools to identify proactive investment opportunities. The role also coordinates cross-departmental partnerships, oversees all RFP and other proactive disposition activity, and establishes success metrics that measure progress toward community wealth-building and neighborhood stabilization.

Typical duties performed, include, but are not limited to oversight of daily operations to ensure alignment with departmental objectives and organizational priorities. Dependent upon service area, may manage and direct staff to maintain efficient workflows, ensuring productivity and high-quality outcomes. Develop, implement, and evaluate operational strategies, procedures, and best practices to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Monitor performance metrics and identify opportunities for process improvement. Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to support departmental initiatives. Perform other job-related duties as required.

Bachelor’s degree required. Substitution: Two (2) years of any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may substitute for each year of college education lacking. Six (6) years of full-time management experience required. Four (4) years of demonstrated leadership experience. Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to identify process inefficiencies and implement effective solutions. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Valid State of Ohio Driver’s License required.

Typical Tasks:

• Supervise, mentor, and manage the Asset Redevelopment team.
• Partner with the Deputy Director to design the strategy, development goals, policy improvements, and performance metrics for the division.
• Oversee all RFQ/RFP processes and ensure transparency, timeliness, and alignment with community and citywide priorities.
• Use data, mapping tools, and research to proactively identify redevelopment opportunities and target high-impact investments.
• Coordinate with other departments and divisions in the Integrated Development Cluster to advance redevelopment and site activation.
• Develop and refine best practices for asset disposition, adaptive reuse, and equitable redevelopment.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with residents, community stakeholders, and development partners.
• Monitor progress toward divisional goals and prepare reports, presentations, and updates for leadership.
• Support policy development and process improvements related to land strategy and redevelopment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Real Estate Development, Historic Preservation or a related field.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in urban planning, development, real estate or land strategy, including experience managing staff and projects.
• Experience with ArcGIS or other spatial analysis tools.
• Familiarity with equitable development frameworks and wealth-building strategies.

Skills

• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Ability to think strategically and implement complex initiatives.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, both written and oral.
• Proficiency in analyzing data and mapping tools to inform decision-making.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to advancing equity, sustainability, and racial justice in redevelopment.
• Ability to build partnerships and trust across diverse stakeholders.
• Open-mindedness, adaptability, and a desire for continuous learning.

The City’s guiding principles are as follows: Placing Clevelanders at the Center, Empowering Employees to Do Purposeful Work, Defining Clear and Pragmatic Objectives, Leading with Trust and Transparency, Striving for Equity in All We Do, and Embracing Change. All City employees are responsible for embracing and carrying out these principles in all that they do.