Chief Prosperity Officer

General Summary

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system which offers both a defined benefit and a defined contribution option. While the City does not participate in VRS, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Plans, organizes and coordinates the operational and administrative functions of core programming designated for this role to perform.
• Develops, executes, and evaluates a series of citywide initiatives to meet priorities set by the City Manager to implement Council’s vision.
• Provides oversight and support in the ongoing management and operations of the Office of Human Rights, Office of Police Civilian Oversight, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator's Office, and Home to Hope Reentry Program.
• Independently manages the operationalization of the Social Determinants of Health through the development and execution of community prosperity initiatives that aim to:
  • Improve health outcomes in marginalized households.
  • Prioritize interruption and intervention in opioid use and abuse.
  • Convene discussions that identify and prioritize projects and programs to consistently enhance community well-being.
  • Leverage relationships to create access to resources that expand the self-directed outcomes of historically underserved households.
  • Explore opportunities to broaden options for households routinely unable to achieve self-sufficiency through reasonably ordinary efforts.
  • Invest in the community in planning celebrations where culture, history, and heritage reverse past harm.
  • Coordinate community-directed reclamation of community pride projects.
• Serves as a liaison between the City and community stakeholders to align efforts that improve the quality of life for Charlottesville residents through the practice of active listening, fostering psychological safety, and creating conditions where diverse voices feel valued and respected.
• Builds a Community Prosperity Dashboard and share results with transparency to strengthen trust with both internal teams and the community.
• Tracks and analyzes data to monitor progress, evaluate impacts, and inform decision-making related to the performance of current initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with staff in the City Manager’s Office and key personnel performing critical functions in support of the City Manager’s vision for organizational excellence.
• Collaborates with City departments, regional partners, and community organizations to align and strengthen economic mobility initiatives.
• Manages funding allocations to intentionally support community prosperity.
• Represents the City at local, regional, state, and national convenings to leverage best practice opportunities for community prosperity work.
• Produces an annual work plan to outline the actions, measures, and resources that will be utilized to ensure alignment with the organizational performance priorities of the City Manager.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education, Experience and Skills

Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education such as college.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Social Services, Human Services, Sociology, Public Administration, Political Science, Ethnic Studies, or a closely related field.

• Minimum of 4 years in a managerial, supervisory, or program administration capacity.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

• A Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in two or more of the abovementioned areas (social services, human services, sociology, public administration, political science, ethnic studies) are preferred.

• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

• Comprehensive knowledge of philosophies, practices, and issues used in two (2) or more of the assigned departments within the Social Equity portfolio.
• Comprehensive knowledge of analysis, strategic planning, and measuring performance related to social equity and assigned portfolio agencies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of general laws and administrative policies governing municipal practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of effective personnel management, interpersonal communication, human relations, budget management, and strategic planning.
• A subject matter expert with whom other managers and professionals throughout the organization may consult in matters of management decisions, law, budget, operations, programs, or other areas of specialized knowledge and expertise.

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex written materials such as books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents. Ability to effectively analyze facts and provide oversight and direction of information for assessments.

• Advanced: ability to develop materials such as researched editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques. Ability to prepare detailed recommendations or reports from analyzed data, information, and assessments. Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex thoughts and ideas in writing.

• Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

• Advanced: Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with City Officials, employees, external stakeholders, and the general public. Excellent oral and written communication. Requires competent public speaking and presentation skills and ability to present facts and recommendations effectively. Makes recommendations regarding policy development and implementation. Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction.

• Requires Administrative Direction: normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. Uses a wide variety of inter- and intra-departmental resources to address problems and to carry out decisions. Resolves issues using discretionary judgment in the absence of any explicit protocol. Overall results determine job performance.
• Anticipates and identifies potential problem situations and develops strategies or policy for resolution. Makes final decisions on conflicting priorities and resource needs, communicating reasoning behind decisions openly to foster clarity and trust.
• Identifies and addresses gaps in the organization's current state performance and the desired future state performance needed to meet the changing demands of the customer and the business environment.
• Heads or directs efforts to improve processes, procedures, methods, technologies, tools, equipment, terminology, standards, performance measures, and outcomes of work teams, units, and specialty areas on an organizational level.

• Skilled: comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Intermediate computer skills using Microsoft Office applications and organization systems/software.

• Oversees budget preparation of assigned areas, portfolios, divisions, or office budget. Reviews and approves expenditures of significant budgeted funds for assigned areas or does research and prepares recommendations for organization-wide budget expenditures.

• Manages, monitors, and directs the work performance of assigned areas, portfolios, office and/or staff. Evaluates program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishes organizational goals and realigns work and staffing assignments in one or more areas of assignment.

• Disciplined, empathetic, strategic advocate, and empowering leader who models the organizational excellence performance standard.
• Effectively coach, mentor, and inspire colleagues by modeling self-awareness and openness to feedback in leadership practices.
• Ability to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders and be committed to working collaboratively with other senior colleagues to craft a common vision and direction.
• Ability to set strategic objectives for the achievement of multi–functional, department–wide, or organization–wide priorities.
• Ability to assess multiple, complex, tasks or projects and service demands and develops processes to address them.
• Effective time management and organizational skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Independently performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Effective teamwork, leadership, and coaching abilities.
• Effectively works with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
• Tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness in resolving problems and managing stressful situations.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• May require additional hours outside of normal schedule, which may include evenings, nights, holidays, and/or weekends.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Physical Demands:

• Light Work: exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. Must be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
• The noise level is usually moderate.

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.

The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City’s policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City’s policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.