Homelessness Response Manager

The City of San Luis Obispo is looking for a Homelessness Response Manager who demonstrates leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to develop and implement policies and programs to address homelessness.

Successful Candidate 

The successful candidate for the Homelessness Response Manager is someone who can perform a variety of project management assignments related to the City’s Homelessness Response efforts. They have a strong background in housing and homelessness issues facing the state and region with proven experience managing complex programs and leading multidisciplinary teams. This individual brings strategic thinking and sound judgment to challenging issues. They excel at interpreting and applying policies, facilitating interdepartmental collaboration, and providing clear, well-reasoned recommendations to advisory bodies and city council. They are a confident communicator who fosters constructive dialogue and consensus in diverse community settings.

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Tuesday, December 1st, 2026, so please hold that date. 

Community Impact

In the Homelessness Response Manager role, you will have a unique opportunity to create a meaningful impact on your community. You will interface with staff and leadership from every department within the City as well as external partners, stakeholders, and service providers to address homelessness in a cohesive and collaborative manner. You will shape policies that guide City staff’s efforts to conduct outreach, enforcement, and encampment cleanups with consistency and compassion. You will also have the opportunity to create and lead new initiatives that positively impact community members experiencing homelessness, ranging from safe parking to permanent supportive housing.

JOB SUMMARY:
Performs a variety of professional assignments related to the City’s homelessness response efforts; coordinates internal and external efforts related to homelessness and helps develop strategic and effective ways to invest City resources towards these efforts; organizes strategies and implements with other City staff in conjunction with government agencies, law enforcement, community stakeholders, and non-profit community-based organizations; recommends, promotes, and implements the City's homelessness-related goals and citywide strategic plan to address homelessness; acts as a City liaison with external agencies, boards, and committees; and may supervise or lead staff as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:
This is an advanced journey-level professional classification that oversees the City’s homelessness response efforts and projects with great latitude for initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from other professional classifications by the specialized focus on homelessness response.SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
Receives general direction from a Principal Planner
May provide direct supervision and/or technical or functional direction to professional, technical, administrative support, or intern staff.EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• Serves as the City's primary contact, strategic advisor, and coordinator on homelessness issues impacting the city.
• Oversees and coordinates the work of the homelessness response field team, including outreach and encampment cleanups on City property. 
• Develops, maintains, recommends, and implements policies, procedures, and standards for the City’s homelessness response efforts.
• Reports to the Homelessness Response Steering Committee, which involves developing meeting agendas, facilitating meetings, and providing updates on partnerships, initiatives, funding opportunities, pilot programs, and policy recommendations.
• Responds to public inquiries regarding homelessness and homeless encampments.
• Collaborates and leads partnerships with other agencies regarding homeless services, grants, funding opportunities, pilot program initiatives, and communication strategies,
• Develops qualitative and quantitative measures to monitor and evaluate homelessness response effectiveness.
• Fosters relationships with key stakeholders, such as community and non-profit organizations, activists, homeless and housing service providers, and businesses.
• Conducts field visits with homelessness response team staff to assess needs, issues, and priorities to inform policy updates and advocacy efforts.
• Attends and facilitates training for the homelessness response team.
• Provides written analysis, evaluation, and recommendations regarding homelessness activities. 
• Identifies and implements strategic, short- and long-range planning and frameworks to develop and achieve homelessness response goals; identifies resources needed to implement goals and objectives.
• Prepares and makes presentations to boards, City Council, commissions, community partners, and other groups regarding homelessness response efforts; facilitates and represents the City at meetings with members of the community and the public.
• Reviews and analyzes complex data; researches, analyzes, interprets, and prepares reports and recommendations on a variety of data related to homelessness. 
• Performs various public relations activities, which may include development of communication materials and press releases.
• Prepares and recommends budgets and participates in preparation of budgets that support services.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with City staff and external community partners.
• Tracks state and federal legislation relating to homelessness and funding.
• May provide direct supervision and/or technical or functional direction to lower-level or less-experienced staff as assigned.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required. 

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws pertaining to homelessness, including current case law.
• Best practices related to homeless services, outreach, case management, and programs.
• Principles of planning, project management, public administration, organization, and management.
• The principles and practices of researching and analyzing the economic feasibility of programs and projects.
• Best practices and community approaches to prevent and address homelessness, including policy development and program management.
• Methods of financing homelessness projects and programs.
• Marketing, public information, and promotional techniques used in homelessness response.
• Principles of work plan development and implementation.
• Functions and relationships between private, public, and non-profit sector groups that serve the homeless populations.
• Principles, practices, and techniques of research and statistical analysis.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various professional, regulatory and legislative organizations.
• Economic and social public policy on impacts of homelessness.
•  Principles of budgeting  and public policy analysis.
• Principles and practices of supervision and team leadership.

Ability to:

• Think critically, strategically, and creatively to develop policies, programs, and initiatives to prevent and address homelessness.
• Evaluate and implement short- and long-term priorities.
• Communicate clearly and concisely to a variety of stakeholders.
• Display strong leadership skills and an aptitude for collaboration with multiple departments, organizations, and stakeholders to work toward defined goals and objectives.
• View events and possibilities from multiple perspectives, including departmental, citywide, and community.   
• Analyze data trends and analysis related to homelessness.
• Assess complex ideas, problems, risks, and situations.
• Maintain adaptability, effectiveness, and openness in dynamic work environments. 
• Exercise sound independent judgment and demonstrate initiative and creativity, with minimal supervision.
• Work with diverse populations and maintain an inclusive environment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in social or behavioral sciences, community development, urban planning, business, public administration, or a related field;
and
Four years of increasingly responsible professional experience managing complex public policy projects requiring the use of effective analytical and organizational skills, including one year of experience related to homelessness response, housing programs, housing services, food security, mental health, or addiction.
or 
An equivalent combination of education and experience.

THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE:

• Live Scan Fingerprinting - DOJ