Deputy Director (Housing Operations)

Posting Close Date

Applicants must submit their completed application by 10-28-2026 at 11:59 p.m. MST

Application and Special Instructions

Interested applicants must submit the following:

• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest:

Succinctly describe your interest for this role and your expertise that make you uniquely qualified to provide executive oversight to the Housing Operations Divisions including Public and Affordable Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and Housing First.

• Resume


** Additional information:

- Highest scoring applicants may be required to complete an assessment prior to hiring interviews.

- The Deputy Director (Housing Operations) position has an anticipated hiring range of $89,024 to $133,536 depending on qualifications. The City provides an excellent executive benefit plan with a generous defined benefit pension plan, with five- year vesting, the ability to transfer from other Arizona pension plans and the ability to purchase service credit. The City also offers a voluntary 457(b) plan as an additional retirement investment vehicle.

Position Specific Summary

Provides executive leadership and oversight of the Housing Choice Voucher, Public and Affordable Housing, and Housing First divisions of the City of Tucson Housing and Community Development Department. Reports to the HCD Director and directs division administrators and managers responsible for rental assistance administered for the City of Tucson and Pima County Public Housing Authorities (Housing Choice Voucher, Low-Income Public Housing), City-owned affordable housing, and homelessness response. Establishes integrated priorities, directs resources, and holds division leaders accountable for financial sustainability, regulatory compliance, service quality, workforce capacity, and measurable housing outcomes. Exercises broad independent judgment within delegated authority, advises the Director on policy and operational risks, and represents the Department in regional partnerships and public forums.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs the three Housing Operations divisions through their administrators and managers. Establishes goals, operating priorities, service expectations, and accountability consistent with the Department’s mission and City direction.
• Translates policy into coordinated workplans, staffing and resource decisions, and measurable results. Resolves competing priorities across divisions and advises the Director on organizational changes and significant risks.
• Provides executive oversight of City of Tucson and Pima County HCV operations, including tenant-based and project-based assistance, special-purpose vouchers, inspections, landlord engagement, and participant support programs.
• Directs strategies for voucher utilization, leasing, administrative performance, and subsidy sustainability. Evaluates payment standards, housing assistance payment forecasts, administrative funding, and shortfall risks with program and fiscal leaders; recommends policy and corrective actions.
• Provides executive oversight of public and affordable housing operations, including admissions, occupancy, property management, maintenance, resident services, safety, and preservation of City housing assets.
• Establishes expectations for occupancy, unit turnaround, rent collection, property condition, operating performance, and resident experience. Collaborates with Development Division to coordinate asset repositioning transitions with development, fiscal, legal, and property partners addressing operational readiness, resident protections, and continuity of assistance.
• Provides executive oversight of Housing First operations including multidisciplinary street outreach, housing navigation, emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and related housing stabilization services. Aligns City-operated and contracted services around access to housing and sustained housing stability.
• Works in partnership with the City of Tucson Community Safety Program, elected officials, and internal and external stakeholders to coordinate compassionate, effective solutions to homelessness within the Tucson area.
• Directs development and administration of assigned operating and capital budgets with division and fiscal leaders. Reviews revenue, expenditures, restricted funds, reserves, staffing costs, and multiyear forecasts; recommends allocations and adjustments to maintain solvency and eligible use of funds.
• Evaluates funding opportunities, grant renewals, service costs, and financial commitments. Directs procurement and contract priorities, performance expectations, and provider oversight within delegated authority; coordinates fiscal controls, grant compliance, and responses to funding reductions or repayment risks.
• Establishes oversight and internal controls for HUD, other funding, and City requirements. Directs quality assurance, audit and monitoring preparation, and corrective action, including Public Housing Assessment System and Section Eight Management Assessment Program performance.
• Guides administrative plan, admissions and continued occupancy policy, PHA plan, and other operating policy development and implementation. Coordinates legal and regulatory interpretation with counsel and technical staff; ensures required approvals and public processes and consistent fair housing, reasonable accommodation, accessibility, language access, and resident protections.
• Selects, supervises, evaluates, and develops assigned division leaders and other direct reports. Establishes clear authority and expectations, reviews results, and takes or recommends personnel action consistent with City policies and delegated authority.
• Directs workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, training priorities, and organizational design. Builds a respectful and accountable workplace, solicits employee feedback, and supports managers in resolving workload, retention, performance, and service delivery challenges.
• Establishes division and portfolio performance measures and conducts regular operational and strategic reviews. Uses financial, housing, property, and homelessness system data to evaluate timeliness, accuracy, utilization, housing placements, retention, and customer experience.
• Directs process improvements, coordination across programs, and technology priorities. Ensures reliable reporting, secure records, and data quality; holds leaders accountable for achieving strategic goals and performance standards, documenting results, and sustaining improvements.
• Represents HCD with HUD, State agencies, Pima County, other City departments, housing owners, service providers, health systems, resident representatives, and community organizations. Negotiates partnerships and operating agreements within delegated authority.
• Prepares and presents recommendations, budgets, program results, and policy analyses to the Director, City leadership, Mayor and Council, boards, and community groups as assigned. Communicates complex requirements clearly, supports meaningful resident and community engagement, and coordinates public information with authorized City staff.
• Resolves significant operational issues and escalated concerns involving residents, participants, landlords, providers, or staff. Communicates directly with elected leaders on these issues when appropriate. Evaluates service, financial, legal, and reputational consequences; documents decisions and elevates matters requiring Director, City leadership, governing body, or funder approval.
• Coordinates responses to urgent housing, shelter, property, and service disruptions with appropriate City and community partners. Supports continuity of essential operations, acts for the Director when designated, and performs other related duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

Mostly office environment.

All duties and responsibilities listed are subject to change.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Bachelor's degree

Experience

Five (5) years of relevant experience

Equivalency

Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

License/Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience administering public housing, rental assistance, affordable housing operations, homelessness response, or closely related public programs, including responsibility for complex budgets, regulatory compliance, and organizational performance.
Five or more years of management experience, including supervision of senior managers and leadership of multiple programs or service units through subordinate supervisors.
Demonstrated leadership across more than one of the three assigned service areas, with the ability to integrate housing assistance, housing operations, and homelessness response into coordinated service delivery.
Experience managing HCV subsidy and administrative resources; public or affordable housing operating performance; or complex federal and State homelessness funding, including forecasting and mitigation of financial, legal, and compliance risks.
Experience leading audit or monitoring responses, improving performance measures, implementing corrective action, and maintaining effective internal controls.
Experience advising executive leadership or elected officials, developing policy, and leading organizational change while improving resident, participant, and employee experience.
Master’s degree in public administration, housing, urban planning, human services, or a related field
Recognized public housing, HCV, or housing executive certifications.

POSITION DETAILS

Job Profile

J1480 - Community Services Administrator

View full job profile including classification specifications and physical demands at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Tucson-Talent.

Compensation Grade

G112

Hourly Range

$42.80 - 64.20 USD

The City of Tucson considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Exempt

Position Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Department

Housing and Community Development

Department Link

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Housing-and-Community-Development

Background Check

This position has been designated to require a criminal background check. The City of Tucson is a Second Chance Employer.

ABOUT US

Benefits

The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings. With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours. You can learn more about our benefits at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefit-Snapshot.

Citizenship

The City of Tucson employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  The City of Tucson does not offer visa sponsorship.

The City of Tucson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer

The city does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, veteran status, age, disability, genetic testing, or any other protected status. If you believe you have been a victim of discrimination, you may file a complaint with the City of Tucson's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or Arizona Attorney General's Office of the Civil Rights Division (ACRD). 

ADA Accessibility Compliant Form

The City of Tucson is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities or who require religious accommodation; please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

Recruiter Name

Stephanie Vejar

Recruiter Email

[email protected]

For general Human Resources questions please contact 520-837-4190.