Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.
Pay Range:
$163,942.18 - $262,309.16 Annual
Department:
Non-Departmental
Job Type:
Regular Non-Represented
Exemption Status:
United States of America (Exempt)
Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):
The Opportunity:
- Please note, internal and external applicants should not apply here. If you wish to be considered, please submit your application materials at
Karras Consulting
.
For full details regarding the Homeless Services Department Director position, please view the
announcement here
.
The Opportunity:
Multnomah County is seeking a Director of the Homeless Services Department who is committed to and has experience in supporting efforts to prevent and end homelessness among individuals, families, and youth in an urban environment. This critical role requires a talented and unifying leader to bring innovative ideas and translate big picture vision and goals into realistic plans with effective and well-coordinated implementation that bring short- and long-term best practice solutions to the homelessness services system. Candidates should be dynamic and decisive, and excel in both high-performing internal management and external relations, including the ability to successfully work through highly collaborative community processes.
The HSD Director leads a diverse workforce of 123 FTEs, who alongside dozens of community partner organizations, are responsible for serving those with lived experience of homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness throughout Multnomah County. The Director provides leadership, vision, direction, and accountability for county-wide community planning, contracted services, and ongoing reporting and evaluation for a continuum of homeless and housing services, including outreach, shelter, housing placement, and permanent supportive housing.
In addition to leading HSD staff, this position provides leadership in the County’s implementation of the Metro Supportive Housing Services Measure; its work with regional, state, and federal partners; and its partnerships with the City of Portland’s Housing Bureau, federal housing authority,and East County cities. As a department within Multnomah County, the HSD Director reports directly to the Multnomah County Chair, with day-to-day operational oversight by the Chief Operating Officer.
Key Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities:
- Leads the County’s response to homelessness with strong alignment and coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
- Assesses current HSD operations and develops and implements a plan of recommendations that will bring greater effectiveness and efficiency to efforts such as improved data and performance, governance structures, communication strategies, and operations.
- Provides leadership and guidance for department budget development, strategy and oversight.
- Acts as senior spokesperson on homelessness for community and media engagements.
- Provides leadership, direction and support to the HSD management teams to ensure high quality and effective administration of the Department’s
- programs and functions.
- Leads the department in the development and implementation of long-range strategic planning; directs and oversees the development of department policies, procedures, and business practices.
- Evaluates goals, objectives, priorities, and activities to improve performance and outcomes.
- Recommends effective programs, policies, procedures, ordinances and regulations.
- Oversees, directs and provides final approval on high profile/critical reports, policy reviews and studies; presents information regarding the department’s business status, goals, objectives, operations, successes and challenges; executes special projects and studies.
- Cultivates and maintains effective working relationships with elected officials, community organizations and leaders and with colleagues across departments to align strategies around shared services and goals.
This is a high-profile position that requires interfacing with internal and external leaders. To be successful candidates should possess the following key characteristics:
- Champion equity, diversity and inclusion: Ensure that the HSD operational designs and practices are centered on equity and designed to better serve people of color both inside and outside of the organization.
- Provide visionary and strategic insight: Translate big picture vision and goals into both long and short-range plans that are comprehensive, realistic and effective. Identify key opportunities to break down silos and develop and strengthen the effectiveness of HSD. Clarify other’s involvement in the vision, inspiring a sense of energy and ownership, creating a culture of high performance, inclusion, and recognizing the efforts of others
- Inspiring, Courageous, Leadership: Ability to inspire, persuade, engage, speak straight-forwardly about complex homelessness issues, make tough decisions and take difficult actions. Cultivate balanced thinking that combines data-driven analysis, wisdom, experience and perspective.
- Inspire trust: Communicate honestly, be trustworthy and consistent, follow through on commitments, and create an atmosphere of integrity, marked by fair, respectful behavior.
- Manage change: Recommend and oversee the change management process, including successful communication strategies; involving others in the implementation of change; and monitoring and reinforcing process and success. Create a work environment that encourages original and innovative solutions.
- Builds alliances and collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships with other departments, outside agencies, different levels of government, and private interests. Brings diverse leaders together to discuss and resolve homeless issues and break down traditional silos. Inspires action without relying solely on authority. Good listener. Perceives the complexity of situations quickly.
- Drive External Communications and Relationships: Develop and nurture mission-critical relationships with people with lived experience of homelessness, labor, business, political leaders, providers, neighborhood groups, advisory groups and the public.
Desirable Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and at least five (5) years experience in a senior leadership role within a large and complex publicly accountable organization.
- The preferred candidate will have knowledge of the fields of homelessness and housing and experience successfully leading high-priority and highly visible projects.
- A master’s degree is preferred.
Application Process
If you wish to be considered, please submit your application materials at
Karras Consulting
.
If you have questions regarding this announcement, please call Marissa Karras at 360-956-1336. This position will remain open until filled but the screening process will move quickly. In order to be considered for the first round of interviews please submit your application materials at
karrasconsulting.net
no later than July 21, 2025.Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The
EEO Know Your Rights poster
is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.
Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our
veterans’ preference page
for details about eligibility and how to apply.
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.
Questions?
Recruiter:
Dale Cornelius
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
+1 (503) 9395990
Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.
Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
Job Profile:
9613 - Department Director 2
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