Development Liaison

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT US

The best part of the City of Santa Barbara is the people behind the municipal services provided to this fine community. This City organization is an environment of highly engaged individuals who are passionate about their contribution and their support for each other. Discover more about this amazing organization.

The mission of the City Administrator's Office is to "Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to City departments to accomplish goals and objectives approved by the City Council, in accordance with the City Charter". Read more about the City Administrator's Office here: City Administrator's Office.

THE POSITION

The City of Santa Barbara’s City Administrator’s Office is seeking a dynamic and knowledgeable Development Liaison. The Development Liaison serves as a single point of contact for applicants of high priority projects (e.g., housing, downtown commercial development) helping them understand requirements, coordinate reviews, and anticipate issues early. The position also works closely with the City’s Land Development Team, a team made up of several City divisions (e.g., Planning, Building, Engineering, Transportation, Creeks, Water and Wastewater, Parks and Recreation, Environmental Services, and Fire) that review public and private development projects through the discretionary and ministerial permit processes, and the position will coordinate with these various departments to improve the permit process. The Development Liaison will be responsible for guiding customers through application steps, translating technical feedback into plain language, tracking and communicating interdepartmental progress and timelines, identifying recurring bottlenecks to inform future process improvements, and mediating difficulties between the applicant and City staff.

This position partners with applicants, design professionals, tradespersons, and other analysts throughout the City organization, and builds strong working relationships with councilmembers, trade and business associations, government agencies, and community groups. The Development Liaison will be responsible for resolving complex, sensitive individual cases fairly and in accordance with regulatory requirements. In addition, this position may perform a wide variety of administrative and analytical support duties with minimal direction, especially capital planning, performance management coordination, program and process evaluation, and report preparation and presentation. This position will also be working on economic development projects and other policy initiatives as needed by the City Administrator’s Office. The Development Liaison should be strong in problem solving, report writing, and public presentations.

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned customer service professional with:

Demonstrated permitting and organizational development experience. Permitting experience in the public and private sectors is desired.

Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships and fruitful collaborations with staff, public agencies, and diverse stakeholder groups.

Expertise leading staff, developers, property owners, and special interest groups to advocate for thoughtful and effective development.

Proven ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment in prioritizing and coordinating complex customer advocacy.

Experience developing creative solutions to challenging and controversial projects while maintaining health and safety standards.

Experience providing public presentations to Boards, Commissions, and/or community stakeholders.

Interest and enthusiasm for economic development, process improvements and working in the City Administrator’s Office.

Payroll Title: Administrative Analyst III (formerly known as Ombudsperson)

BENEFITS:

To view our benefits page click here.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

Methods of research, program analysis, and report preparation.

Policies and procedures of the Land Development Team departments, with specific emphasis on Planning and Building Divisions.

Basic principles and practices of budget administration.

Public relations techniques.

Principles and procedures of record keeping.

Basic math.

Modern office procedures, methods including computer software and hardware such as Microsoft 365, Outlook, and Accela.

Advanced negotiation techniques.

Organizational structure and staffing.

Team building and leadership techniques.

Basic awareness of economic development and the City’s permitting process.

Ability to:

Perform administrative and analytical support duties for assigned department.

Understand the organization and operation of the City and outside agencies.

Interpret and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures.

Research, analyze, and evaluate programs, policies, and procedures.

Perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.

Prepare clear and concise reports.

Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Independently prepare correspondence and memoranda.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Work effectively as part of a team.

Operate and use modern office equipment.

Use personal computers, including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation applications.

Prepare and present reports orally before policy and decision-making bodies.

Read and interpret complex legislation and regulations.

Develop and implement policy decisions and accomplish intended results.

Resolve conflicts effectively.

Be a team player and have a willingness to learn.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in administrative and management analysis related to government agencies.

Education and/or Training:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, business administration, urban or environmental planning, or a related field.

License Requirement:Possession of, or ability to obtain, California Driver's License by the time of appointment.

SELECTION PROCESS

It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or "See Resume" are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the City Administrator's Office.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

CITY APPLICATION AND RESPONSES TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

The City of Santa Barbara is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, or other factors. We believe in fostering an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected and empowered.

Disaster Services Assignments

As public employees, we play an enhanced role in the event of a disaster or other emergency in our community. You will be registered as a disaster services worker, and you will be issued a disaster services identification card. In the event of a disaster or other emergency, make sure that your family is safe and secure first, then report to your assigned emergency location. Hourly employees generally do not receive disaster services assignments.