Federal Position Descriptions
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Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development

Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Responsibility
Management Scope

The assistant secretary for community planning and development managed a fiscal 2015 budget of $301 million and oversaw 747 employees.3

Primary Responsibilities

• Develops strategic and budgetary plans for the mission area
• Manages senior staff and operations
• Serves as the key contact point with the secretary on matters involving those areas and testifies to Congress as needed
• Serves as the principal advisor to the secretary and deputy secretary on planning, developing, administering and coordinating all programs of the Office of Community Planning and Development
• Oversees the Community Development Block Grant programs for entitlement communities, state and small cities, and insular areas; disaster recovery assistance; economic development for renewal communities and empowerment zones, including loan guarantee programs and Brownsfields economic development; and HOME investment partnerships program, including special needs assistance programs and community viability programs4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Substantial senior management and leadership experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of key community development issue areas
• Experience in strategic planning, staff management and budget oversight
• A strong record of achievement in public policy and/or public sector management and background in state or local governance
• An advanced degree (preferred)

Competencies

• A demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with government officials at federal, state and local levels; colleagues; and members of Congress and their staffs
• An entrepreneurial spirit and a demonstrated capacity for rigorous and dispassionate thinking
• A successful history of managing, motivating, supporting and leading a team, as well as experience in shaping and sustaining a program in a community development, academic, public or nonprofit setting
• Outstanding communication skills and ability to appear before the media

Past Appointments
  • Mercedes Marquez (2009 to 2012): General Manager, Los Angeles Housing Department; Vice President, McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc.; Senior Counsel to Secretary Andrew Cuomo, Housing and Urban Development5
  • Susan D. Peppler (2008 to 2009): Deputy Administrator, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, General Services Administration; Mayor, Redlands, California; Director of Housing, Inland Empire Division, League of California Cities6
  • Pamela Hughes Patenaude (2001 to 2007): State Director and Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Bob Smith; Vice President, Manor Homes Builders, Inc.; Administrator, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority7
AGENCY

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Mission: To create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality, affordable homes for all.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Deputy Secretary2

SENATE COMMITTEE

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

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Footnote
  1. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.
  2. http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/2014AG-43.pdf
  3. Leadership Directories
  4. OPM
  5. http://www.businessfwd.org/speakers/mercedes-marquez
  6. http://www.allgov.com/officials/peppler-susan?officialid=28702
  7. http://jrthousing.org/leadership/
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