Community Development & Relations Assistant

Community Development & Relations Assistant

The Community Development and Relations Division of the Development Services Department is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving City of Goldsboro by increasing affordable housing options, driving neighborhood revitalization, ensuring equitable access to housing and resources, and promoting an atmosphere free of discrimination.

The Community Development & Relations Assistant serves as the organizational and community liaison backbone of the division. This role supports the administration of HUD, federal, and state-funded programs by assisting with compliance, documentation, and reporting requirements in coordination with the Senior Specialist and Manager. By maintaining critical records and connecting citizens with resources, the Assistant ensures the division operates efficiently and remains highly responsive to the public.

This role is directly supervised by the Community Development & Relations Manager.

The essential functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Support the office with various administrative tasks, such as preparation of payroll, pay requests, maintain the division's webpage, and recording meeting minutes.
• Assist with processing program paperwork and keeping records in compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Maintain the Environmental Review Record for all department activities by completing checklists, preparing legal documents, and submitting requests for release of funds to HUD.
• Coordinate homebuyer assistance programs by disseminating information to the general public, realtors, and bankers, and by preparing promotional materials for public informational events.
• Provide technical assistance to non-profit organizations and assist in the review of applications for Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) status.
• Serve as the "Intake Lead" for all housing and community programs, performing initial pre-screenings for eligibility and guiding residents through the application process with a focus on high-quality customer service.
• Maintain a comprehensive list of non-profit, community, and faith-based organizations to make resources readily available to the community, align goals, establish partnerships, and avoid duplication of services.
• Receive and respond to public inquiries regarding federal and state funded programs.
• Provide administrative support for grant submissions by compiling required demographic data, maps, census tracts, and partner support letters for NCHFA and USDA applications, and ensuring all digital and physical grant files are audit ready.
• Provide assistance to City of Goldsboro residents looking for resources (food, financial assistance, etc.).
• Assist with processing and tracking program-related financial activities, including payments, reimbursements, and grant documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Basic knowledge of HUD-funded programs (CDBG, HOME) and related federal/state housing initiatives as they apply to administrative support functions.
• Knowledge of federal compliance requirements including Section 3, Davis-Bacon, Fair Housing, Environmental Reviews (ERR), and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) for documentation and recordkeeping support.
• Knowledge of community development principles, affordable housing programs, and local government operations.
• Knowledge of office administration, records management, and grant documentation practices in a public sector environment.
• Knowledge of customer service principles and public information practices for assisting residents and program applicants.
• Ability to perform accurate data entry, maintain organized and audit-ready records, and support grant and program documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, residents, and community partners in a professional and customer-focused manner.
• Ability to assist with program intake, applicant screening, and resource referrals.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures while managing multiple tasks…