Homelessness and Community Services Manager

Are you passionate about creating an inclusive, equitable community where all residents have access to safe and stable housing? Do you thrive in mission‑driven work that blends strategy, collaboration, and meaningful impact? If so, the City of Champaign invites you to join us as our Homelessness/Community Services Manager and help lead efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness across our community.

Responsibilities of Position

In this role, you’ll lead the City’s Homelessness Prevention Blueprint by developing strategies, shaping policy, managing data, and coordinating programs that support residents facing housing insecurity. You’ll collaborate closely with community partners, service providers, and internal departments to align resources, strengthen systems, and advance effective approaches to homelessness prevention and response. Each day brings meaningful work—guiding policy recommendations, managing grants and budgets, evaluating programs, fostering partnerships, and serving as a trusted City liaison to ensure Champaign moves toward long‑term, sustainable solutions for our most vulnerable community members.

Core responsibilities include:

·         Leading the implementation and evaluation of the City’s Homelessness Prevention Blueprint.

·         Developing policies, strategies, and performance measures that advance effective homelessness prevention and response.

·         Collaborating with community partners, service agencies, nonprofits, and internal departments to coordinate services and align efforts.

·         Conducting research, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, and preparing reports and presentations for City leadership and community stakeholders.

·         Managing grants, budgets, procurement processes, and service provider contracts to ensure alignment with City goals and compliance requirements.

·         Serving as the City’s primary liaison for homelessness-related inquiries, communications, training, and public education.

The full annual salary range is $107,382.08-$150,326.28, accompanied by an excellent fringe benefits package. Most new hires will be placed at the beginning of the range. Benefits include: paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more. Visit champaignil.gov/hr/salaries-and-benefits/ and select Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt Full-Time to learn more. Applications, including cover letter (optional) and resume (required), must be submitted online no later than Sunday, September 20, 2026. 

The City’s mission is to provide responsive, caring, and cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, and Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environment and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public administration, or a related field.
• Progressively responsible professional administrative and analytical experience managing complex projects or programs including strategic planning, budget, and/or policy analysis.
• Experience with budget or grant management.
• Valid driver’s license. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, public administration, or a related field.

·    Experience in policy analysis, budgeting, or procurement processes in government, non-profit, or public sectors.

·    Experience in the field of homelessness or housing programs, behavioral health, public health or a related field.

·    Experience with homelessness response systems or community-wide social service programs.

·    Experience in leading collaborative efforts with diverse partners.

·    Demonstrated leadership and success in developing and launching new public policy initiatives.

·    Experience in government, non-profit, or public sectors.

·    Experience with social or racial inequity programming.

·    Completion of training or professional development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in addressing homelessness or related issues. 

·    Experience with social or racial inequity programming. 

Drug screening and criminal background check will be required. A valid Illinois driver’s license is required on Day One because the role involves traveling throughout the community to meet with partners, attend stakeholder meetings, and directly engage with service providers and residents to advance homelessness‑prevention efforts. A City vehicle will be accessible, personal vehicle ownership is not required. Candidates must maintain a driving record meeting City standard.