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Community Development Specialist Jobs in Florida

University of Miami

Child Development Specialist

Miami, FL · On-site

$19.50 - $23/hr

... and community specialists and professionals regarding client progress and recommendations. 4. ... Conduct developmental screenings and assessments as assigned, using standardized tools in ...

Empiric

Business Development Specialist

Tampa, FL · On-site

$45K - $120K/yr

Business Development Specialist Start Date - September 2026 Location - Tampa Office Empiric are a ... Build talent pipelines using Boolean search, LinkedIn Recruiter, communities, events, referrals ...

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Community Development Specialist information

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$23.2K

$55.3K

$87.1K

How much do community development specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for community development specialist in Florida is $55,296.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,000.00 and $66,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a community development specialist?

A community development specialist typically works in city government housing and community construction departments to determine the use of grant funds and plan programs to help home buyers finance new and affordable homes or provide shelter for the homeless. Job duties include researching, developing reports, managing and generating funds, and doing public outreach. At least five years of experience in community development is required, and experience in social work and knowledge of state and local laws is a plus. Educational qualifications for this career include a bachelor’s degree in social sciences or a related field. Strong writing and analytical skills are essential.

What does a community development specialist do?

A Community Development Specialist works to improve and strengthen communities by identifying needs, developing programs, and coordinating resources. They often collaborate with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and residents to address issues such as housing, economic development, health, and education. Their responsibilities may include conducting research, applying for grants, managing projects, and facilitating community engagement. Ultimately, their goal is to foster sustainable growth and enhance the quality of life within communities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a community development specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Community Development Specialist, you need expertise in project management, community engagement, and knowledge of urban planning or social work, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with data analysis tools, grant writing software, and GIS systems is often required. Outstanding interpersonal communication, cultural sensitivity, and problem-solving skills help build trust and facilitate productive partnerships. These abilities are crucial for designing effective programs and achieving positive, sustainable impact within diverse communities.

What are some common challenges community development specialists face when engaging with diverse communities?

Community Development Specialists often work with groups that have varying cultural backgrounds, needs, and priorities, which can present challenges in building trust and fostering effective communication. Navigating language barriers, differing expectations, and occasional resistance to change requires strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Successful specialists use active listening, empathy, and collaborative approaches to ensure all voices are heard and to create inclusive, sustainable development strategies.
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Community Development Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Community Development Specialist job openings in Florida as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,296 per year, or $26.6 per hour.

Community Development and Grants Specialist

Pinellas County Government

Clearwater, FL • On-site

$59K - $77K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 3 days ago

New

Pinellas County rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

415th of 846 rated public administrative organizations

Job description

Community Development and Grants Specialist
Location: 310 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756
Schedule: This position would have a flexible work schedule that includes remote work.
The position involves professional community development work implementing housing and community development programs and activities. The position will work independently in administering aspects of grant administration, grant compliance, loan portfolio management, and/or community development initiatives. Grants include US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs such as CDBG, HOME, ESG and the Florida State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.
Responsibilities of the position may include ensuring grant compliance with federal and state regulations, administering community development programs, assisting in development of plans and reports, performing loan portfolio management functions, conducting research, and providing technical assistance to nonprofits related to funding applications and awards. Duties include loan portfolio management; assisting with preparation of annual plans and reports; subrecipient monitoring; and community relations. Employees in this class are expected to handle all phases of assigned responsibilities to promote community development, grant program compliance, expand community resources, and project development; sometimes training, leading and monitoring volunteers and others.
What Would You Do?
  • Assists in preparing written documents such as subrecipient contracts, annual plans, and performance reporting to HUD with clearly organized thoughts, proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
  • Participates in the review of community development program applications; coordinates with non-profit agencies, funders and others to ensure compliance with federal and state grant regulations.
  • Evaluates loan applications, calculates annual household income and makes loan underwriting decisions for loan modifications and workouts.
  • Assists with preparing, executing, and monitoring subrecipient contracts.
  • Sets up projects and enters related data in US Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS).
  • Loan portfolio management including generating portfolio monitoring reports and ensures compliance of the monthly Action Due Report, the County Interest report and continued use grant compliance requirements; performing initial setup for loans being serviced and processes satisfactions and releases of liens; negotiating portfolio management workout strategies with borrowers, prepares necessary security instruments and submits a to superiors; establishes and maintains tracking systems for all portfolio-related documents and oversees the storage of physical and electronic documents in a secure manner; monitors expiring insurance policies and requests renewal certificates; answering inquiries concerning loan portfolio matters; confers and coordinates with County Attorney's Office, title companies, other various county departments and borrowers regarding portfolio matters.
  • Provides technical assistance to subrecipient entities and applicants for funding.
  • Assists in preparing required periodic reports related to CDBG/HOME/ESG programs.
  • Examines and reviews grant applications, plans, reports and reporting requirements for compliance issues; coordinates with non-profit agencies, funders and others to ensure compliance with federal and state grant regulations.
  • Prepares preliminary drafts and edits materials related to area of assignment.
  • May direct technical or support personnel on planning or functional projects.
  • Prepares desk procedures, including manuals, for effective grants management and cross training purposes.
  • Ensures maintenance of proper grant audit trails and manages and maintains department record keeping and project management files, relevant to materials appropriate to assigned activity or section.

What Do You Need To Have?
  • 6 years of paraprofessional and professional experience working with federal grants, preferably CDBG, HOME and ESG, in affordable housing, community development programs, grant administration, real estate finance, mortgage lending, or community development work as described.
  • Associates Degree with major course work in social services, business, finance, housing administration, public administration, urban planning, government, law, engineering, design, economics geography, statistics or a related field plus 4 years of paraprofessional and professional experience in affordable housing, grant administration, real estate finance, mortgage lending, or community development work as described.
  • Bachelor's degree with major course work in social services, business, finance, housing administration, public administration, urban planning, government, law, engineering, design, economics geography, statistics or a related field plus two (2) years of paraprofessional and professional experience in affordable housing, grant administration, real estate finance, mortgage lending, or community development work as described.
  • Master's or higher-level degree with major course work in social services, business, finance, housing administration, public administration, urban planning, government, law, engineering, design, economics geography, statistic or a related field.
  • An equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.
  • Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Driver's License upon hire with eligibility based upon evaluation of a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) driving report.
  • Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.

Highly Desirable
  • Community development and/ or affordable housing grant management experience; including knowledge of the federal and state grant programs (CDBG, HOME, ESG, SHIP).
  • Knowledge of HUD's consolidated planning process.
  • Experience with HUD's Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS).
  • Ability to interpret federal and state regulations for community development programs.
  • Ability to participate in programmatic and housing programs, analyze information and formulate substantive recommendations.
  • Experience or special skill sets in such areas as income calculations, project finance, public involvement, etc.
  • Technical skills related to data and document management, data analysis, use of graphic tools to create professional documents, etc.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Knowledge and proficiency in the principles, practices and methods of grants administration, grants compliance and community development planning, including federal and state grant regulations, generally accepted standard accounting principles and the Super Circular.
  • Knowledge of real property development including realty, mortgaging, insurance, title searches, property descriptions, permitting and assessments.
  • Knowledge of housing requirements of low- to moderate-income families and of public and private agencies rending social, economic and other assistance.
  • Knowledge of real estate practices, procedures and laws.
  • Knowledge of requirements of forms, content, and recording necessary to validate documents involved in real estate transactions.
  • Ability to conduct preliminary negotiations.
  • Ability to understand and perform mathematical calculations typical of real estate transactions.
  • Self-starter, ability to work independently and as well as collaboratively in a small team.
  • Capacity to prioritize multiple tasks to meet deadlines.
  • Knowledge of research techniques and data gathering.
  • Knowledge of housing, building and energy codes and land development regulations.
  • Knowledge of basic personal computer skills, including use of a personal computer and database programs.
  • Ability to understand and interpret technical documents related to property (mortgages, maps, plats, easements and surveys).
  • Ability to present ideas and findings clearly and concisely in written, oral and graphic form.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other department representatives, outside agencies, and the general public.
  • Ability to interpret plans and specifications.
  • Ability to function highly as a member of an assigned team working on the same program or project.
  • Ability to organize and carry out studies or projects.

Our benefits rank among the top in the area!
  • Looking for a strong retirement? We have you covered as members of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) with investment and pension options.
  • We have deferred compensation programs and wellness centers to name a few perks. Check out these and more!

Want To Learn More?
Please review the full classification description with the Physical/Mental Demands, Working Conditions, and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the below link.
Community Development Specialist 3, C27

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