Johanna Hernandez
Marana
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience in affordable housing development and financial structuring at the City of Tucson. Demonstrated success in compliance oversight and performance evaluation, resulting in improved project delivery and enhanced stakeholder engagement. Skilled in budget forecasting and promoting collaborative team environments to meet strategic goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Director of Development, Housing and Community Development
City of Tucson
11.2023 - Current
- Oversight of 25 positions across areas of community development, compliance, and affordable housing development.
- Directs the City’s affordable housing pipeline and community development portfolio including HOME, CDBG, HTF, ESG, and local funds, ensuring timely production.
- Leads end-to-end development of multifamily, mixed-income, and permanent supportive housing projects—from site selection and RFP issuance through underwriting, negotiation, loan closing, construction, and property management.
- Structures and closes complex financing packages leveraging LIHTC, ARPA, and local gap financing tools to accelerate unit production and preservation goals.
- Oversees environmental, labor, and procurement compliance under HUD Part 58, Davis-Bacon, Section 3, and 2 CFR 200.
- Manages multi-disciplinary teams delivering capital projects, neighborhood reinvestments, and public-facility improvements aligned with Consolidated Plan priorities.
- Serves as senior liaison to Pima County, ADOH, and public/private partners to coordinate policy, funding, and land strategies supporting housing affordability.
- Ensures equitable engagement and contracting outcomes, increasing M/WBE, DBE, and Section 3 participation across HCD initiatives.
Deputy Director of Budget and Research, Business Services
City of Tucson
03.2020 - 11.2023
- Oversight of 55 positions across areas of budget, taxpayer assistance, pension & benefits, and special programs.
- Oversaw the preparation, coordination, and execution of the City’s $2.2 billion operating and capital budgets, aligning fiscal strategy to policy priorities and ensuring long-term structural balance.
- Directed revenue forecasting, financial modeling, and scenario planning (e.g. tax strategies, growth, economic shocks).
- Managed performance management and data analytics functions: developed dashboards, KPI scorecards, cost-benefit models, and program evaluation tools for departments.
- Led research and policy analysis to support strategic initiatives (e.g. service delivery optimization, cost recovery, shared services), producing memos and presentations for Mayor & Council.
- Coordinated with 18 departments, elected officials, and external stakeholders.
- Supervised the City’s grant funding forecasting, monitoring, and compliance (federal, state, philanthropic).
- Mentored and managed a multidisciplinary team of analysts, researchers, and budget officers; instituted training, peer review, and quality controls.
- Presented budget and performance reports to executive leadership, Mayor & Council, and public audiences—translating complex data into clear, actionable recommendations.
Office of Innovation and Strategy Administrator
City of Tucson
04.2018 - 03.2020
- Oversight of two positions.
- Established the Office of Innovation & Strategy including the creation of a Lean Innovation program.
- Directed the City’s innovation portfolio, leading cross-departmental initiatives to modernize operations, improve service delivery, and strengthen data-driven decision making.
- Developed and implemented the City’s strategic framework, aligning departmental work plans and performance measures with Mayor & Council priorities and City Manager goals.
- Championed continuous improvement and process redesign efforts, reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving turnaround times across permitting, procurement, and internal services.
- Led organizational performance management, establishing KPIs, dashboards, and data governance standards to improve accountability and transparency.
- Facilitated strategic planning retreats and community engagement sessions to co-design initiatives around housing affordability, sustainability, and equity.
- Supervised multidisciplinary teams in research, analytics, and program design; built internal capacity through innovation labs, training, and pilot projects.
- Delivered reports, presentations, and dashboards to executive leadership and the public demonstrating measurable outcomes in efficiency, equity, and resident satisfaction.
City Manager’s Office Project Manager
City of Tucson
04.2017 - 04.2018
- Led high-priority, cross-departmental initiatives on behalf of the City Manager and Mayor & Council, advancing policy, operational, and community development objectives.
- Established City-wide training and semi-annual conference program Ignite.
- Coordinated multi-agency task forces to deliver complex projects ensuring alignment with citywide strategic goals and funding timelines.
- Managed federal and state grant projects (ARPA, HUD, DOT, DOE, etc.), overseeing budgets, compliance, performance metrics, and public reporting.
- Developed executive briefings, policy memos, and presentations translating complex financial and operational data into actionable recommendations.
- Designed and implemented project management frameworks that improved interdepartmental coordination, accountability, and milestone tracking.
- Served as liaison between the City Manager’s Office, department directors, external partners, and community stakeholders to resolve issues and drive results.
- Facilitated strategic planning, budget prioritization, and performance initiatives across departments to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
- Delivered measurable outcomes—accelerating project delivery, improving transparency, and enhancing public trust through data-driven decision making.
Strategic Initiatives Staff Assistant
City of Tucson
01.2014 - 04.2017
- Supported the planning and execution of key strategic initiatives (infrastructure upgrades, conservation programs, system optimization) across Tucson Water and affiliated divisions.
- Conducted research, data analysis, and trend reporting (e.g. water demand forecasts, cost-benefit modeling, performance metrics) to inform senior leadership decision-making.
- Prepared executive memos, briefing packets, and presentation materials for the Director’s Office, Council, and external stakeholders.
- Coordinated internal and external meetings, managed project calendars, tracked deliverables, and maintained accountability frameworks.
- Liaised with departments (e.g. Engineering, Operations, Finance) to facilitate coordination, gather inputs, and resolve bottlenecks in strategic workstreams.
- Monitored grant and capital funding opportunities tied to water resilience, conservation, and infrastructure; assisted in application support and compliance tracking.
- Supported community engagement activities, public meetings, and stakeholder outreach, helping to translate technical materials for nontechnical audiences.
- Maintained project documentation, dashboards, and status reports to ensure transparency and efficient progress toward strategic goals.
Data Quality and Statistical Analysis Administrator
United States District Court
01.2011 - 09.2013
- Oversight of 5 positions across two cities.
- Oversaw the accuracy, integrity, and completeness of court case data, performing regular audits and corrective actions in the CM/ECF (Case Management / Electronic Case Filing) system to ensure consistency with judicial and administrative requirements.
- Developed, implemented, and validated data quality rules, exception logs, and automated checks to detect anomalies, missing data, or discrepancies in docket entries and case metadata.
- Prepared and delivered statistical reports and dashboards (caseload trends, time-to-disposition metrics, backlog analysis, filing patterns) for judges, court leadership, and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
- Collaborated with IT, clerk’s office staff, and external vendors to test system upgrades or dictionary changes, ensuring backward compatibility and no degradation of historical data accuracy.
- Designed and led training and documentation (user manuals, job aids, workshop sessions) for court personnel, chambers, and bar users on data entry protocols and quality best practices.
- Served as the liaison for data governance matters—evaluating proposed policy changes, reviewing data definitions, soliciting stakeholder feedback, and recommending procedural improvements.
- Troubleshot root causes of docketing/system errors (missed entries, miscodes, duplications), working directly with clerks, chambers, and IT to resolve and prevent recurrence.
- Managed special projects such as implementing new performance metrics, migrating legacy datasets, or integrating external data sources while ensuring consistency and auditability.
Data Quality Analyst
United States District Court
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Conducted detailed audits and validations of case data in CM/ECF and related systems to identify inconsistencies, missing entries, and logical anomalies.
- Created and maintained automated scripts/checks, exception reports, and dashboards to monitor data integrity, trend deviations, and error rates over time.
- Produced statistical summaries, caseload metrics, time-to-disposition analyses, backlog reports, and other performance indicators for judges, court management, and external agencies.
- Collaborated with clerk’s office, chambers, and IT to investigate data discrepancies, recommend corrective actions, and implement procedural enhancements.
- Assisted with system change testing, data migrations, and dictionary updates—validating that new features or migrations do not degrade historical data quality.
- Developed training materials and delivered training sessions or guides to court staff on proper data entry standards, coding, and error resolution protocols.
- Supported ad hoc data requests, generating tailored reports and analyses for internal and external stakeholders in compliance with confidentiality and judicial rules.
- Participated in cross-functional projects including performance improvement, automation initiatives, and process documentation to strengthen data governance.
Case Management Clerk
United States District Court
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Accepted, processed, and docketed pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments in the CM/ECF (Case Management / Electronic Case Filing) system in compliance with federal rules and court policies.
- Reviewed filings for completeness, formatting adherence, required attachments, and appropriate signatures; flagged defects or omissions for correction.
- Maintained and updated case files and databases (electronic and physical), ensuring all entries and exhibits were properly scanned, indexed, tracked, and archived.
- Generated routine reports and calendars (deadlines, motions pending, status updates) to assist judges, chambers, and clerk’s office in case oversight.
- Assisted litigants and attorneys with procedural and filing questions — guiding them through the ECF interface, local rules, and docketing requirements (within permissible scope).
- Coordinated with judges’ chambers, court security, marshals, and other court units to facilitate hearings, filings, service, and record requests.
- Monitored case deadlines (e.g., motions, responses, trial readiness) and alerted chambers or parties to upcoming due dates or missing filings.
- Handled special assignments such as data reconciliation, e-filing maintenance, exhibits logistics, and document quality checks to ensure case record integrity.
Quality Assurance Clerk
United States District Court
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Performed quality control reviews of case filings, docket entries, and document images in CM/ECF to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with federal and local court rules.
- Audited and reconciled case data, correcting errors in event coding, party information, and statistical reporting fields to maintain high data integrity.
- Monitored and verified the proper scanning, indexing, and linking of pleadings, orders, and exhibits in the court’s electronic records system.
- Collaborated with case management clerks, courtroom deputies, and IT staff to identify workflow issues and recommend process improvements.
- Prepared recurring quality reports and audit summaries for supervisory review, highlighting error trends and recommending targeted staff training.
- Assisted in developing and updating procedural checklists, training materials, and documentation standards to promote consistent case processing.
- Supported system testing and upgrades, validating that workflow changes or new event codes meet operational and quality requirements.
- Provided technical and procedural guidance to staff on docketing, document formatting, and quality control standards.
Education
Doctoral - Organizational Management & Leadership
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ05.2019
Master’s - Administration
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ05.2013
Skills
- Affordable housing development
- Financial structuring
- Compliance oversight
- Performance evaluation
- Policy assessment
- Budget forecasting
Certification
Housing Development Finance Professional - Grow America, December 20, 2025
Accomplishments
40 under 40 - Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, December 2019
Timeline
Deputy Director of Development, Housing and Community Development
City of Tucson
11.2023 - Current
Deputy Director of Budget and Research, Business Services
City of Tucson
03.2020 - 11.2023
Office of Innovation and Strategy Administrator
City of Tucson
04.2018 - 03.2020
City Manager’s Office Project Manager
City of Tucson
04.2017 - 04.2018
Strategic Initiatives Staff Assistant
City of Tucson
01.2014 - 04.2017
Data Quality and Statistical Analysis Administrator
United States District Court
01.2011 - 09.2013
Data Quality Analyst
United States District Court
01.2009 - 01.2011
Case Management Clerk
United States District Court
01.2008 - 01.2009
Quality Assurance Clerk
United States District Court
01.2007 - 01.2008
Doctoral - Organizational Management & Leadership
University of Phoenix
Master’s - Administration
Northern Arizona University