Affordable Housing Program Specialist

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Affordable Housing Program Specialist (Social Services Specialist II) for the Office of Housing & Homeless Prevention Program.
As an Affordable Housing Program Specialist, you are primarily responsible for the implementation and oversight of the federally funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Secondary responsibilities may include support for oversight of the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) projects, as well as the County's Local Home Fund. You will utilize your expertise in Affordable Housing and community development. This includes your knowledge of federal and state Affordable Housing Programs and regulations and your experience with contract/Request for Proposals development and monitoring, budgeting, and grant performance reporting. An important part of your job will be to provide technical assistance to community service providers and elected officials on matters pertaining to Affordable Housing and community development, while simultaneously working collaboratively as part of a team, and respectfully managing differences, opposing perspectives, opinions, and interests.
Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Contribute to development and implementation of contracts for public service and housing contracts funded with US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and other Affordable Housing project.
• Assure adherence to contract guidelines and federal, state, and County laws, regulations, and policies.
• Research, organize, and prepare documentation, reports, and analyses for projects on matters such as administration of grants/contracts and grant-funded programs.
• Provide technical assistance to agencies/contractors on matters of contracting, recordkeeping, reimbursement requests, and program outcomes.
• Provide information on federal, state, and local regulation, if applicable.
• Process documents associated with implementing contract services, monitoring work progress, and payments for contracts.
• Assure compliance and monitor allocation of funds under various programs.
• Assure compliance with federal grant programs such as CDBG.
• Issue an annual Request for Proposal for community development and Affordable Housing projects.
• Draft performance reports on projects funded by CDBG and HOME.
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations.

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups regarding complex or controversial public policy issues or service.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with elected officials, staff, and the community.
• Knowledge of research techniques and resource management issues related to program needs assessment and planning.
• Experience working with contracted providers and coordination with varied agency partners.
• Experience with contract development, monitoring, analyzing, and addressing compliance issues.
• Experience performing data entry, tracking, information retrieval, compilation, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and report preparation.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal government policy, regulations, and decision-making processes.
• Familiarity with legal documents used to secure property interests (Deeds of Trust, Promissory Notes).
• Knowledge or prevailing wage laws and regulations.

What we offer our employees:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual's lifestyle.
• Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our 2023 Thurston County Employee Benefit Planswebsite for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Options some employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• See under Benefitslater in this job description for detailed information about the many other benefits the County offers.

Why you'll love it here:
Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington's South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids' activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, psychology, social work, business, or other closely related field.
• Three or more years of professional and administrative experience providing services to individuals within an assigned program area: Housing and & Community Renewal, Developmental Disabilities, or Mental Health. Any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the desired knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the essential job functions may be considered.
• Three or more years of experience in contract management, including construction contract management and program evaluation involving complex regulations or operation of nonprofit organizations. Experience with grant funding, housing and/or community development is desired.
• Working knowledge of basic construction and federal and state laws and regulations in regard to US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and HOME programs. Must be able to interpret and apply the intent and specific provisions of laws and regulatory provisions to particular conditions affecting the department.
• Ability to utilize a personal computer with applicable software to successfully perform essential job functions of the position including word processing, spreadsheet, analysis, information retrieval, and tracking.
• Current Washington State driver's license or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation.
• Must pass a background check investigation.

Respect and Organizational Culture:

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication:

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Goal Setting and Accomplishment:

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

The contact person for this recruitment is: Vickie Larkin: vickie.larkin@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2505

This position is:

• NOT represented by a union
• NOT eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
• Contingent upon passing a background check

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Possess a current Washington State driver license or have an appropriate accommodation

PLEASE NOTE: The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:

• Proof of immunizations of Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR)
• Proof of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap/TD)

Employment Type: Regular Full-Time Employee