Moving to Work Program & Policy Coordinator chez Houston Housing Authority

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Moving to Work Program & Policy Coordinator ("MTW Coordinator") is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the Houston Housing Authority's ("HHA") Moving to Work program, including research, planning, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring activities; developing HHA policies and procedures related to the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and other HHA programs; and, providing assistance to the Senior Policy Advisor, HHA Executive Office and other departments in undertaking and completing various special programs and projects including grant writing. 

Reporting to the Senior Policy Advisor, the MTW Coordinator oversees the preparation, public comment period, and approval processes for the Annual and Five Year PHA Plans and MTW Supplements; coordinates HHA's participation in the national evaluation of the MTW rent reform initiative; develops and implements tracking, monitoring and reporting systems for MTW initiatives; develops annual, or more frequent as needed, updates to the Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policies (ACOP), Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan and other policy and procedural documents to incorporate MTW activities, required HUD updates and HHA discretionary policies; and, conducts further research, planning and implementation special projects and program activities including grant writing as directed.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as the point of contact and principal HHA staff member on MTW, Annual and Five Year PHA Plans including MTW Supplements, ACOP, HCV Administrative Plan, and other assigned planning projects.
• Coordinates all internal activities and responses related to the national evaluation of MTW Cohort 2, including communications, updates, and progress reports as needed with HUD and the HUD-designated evaluation team.
• Organizes and coordinates working groups of internal and/or external stakeholders, prepares agendas, and conducts best practice and industry research and data analyses to develop the Annual and Five Year PHA Plans and MTW Supplements.
• Prepares drafts and final versions of forms, policy documents, and analyses required for the Annual and Five Year PHA Plan and MTW Supplement.
• Develops and implements data collection, tracking systems, and other reporting tools to report on the impacts of MTW and other agency strategic initiatives.
• Prepares drafts and final versions of annual or more frequent updates to the Public Housing ACOP and HCV Administrative Plan to incorporate ongoing and new HUD requirements, agency MTW initiatives, and agency discretionary policies.
• Organizes and coordinates public participation, Board approval, and HUD submission and approval processes, where applicable, for the Annual and Five Year PHA Plans and MTW Supplements, Public Housing ACOP, and HCV Administrative Plan. Develops internal and external presentation materials related to these activities.
• Proactively monitors changes and/or proposed changes to HUD requirements and/or regulations that apply to HHA, synthesizes and communicates this information to HHA internal staff, evaluates likely impacts of HUD changes and develops HHA responses and/or updated policy documents.
• Conducts quantitative and qualitative analyses of potential policy initiatives through research, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and other methods.
• Designs procedures and implementation plans; create technical and training materials for staff to support accuracy in implementation and performance tracking.
• Reviews and analyzes significant funding opportunities relevant to HHA, coordinate internal working groups, and provide grant writing support.
• Develops, periodically updates, and regularly monitors work plan(s) and budget(s) encompassing all tasks required to complete each project. Review and communicate work plan and budget with team members (internal and external), and provide a regular work plan and budget progress reports, proactively identifying issues and challenges that may impact deadlines. Coordinate communications with HUD, other funders and/or regulatory agencies as needed to secure necessary approvals for work plan documents and deliverables.
• Convenes meetings, prepare memoranda, and works collaboratively with HHA's internal team to ensure a full vetting of options and issues, along with strategies to address requirements associated with each project. Consults and collaborates with internal staff to ensure that their perspectives and priorities are incorporated into processes and deliverables as needed, including HHA staff from the Executive Office, Voucher Program Operations, Asset Management and Development, Finance, Office of the General Counsel, and other areas.
• Ensures compliance with HHA policies and procedures and with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations.
• Ability to manage, guide, strategize and direct any future staff members related to MTW policy deliverables, or MTW Policy initiatives, and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of HUD, federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations about procurement, wage rates, contract administration, bid documents, funding, and other related matters.
• Skilled in project management with a proven track record of delivering on large- scale projects.
• Skilled in overseeing all aspects of the project, including planning, resource allocation, and budget.
• Skilled in analyzing and prioritizing information, distilling it to critical issues, and drawing accurate conclusions.
• Skilled in making effective decisions by analyzing information and considering priorities.
• Skilled in using multiple resources, quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to capture and interpret information.
• Skilled in working with relational databases, statistical programs, and other tools to compile and interpret quantitative data.
• Skilled in listening attentively and responding effectively to customer complaints.
• Skilled in developing communication processes and procedures to facilitate the exchange of information among internal and external group.
• Skilled in designing and delivering instructional training to assigned PMC staff.
• Ability to forecast and monitor budgets against financial goals.
• Ability to track record of successful negotiations with the most skilled or resistant groups. Establishes common ground and focuses on win-win outcomes while gaining concessions and protecting organizational interests.
• Ability to meet aggressive deadlines and juggle multiple priorities.
• Ability to use time productively, maximize efficiency, and meets challenging work goals.
• Ability to exceed quality standards and provide products and services of the highest caliber.
• Ability to successfully achieve positive, concrete results through hard work and perseverance.
• Ability to take the initiative to become an expert at the job.
• Ability to maintain meticulous attention to detail, completing multiple or repetitive tasks.
• Ability to demonstrate a serious commitment to accuracy and quality while meeting goals or deadlines.
• Ability to maintain company values and demand the highest standards of conduct from self and others.
• Ability to project a professional and polished image that inspires confidence and trust.
• Ability to exude self-confidence and inspire confidence in others.
• Ability to take a thorough approach to every task.
• Ability to handle complex problems effectively.
• Ability to separate critical issues and generate multiple solutions.
• Ability to manage complex and competing priorities.
• Ability to coordinate information and activities among groups with differing agendas across multi-functional areas.
• Ability to reduce  all forms of research into clear, thoughtful, actionable deliverables.
• Ability to analyze pertinent statistical data and recommend solutions.
• Ability to predict and assess the impact of financial decision alternatives and recommend actions.
• Committed to comprehensive and in-depth analysis, planning, and implementation of every work effort.
• Possess exceptional work ethic.
• Possess a thorough understanding of the position’s role in the organization's success.

COMPLEXITY / SCOPE OF WORK

• The MTW Program and Policy Coordinator  performs various tasks, ranging from routine to complex and tasks not closely related.
• The employee must identify the work that needs to be done, determine how to accomplish it, and coordinate, integrate, and prioritize various tasks or assignments.
• The employee must make regular decisions involving usual and unusual circumstances, conflicting data, or other non-routine occurrences.
• Routine work as instructed, and the employee's problems do not require extensive analysis to identify them.
• The employee's work primarily impacts HHA and HHA’s and  program participants..
• The employee's successful accomplishment of duties will result in the timely completion of projects and provide better housing for low-income families in the community.

GUIDELINES

• The employee follows established policies, procedures, and specific guidelines.
• Guidelines cover most situations, but the employee may occasionally be required  to use independent judgment in making decisions. In other cases not covered by guidelines, the employee may consult the Senior Policy Advisor for assistance.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

• Normally, the employee plans and carries out work activities with minimal supervision and independently resolves problems.
• The employee receives specific instructions when problems are brought to the supervisor's attention and when the employee contacts the supervisor for direction.
• The employee's work is reviewed for conformity to organizational policies, regulations, and attainment of objectives.
• The employee has no current supervisory responsibilities.

PERSONAL CONTACTS

• Contacts are primarily with other HHA employees, PMC's, federal, state, local government officials, representatives, and community agencies.
• The employee has contact with architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and HHA residents.
• The primary purpose of contacts is to obtain, provide, and clarify information; also, plan, assist, and resolve problems.
• Contacts are generally cooperative; however, they may be occasionally antagonistic, unresponsive, or uncooperative.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to maintain a stationary position, operate computers and other office equipment, move about the office, attend onsite and offsite meetings, and communicate. The employee must accurately exchange information in person, in writing, and via e-mail and telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 10 pounds.
• The work  environment characteristics described  here represent  those  an employee encounter while performing this job's essential functions. Reasonable   accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or related field of study.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing.
• Experience in a Moving to Work agency is a plus.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Economics or related field preferred. 
• Bondable.
• Valid Texas driver’s license or obtain such within the first thirty (30) days of employment.
• Eligibility for coverage under Houston Housing Authority fleet auto insurance.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.