Housing Authority of the Birmingham District - Relocation Specialist presso Housing Authority of the Birmingham District

Relocation Specialist  (Full Time)
Department: Real Estate Development & Capital Improvements

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to plan and execute a series of short- and long-term moves involving relocating public housing residents from developments to other dwellings while their housing units are renovated or other transferrable means.  The Relocation Specialist position will be responsible for meeting with each family, outlining options for potential relocation, maintaining a database of relocation options and resident choices, and managing all aspects of the physical move in accordance with approved relocation plans and in compliance with the Uniform Relocation Act.

All activities must support the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District's ("HABD" or "Agency") mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The position duties and responsibilities listed below describe the general nature and scope of work. Other responsibilities, duties, and skills may be required and assigned, as needed.

• Reviews relocation plans to ensure compliance with all resident rights and guarantees regarding potential moves.  Ensures all activities are conducted according to plan and HABD policy. 
• Meets with families individually to plan moves, explains options, and coordinates services to meet housing needs as necessary. Interacts with diverse, multicultural, multilingual families, seniors, and disabled individuals on a daily basis.
• Maintains knowledge base regarding resident preferences, needs, and available public housing units. Maintains frequent contact with residents, and attends site meetings and HABD vacancy meetings to monitor the flow of available units and match with residents.
• Schedules and coordinates resident moves within HABD housing developments.  Coordinates with HABD staff to identify available units, track readiness for moves, and ensures that resident is prepared for the new developments to which they will move. 
• Processes reimbursements for residents paying any increased costs during a time out of their originating development.
• Maintains records of utility costs and other miscellaneous expenses and maintains the relocation budget for each affected property in concert with HABD staff.
• Serves as the principal point of contact for residents throughout the relocation planning and moving process.
• Conducts meetings and sends notices as necessary to keep residents informed about progress with the redevelopment projects, potential deadlines, and proposed effects of project milestones on the relocation timeline. 
• Attends construction meetings and operations staff meetings as necessary to remain apprised of issues that impact resident moves.
• Maintains contact with residents while relocated to monitor potential changes to household or other circumstances which could necessitate an alteration of relocation options.
• Plans and schedules physical moves from and return to public housing units, including procurement of movers and moving supplies, coordination of utility service transfers, scheduling of packing assistance and resident coordinator workforce in support of relocation efforts, and ensures the processing of payments for moving and associated cost.
• Assists site management with unit inspection of units post-move to ensure the condition is broom clean and ready for construction.  Coordinates service delivery for residents in need of assistance with cleaning, clutter removal, extermination, or other associated preparatory work prior to moving. 
• Assist residents during the transitions under the rental assistance programs. Work with the residents to ensure proper paperwork is retrieved for program transition.
• In accordance with Fair Housing regulations, coordinates with HABD staff to ensure that any applicable reasonable accommodation requests due to residents' disability are handled in conjunction with any move and that all assistive devices, modifications or other special needs are appropriately provided for any unit resident occupies.
• Creates and delivers regular reports to multiple stakeholders on relocation progress, unit status, outstanding issues, and potential obstacles to a successful relocation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies

This position requires the incumbent to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

• Job Knowledge: Exhibits requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position effectively. Demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements, and activities as they apply to the assigned organizational entity of HABD. Uses appropriate judgment & decision making in accordance with level of responsibility.
• Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.  
• Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind.  Recognizes work colleagues as customers.
• Effective Communication:  Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing. Demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.  
• Initiative: Proactively seeks solutions to resolve unexpected challenges.  Actively assists others without formal/informal direction.  Possesses the capacity to learn and actively seeks developmental feedback.  Applies feedback for continued growth by mastering concepts needed to perform work.
• Responsiveness and Accountability:  Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; does fair share of work.  
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Job Competencies

• Knowledge of HUD, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as HABD policies and procedures related to the position.
• Knowledge of the Uniform Relocation Act.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to a broad variety of audiences, including elderly and disabled residents, families, internal staff, and community resources.
• Understanding of the goals and policies of public housing and the ability to reconcile resident preferences within existing policy and occupancy standards.
• Knowledge of HCV program, public housing, or affordable housing regulations and policies preferred.
• Sensitivity the disruptive and potentially traumatic nature of relocations on resident populations
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in service to the goal of safely relocating households into clean, safe high-quality units appropriate to family composition, special needs, and requirements.
• Ability to create effective working relationships with co-workers, vendors, consultants, contractors, tenants, HUD, and local, state, and federal officials.
• Ability to communicate with people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds.

 Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years prior work experience with affordable housing, relocation activities or real estate. Experience with apartment search, tenant selection or real estate markets preferred.   An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Some positions may require possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to be insurable under HABD's automobile insurance plan at the standard rate.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, the employee should have strong computer skills (e.g. MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Must have the ability to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks. 

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position. Daily movements include sitting; standing; reaching and grasping; operating computers and other office equipment; moving about the office; and attending onsite and offsite meetings. The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Office environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This position is open until filled.