Introduction
Living in Placer County from Placer County Video Portal
Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.
POSITION INFORMATION
Welcome to an extraordinary opportunity to reshape lives and communities as a Housing Specialist! Placer County is one of the fastest growing areas in California and your talent is needed to get growth right. We are seeking a dedicated individual who thrives on making a positive impact. As a key player on our team, you will be at the forefront of addressing housing challenges, creating sustainable solutions, and fostering vibrant communities. Join us in the pursuit of not just a job, but a calling—an opportunity to transform lives through housing. If you are passionate about making a lasting difference, this is your chance to be the catalyst for change.
The Placer County multidisciplinary housing team seeks a full-time Housing Specialist in its Economic Development Division of the County Executive Office. The housing team spans several departments and performs a variety of housing functions. Over the past 20 years, the County and the former Redevelopment Agency have sponsored housing efforts to provide assistance to over 600 affordable housing units, involving both new construction and renovation projects. Current housing activities include managing a housing loan and investment portfolio of more than $33 million dollars. The position includes managing a growing pool of deed-restricted housing units, partnering with for-profit and non-profit housing developers to build new affordable units, coordinating with regional housing partners and stakeholders, supporting innovative housing programs to advance the development of ADUs and multi-family housing products, and launching new programs to provide rental and down payment assistance. Importantly, this position provides critical advocacy to create affordable housing opportunities throughout Placer County. Efforts for this recruitment will be focused in the western region of the county, however, this team member will collaborate with the housing team and provide cross-cutting services countywide. Prior experience managing a loan portfolio in accordance with State and Federal housing assistance programs, in addition to a strong understanding of CDBG or equivalent grant management experience is highly desirable. Applicants must possess strong organizational, writing, communication, analytical, and project management skills.
Essential Duties
1. Loan Portfolio Oversight:
Oversee a loan portfolio and ensure compliance with loan terms, including loans that continued to be managed as part of the former Placer County Redevelopment Agency portfolio, along with loans issued under HOME First Time Homebuyer and other Housing and Community Development (HCD) programs.
2. Grants Management and Funding Coordination:
Lead the development and administration of a comprehensive County-wide grants management program, demonstrating a strong grasp of management and accounting principles for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other HCD funding sources. Collaborate with the team to oversee loan and grant administration programs, actively contributing to the creation of innovative initiatives that address current housing needs. Possessing financial management skills, including securing diverse funding sources such as grants, loans, or public-private partnerships, and effectively managing budgets and financial resources dedicated to housing initiatives, is highly desirable.
3. Reporting and Compliance:
Monitor and report on the Housing program portfolio in accordance with grant, loan, or State and federal regulations, including preparation of regular reports to meet guidelines.
4. Policy Development:
The candidate should possess the ability to comprehend and interpret housing legislation and case law impacting the County's housing programs. Additionally, they must demonstrate proficiency in analyzing and problem-solving within a cross-functional team, addressing housing policy and implementation challenges within the context of a local jurisdiction.
5. Communication and Engagement:
The candidate should possess excellent communication skills, fostering positive relationships with State, federal, private, and public agencies, elected officials, other county departments, and the public. They are expected to represent the County to external agencies and organizations, actively engage in community and professional groups, committees, and offer technical assistance as needed.
This classification is scheduled to receive general wage increase of 4% in July 2024.
BENEFITS
Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.
Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.
For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.
DEFINITION
To plan, organize, and perform difficult and complex administrative, technical, and professional duties pertaining to the production and monitoring of housing construction and the County's housing rehabilitation programs; market housing programs in targeted areas; assist with the preparation and implementation of the Placer County Housing Element, and perform related work as required.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. May exercise direct supervision over professional, clerical, or technical staff.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Inspect housing units and monitor work for compliance with the development agreement or loan.
- Oversee the loan portfolio to ensure compliance with loan terms.
- Monitor and report on the Housing program portfolio pursuant to the requirements of the grant, loan or State and federal regulations.
- Develop and administer a County-wide grants management program.
- Review all development housing proposals in the unincorporated areas of the County and recommend developer obligations and mitigation measures.
- Manage escrow closings for housing loans to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial, and monitoring reports to meet state and federal guidelines.
- Inspect rehabilitation work; approve and process payment requests; prepare and process lien releases; and record documents as required.
- Coordinate with partner agencies such as the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on matters related to housing, population/employment forecasting and land use, air quality and transportation policies affecting the County's Housing Element's programs and policies.
- Conduct compliance monitoring of County housing policies regarding employee housing currently required pursuant to active and proposed entitlements including developer agreements.
- Identify funding sources such as grants and loans for housing projects and housing programs throughout the County.
- Market Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and other housing programs by creating and distributing fliers, placing advertisements in papers, collaborating with developers to promote programs and reach out to potential applicants.
- Market and coordinate funding of various federal and state homebuyer and housing rehabilitation programs to ensure successful implementation.
- Research and analyze the feasibility of the adoption of a consolidated plan that will allow the County to transition to entitlement status for federal funds.
- Work with County departments in determining housing policy and program implementation including the preparation of new housing elements.
- Analyze housing legislation and case law affecting the County's housing programs.
- Coordinate grant programs, weatherization, loan funds for rehabilitation program elements.
- Prepare necessary reports and documents for loan review.
- Build and maintain positive working relationships with state, federal, private, and public agencies, co-workers, other County employees, and the public using principles of good customer service.
- Represent the County to outside agencies and organizations; participate in outside community and professional groups and committees and provide technical assistance as necessary.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience: Four (4) years of professional experience in Community Development, Economic Development, Planning, or a Housing Agency involving planning, development, financing, negotiation, and implementation and monitoring of development agreements and contracts with developers.
Training: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in finance, economics, planning, public administration, or closely related field.
Required License or Certificate: May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
NOTE: Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Human Resources Department.
NOTE: Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Affordable housing programs including development, rehabilitation, public/private finance, redevelopment, and other related programs.
- CDBG and other state and federal housing assistance programs, and related application policies and procedures including reporting requirements.
- Housing processes and activities; technical components of redevelopment as related to housing finance programs.
- Advanced principles of financial administration, including public and private budgeting, financial forecasting, and financial analysis.
- Land use regulations and procedures and other laws directly affecting housing including State Housing and Community Development laws and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
- Principles and practices of land development project management.
- Pertinent local, state, and federal rules, regulation and laws.
- Principles and practices of policy development and implementation.
- Principles and practices of business correspondence and report writing.
- Principles and practices of supervision, training, and staff management.
- Principles and practices of project administration and supervision, resources allocation, planning and budget procedures and techniques.
Ability to:
- On a continuous basis, know and understand all
aspects of the job; read, analyze, interpret, understand, recall, and explain
work papers, technical reports, special projects, laws, rules, policies,
procedures, regulations, and codes; problem solve issues; focus
on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; identify,
collect, evaluate, analyze, and interpret complex information and data from a
variety of sources; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of
tasks.
- On a continuous basis, sit at a
desk or in meetings for long periods of time. Intermittently walk, stand, bend,
twist, squat, and reach to access equipment and files in the office and field;
perform simple grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; speak, use
telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate or to enter/retrieve data
from a computer see and hear with
sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; and lift light weight.
- Manage housing development projects.
- Plan, organize, and direct a comprehensive integrated County affordable housing program including development, rehabilitation, and other related activities.
- Prepare, analyze, and administer a program budget.
- Plan, organize, and secure public and private financing required for housing development projects.
- Interpret, analyze, and explain complex financing and housing programs.
- Effectively negotiate and administer contracts and agreements.
- Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Prepare Requests for Proposals and Qualifications from qualified developers for affordable housing projects and review related responses from developers.
- Inspect and evaluate potential housing sites and construction activity.
- Supervise, direct, organize, prioritize, and evaluate the work of others.
- Communicate effectively and persuasively in both verbal and written form.
- Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in course of work, such as professionals in the housing and financing industries, public officials from all levels of government and the general public.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Training & Experience Rating (100%)
Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.
SUBSTITUTE LISTS
The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.
EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES
Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.
Conclusion
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Andrea Marthaler, Administrative Technician, at AMarthaler@Placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4664.