Special Programs Supervisor

About the Department

The Department of Commerce aims to make sure Montana is the best place to work, live and play. We work alongside private industry and local organizations to create jobs, grow businesses, develop affordable housing and improve community infrastructure.

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About this Position

Montana Housing strengthens our vibrant communities by supporting access to safe, affordable and sustainable homes for Montanans whose housing needs are not met by the market. Montana Housing assists with buying a home, down payment assistance, mortgage servicing, Reverse Annuity Mortgages, rental housing assistance and multifamily rental development.

This position manages several specialized federal rental assistance programs servicing vulnerable populations, including families experiencing homelessness or housing instability, veterans, and non-elderly persons with disabilities. This position is highly visible and will promote community engagement and relationship building, assist in creating opportunities for program integration, and identify and implement administrative efficiencies to maximize the use and positive impact of federal housing resources throughout the state of Montana.

This position is responsible for strategically aligning federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs and resources, including collaboration with the Department of Public Health and Human Services, state of Montana Continuum of Care and other partners on the intersection of homelessness, housing affordability and healthcare. Duties include planning and managing program activities and operations; implementing the Statewide Public Housing Agency Administrative plan; administering rental assistance contracts; developing and facilitating trainings; assisting in the budget processes; strategic planning with the Division and partner organizations; supporting grant applications for new or additional federal housing resources and performing a variety of other duties as assigned.

This position supervises 3 FTEs.

·Manages activities of federal site-specific affordable housing programs including Section 811 Project Rental Assistance, Moderate Rehabilitation, and Project-Based Housing Choice Vouchers.

·Oversees various special rental assistance programs, including Mainstream Vouchers, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), Emergency Housing Vouchers, and others as determined by the Division.

·Directs, oversees, and educates staff to ensure effective utilization and compliance according to federal and state rules and regulations.

·Develops policies and procedures to evaluate program effectiveness; investigates complaints and violations.

·Establishes and revises work plans and directs program specialists, contract managers and various state entities to establish program objectives and meet goals established through the Division’s strategic planning process.

·Evaluates the effectiveness of the programs to ensure objectives and requirements are met and to provide required reporting to HUD.

·Collaborates with internal quality control specialist to identify areas for quality assurance reviews; embraces Division objectives for continual process improvement and audit-ready status.

·Prepares responses to Legislative Audit Division, HUD Office of Inspector General and other entities for any active or ongoing audits or investigations.

·Coordinates and represents the Division in informal reviews, and informal hearings provided for participating families and applicants in accordance with federal regulations. This position is required to keep the Division Administrator informed regarding complaints with informal hearing potential.

·Directs and coordinates program fiscal operations to ensure compliance with HUD regulations, continued solvency and efficient use of program resources. This work requires general knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental accounting and budgeting, HUD and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) accounting and reporting regulations, and the terms and conditions of HUD-sponsored contracts.

·Lead on Moderate Rehabilitation damage claims and special program voucher porting processes.

·Lead on collaboration and engagement with the Department of Public Health and Human Services, including establishing and maintaining effective program referrals – including execution and updates to interdepartmental MOU – with the goal of supporting voucher program participants in maintaining safe, healthy and independent living in the community.

This position is open until filled; with first review date of 5.24.24

What are we looking for?

Education and Experience:

·A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health or a closely related field; and

·2-5 years of progressively responsible experience including electronic database management and supervision; or

·Alternate combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

·It would pique our interest if you had experience and a passion for the intersection of housing and healthcare

Competencies:

·The concepts and theories of program planning, program administration, public administration, and contract management.

·Federal programs (housing preferred), research techniques, fiscal management, and a detailed knowledge of intent and requirements of various state and federal laws and rules governing program operations and activities.

·State and Department of Commerce personnel policies and procedures, supervisory principles and practices and employment law are required.

·Analyze and develop cost models, state legislative and funding processes, administrative hearing processes, and case preparation and presentation.

·Distil complex situations into clear measurable items to be resolved, verbal and written presentation of information.

·Listen, understand, and assist in the resolution of technical and regulatory issues related to housing assistance program activities, manage multiple projects and programs, and accomplish program objectives as established through team goals and objectives.

·Work with landlords, tenants, congressional delegates, federal funding authorities and others as a program liaison which requires the ability to negotiate and persuade others to cooperate on various projects and/or address operational deficiencies, compliance issues, and other sensitive or contentious subjects.

·Create queries and reports from databases.

How to apply

Apply online by submitting your resume, cover letter. References will not be contacted until after interview process is completed and you will be notified when we will be reaching out to them.

Benefits

·Look to see the additional benefitsThey include:

oWork/life Balance

oHealth Coverage

oRetirement plans

oPaid Vacation and Sick Leave and Holidays

oAnd more…

· Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF.Look to learn more and see if you may qualify

Other important information to be aware of

·This position requires the successful completion of a criminal background check.

·Only online applications are accepted.By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

·If you fail to upload the requested application documents and/or preference documents, we will notify you via email. Failure to upload these documents after notification will result in your application being removed from consideration.

· This position allows for a hybrid work schedule from a remote location within the State of Montana. Weekly travel to Helena offices will be required. Specific conditions will be outlined as part of the job offer and must adhere to state policy. New Employees may be required to complete training in person before hybrid work schedules begin.