Position: Homeownership Counselor

Reports To: Customer Success Manager

For more than 50 years, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania (NWWPA) has promoted stable, vibrant communities by providing our neighbors with comprehensive homeownership services. Legendary community organizer Dorothy Richardson founded our organization, then known as Neighborhood Housing Services, to address the lack of safe and affordable housing on Pittsburgh’s Northside. The success of Richardson and her neighbors, using a resident-led model, inspired a national network of community-based organizations. Today, NWWPA is a leader in sustainable homeownership, preparing first-time homebuyers and supporting homeowners in Western Pennsylvania through online education and one-on-one counseling. Our team of experienced housing counselors and educators adhere to the highest standards of quality and accountability in the industry. Learn more at: www.neighborworkswpa.org.

NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania is committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We make employment decisions based on job related criteria, regardless of age, sex, race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, or any other non-work related criteria. EEO/M/F/D/V employer. We value diverse voices and ideas and encourage applicants of all identities to apply.

Position Summary

Our Homeownership Counselors provide personalized, one-on-one homebuyer and homeowner coaching to help customers reach their personal goals. Through virtual meetings, assigned actions plans, and learning modules customers will work with a Homeownership Counselor to define their own needs, timelines, and goals. NWWPA works with individuals and families looking to purchase a home as well as those looking to preserve homeownership in the event of foreclosure proceedings. We work with customers to understand what is happening and what comes next when it comes to your home.

Our Homeownership Counselors can talk with customers about the process of buying a home, available resources that may be available to assist with the homebuying process, how to plan for a home purchase, what to do if your mortgage payment isn’t affordable, and much more. Our team is a valuable resource for anyone in the Western Pennsylvania area who has homeownership on their minds.

All NWWPA Homeownership Counselors are credentialed by NeighborWorks America, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.

General Responsibilities: 

• Provide customer-driven pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling services including foreclosure prevention virtually through Zoom video conferencing technology;
• Maintain knowledge of referral opportunities and resources as appropriate (to include down payment assistance grants, bankruptcy and other legal issues, home improvement, local government resources, and housing assistance programs);
• Accurately and consistently update and maintain customer records in Salesforce for effective compliance, billing, and relationship management;
• Present various customer and partner education series via Zoom or other webinar platforms as necessary;
• Complete all relevant training and certifications within 18 months including HUD Housing Counselor certification including annual travel to attend NeighborWorks National Training Institutes (NTIs) at varying locations across the country (following Covid-19 restrictions); and
• Other duties as assigned.

Ideal Qualifications and Experience:

• Preference will be given to individuals with at least two years experience in: 
  • Housing, financial, or foreclosure counseling
  • Retail or mortgage lending
• Candidates without above backgrounds should have experience in case management, mental health counseling, customer service/relationship building, or other related area
• Independent learning style that can be supplemented with virtual trainings, team meetings, and shadowing opportunities
• Strong interpersonal skills and a customer service orientation including a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to working towards individual’s goals and success measures
• General flexibility and willingness to adapt to rapid changes including comfort with new technologies and record management systems
• Additional preference will be given to individuals who currently hold a HUD Housing Counselor certification

Terms:

Position is full-time and will require some evening and weekend hours with possible travel to various work sites, trainings, and partner meetings once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Salary is commensurate with experience.

This position and all NWWPA services are currently remote in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a strong possibility of services returning to face-to-face during the tenure of the position, and any candidate must be flexible as such. All candidates must either reside in or relocate to the Southwestern PA area within 6 months of hire. Some socially distanced, masked, in-person trainings with minimal NWWPA staff will be necessary.

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