Deputy County Administrative Officer II – Housing

DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER II – HOUSING 

DEFINITION

Under administrative direction, the Deputy County Administrative Officer – Housing provides development, implementation, and management of the County housing strategy and long and short-term housing plans and goals to encourage growth, economic activity, business development, and improve access to housing and the well-being of Lake County residents.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a journey level Deputy County Administrative Officer classification that performs complex tasks involving the development and implementation of the County housing plan, housing rehabilitation, and affordable housing programs.  The position works within a team to refine housing and community development policies, regulations, and procedures.  The position requires considerable initiative and independent judgment in planning, directing, and supervising redevelopment and housing affordability activities.

The incumbent in this management position serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority, which means the employment relationship is at-will,  and that the County of Lake or the employee may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction and reports to Assistant County Administrative or Assistant County Administrative Officer. Exercises direct or general supervision over professional, paraprofessional, technical, and administrative support staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

• Responsible for day-to-day operations of the County’s housing strategy and long/short term goals, including ensuring effective oversight and guidance for all personnel, vendors, contractors, budget, and administrative matters.
• Develop County Housing Strategy including collaboration with housing developers and non-profit organizations on projects that will lead to the creation of housing increased homeownership, rental, sheltering, and housing rehabilitation in the County of Lake.
• Assume management responsibility for the services and activities of a comprehensive, integrated County housing program, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), and affordable housing, which may include the development, rehabilitation, and financing of housing-related activities.
• Routinely assesses the performance of all initiatives to determine the best use of resources.
• Establish and publish performance metrics that reflect the priorities and progress toward the County’s housing goals.
• Maintain working relationships with federal, state, and local agencies, County departments, community groups, and private-sector housing developers.
• Consult with nonprofit housing delivery organizations and coordinate housing plans and programs with participating organizations.
• Interact with builders and developers on delivery of affordable housing; approve letters of loan guarantee, construction vouchers for payment, and grant payments and documentation.
• Effectively building relationships with customers, partners, and investors, ranging from small local nonprofit organizations to large developers.
• Provide leadership in facilitating community dialogue and building consensus surrounding  complex housing issues.
• Address future housing needs through community consensus by constructive dialogue and/or community-wide housing forums.
• Maintain intimate knowledge of the status of the County’s housing development projects and the people involved to ensure projects are continually moving forward.
• Manage and coordinate complex and high-profile housing projects, and negotiate complicated agreements.
  Develop, review, monitor, and submit federal, state, and local reports related to program participation and funding and responds to all audit activity including internal, external, federal, and state.
• Ensure the proper administration of housing grants.
• Respond to citizen requests and complaints, referring them to other County management staff, as warranted.
• Represent Board policies and County programs and services with County staff, the public, community organizations, and other government agencies.
• Develop policies and procedures related to construction requirements, loan processing and underwriting, housing counseling, and inspections for housing programs.
• This position will require off-site meetings, regular walking on uneven surfaces, driving, and site inspections to monitor work in progress.
• Attend Board meetings and needed, providing recommendations on agenda items.
• Related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of urban development and housing management, affordable housing, community redevelopment, and housing programs, including public financing principles, loan processing procedures, and practices used in construction contracts.
• Principles and practices of community development activities specific to local, state, and federal regulations relative to federal and state-funded housing and economic development activities.
• Current federal, state, and local housing redevelopment rules and regulations.
• County or regional housing plan development.
• Housing grant procurement and administration.
• Experience specific to HUD grant programs such as CDBG, HOME, ESG, community-based program development, community organization, and community relations.
• Federal and state housing program regulations.
• Experience with all phases of housing development from concept, through predevelopment, and construction to completion.
• Significant, experience in creating budgets, reporting, and project budget tracking.
• Experience with affordable housing financing programs.
• Significant, experience utilizing project management and/or timeline-tracking software.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills, ability to quickly identify and resolve issues.
• High level of attention to detail with the ability to stay focused on the big picture.
• Research and evaluation methods.
• Computers and software programs e.g., Microsoft software applications with advanced level Excel skills.

Ability to:

• Create and implement initiatives associated with local, state, and federal housing and economic development programs.
• Ability to build effective external relationships with a high degree of professionalism.
• Comprehensive public speaking and public relations methods to persuade, negotiate and mediate issues.
• Design and implement County housing strategy and housing master plan.
• Ensure housing activities comply with federal and state legislation and programmatic requirements.
• Ability to analyze and present complex data.
• Assist with the planning, organizing, managing, coordinating, and supervising of the functions and services of the County to achieve efficient operations and achieve program goals.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for the department in assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Evaluate, formulate, and develop recommendations on improvements to County operations, programs, and services.
• Provide advice and consultation to the County management on the development of ordinances, regulations, programs, and policies.
• Effectively represent the County’s policies, programs, and services with the public, community organizations, County staff, and other government agencies.
• Regularly work well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally (including public presentations) and in writing.
• Establish and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Relate and work effectively with communities/populations from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.

Licensing and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver’s License.

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public or business administration, real estate, economics, or a related area.

And 

Five (5) years of experience relating to the development and implementation of county or regional housing plans, management of affordable housing, housing rehabilitation, land acquisitions, loan processing, and contract administration, including two (2) years of supervisory experience.

WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Incumbents generally work in a typical office environment with adequate light and temperature.  There may be occasional exposure to outside work environment, which may include walking in uneven terrain, extreme temperatures, loud noise, fumes, noxious odors, dust, mist, gases, and poor ventilation; underground, confined, or restricted workspaces; and heights more than five stories above ground level.

Incumbents may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.  This position may require frequent walking, moving, driving, and site inspections to monitor work in progress.

This position may require local and statewide travel, as necessary.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment.  Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers: As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and/or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment.  The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein.  The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice.  Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.