Associate Director - Rental Assistance

Please Note:

• The typical starting annual salary is between $103,100 and $134,050. This represents the Min to Mid salary range. 
• Position open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 08/22/2022.

Tacoma Housing Authority is seeking a strategic leader with a passion for coaching and developing staff and an eye for operational improvement. The ideal candidate will embrace change management, motivate staff, collaborate with partners and support equitable and trauma-informed service delivery. 

Mission

THA provides high quality, stable and sustainable housing, and supportive services to people in need.  It does this in ways that help them prosper and help our communities become safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive, and just.

THA’s Values

We value the diversity of our staff.  It makes us stronger and more effective.  Service, Integrity, Stewardship, Communication, Collegial Support and Respect, Excellence and Leadership are all values of THA.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Associate Director of Rental Assistance position supports THA’s strategic and operational objectives by assisting the Department Director to manage, supervise, plan, and coordinate the Rental Assistance Department to provide superb service delivery to our customers.

This position develops, implements, and evaluates operational procedures to ensure optimum utilization of Section 8 program funding and to ensure the timely completion of eligibility processes and compliance with mandated requirements. This position will recommend and implement changes to workflows, standard operating procedures, training, staffing and program policies.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Executive Team members share leadership responsibility to establish agency-wide objectives and directives and guide their implementation through programs and practices which reflect the agency’s Vision, strategic plan, and internal culture objectives. Each team member is responsible for maintaining a “one agency” perspective as they:  

• Establish organization-wide goals and cross department projects and objectives.
• Actively participate in the development and oversight of long range, strategic and budget planning processes.
• Anticipate and address public image, budget management, liability or other issues which may impact the financial, organizational, political and/or creative stability of the agency.
• Seek out and analyze information, issues, and challenges to assure maximum community investment.
• Model the agency’s customer service orientation with all public, elected or funding agency representatives and agency staff.
• Model, and coach others to conduct business through cross department participation/teams and review, to utilize two-way communication and to foster accountability.
• Prepare, administer, and monitor the department budget within approved appropriation levels.
• Comply with authority granted to THA, funding regulations and pertinent laws.
• Demonstrate commitment to constant improvement, monitoring workflow to assure maximum productivity, making sound decisions on resource allocations.
• Identify, implement, and evaluate best practices to maximize project and service delivery.
• On an ongoing basis review department and agency procedures and approaches.

DEPARTMENT SUPPORT

• Critically evaluate department operations, interpret performance data, and make recommendations for best practices and to establish performance expectations.
• Develop tools and reports to routinely track and evaluate the quality, timeliness, effectiveness, and cost of services provided by the department. Provide reports documenting program and individual staff performance.
• Work with the Department Director and management team oversee implementation of new programs and changes to existing programs.
• Work with the Department Director to develop policies and procedures documenting department practices and performance expectations.
• Serve as liaison to other departments to facilitate operational coordination and fulfill organizational needs and requirements.
• As directed, participate in, or perform special studies or investigations which require the analysis of requests and statistics in highly sensitive areas and make recommendations regarding appropriate action.
• Generate monthly performance reports for submission to the department’s Board of Commissioners report. Take lead responsibility in reformatting the BOC report as the Board or Department Director directs.
• Arrange for the preparation, scheduling, and presentation of internal training programs for department staff as appropriate.
• Ensure planning and scheduling of annual staff retreat and ongoing team building exercises are completed.
• Represent the department and agency in community meetings, workgroups, and other settings.
• Receive information from the public, landlords, program participants, staff and others pertaining to the operation of the program, attend meetings to discuss problems and seek solutions. Attend public comment meetings and track comments.
• Review monthly utilization to determine department leasing goals, analyze data to determine the number of vouchers needed to be issued; review historical data to determine the opening and closing of the waiting list to meet leasing goals.
• Oversee regular reviews of THA Payment Standards and THA utility allowances.

LABOR SUPPORT

• Request, collect and process confidential information for collective bargaining, grievances, investigations, or other confidential labor issues.
• Assist with Union Management or negotiation meetings as needed.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP 

• Supervise and guide staff using management practices that develop and retain highly competent and highly performing employees.
• Direct, coordinate and review the work plans for assigned staff; assign work activities and projects; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work performance; methods and procedures and meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Comply with agency performance evaluation policy and conduct evaluations regularly and on time.
• Build and maintain effective relations with a workforce that includes both union and non-union staff.

EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY

• Perform all responsibilities in service to THA’s social justice and business mission to assist low-income households and other customers, and to do so in ways that aspire to programmatic and administrative excellence.
• Fulfill all duties and responsibilities with a high level of integrity, honesty and adherence to agency policies and rules.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with co-workers, management, partner agencies and the community. 
• Present a professional image as a representative of THA.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality relative to work performed.

DIVERSITY

THA’s staff, its clients, and the staff of community partners are diverse in many ways, including diversity by race, national origin, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, and disability. THA is committed to cultivating a culture of belonging. We value diverse life experiences and heritage to ensure that all voices are heard.  We strive to respect and protect the dignity of all employees and members of our community. All THA employees must engage diverse people in constructive and effective ways as a supervisor, colleague, business partner, and/or service provider. 

SECONDARY POSITION TASKS

• Review journals, periodicals, newspapers, and magazines and alert department staff to pertinent information.
• Serve as a member of committees, as directed.
• Remain current with trends, industry knowledge, and continuing education related to the position. 
• Perform related duties or responsibilities as assigned. 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, social services, business administration, public administration, or a related field.  Directly relevant experience will be considered in lieu of the required degree.
• Six to eight years of increasingly responsible management or senior professional experience in program development with responsibility for managing, planning, organizing, coordinating, staffing, reporting, and budgeting experience.
• Housing Choice Voucher administration experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum four years’ experience in a supervisory capacity.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Skill in interpreting and applying HUD rules and regulations and THA policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive Section 8 housing assistance program.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, rules, and regulations governing Section 8 program eligibility and the landlord and tenant relationship.
• Is an articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent communication skills.
• Superior ability to write clearly in a range of subject matter, both technical and general, for a range of audiences; superior ability to edit work for spelling and grammar; present numerical data effectively; able to read, write and interpret documents of a technical nature.
• Should display willingness to make decisions; exhibit sound and accurate judgment; support and explain reasoning for decisions; include appropriate individuals in the decision-making process; make timely decisions.
• High level ability to plan projects effectively and independently, to meet schedules and timelines, manage their timely implementation and effectively use the agency’s Project Data Base and other management tools.
• Ability to engage a wide variety of people with a high level of professionalism, courtesy, and good humor, including culturally, socially, and economically diverse populations, seniors, persons with disabilities, contractors, and professional colleagues.
• Possess a high degree of proficiency in agency software programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook and otherwise to be effective without close clerical support.   
• Possess and maintain a comprehensive and thorough working knowledge of specialized and complex subject matter, procedures, or practices.
• Can interface with co-workers, management, clients, community partners, and others in a courteous, and professional manner.
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally, and in writing using correct English usage, grammar, spellings, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Capable of managing competing demands and meeting productivity standards while handling frequent change, delays, and unexpected events.
• Possess skills to organize and work independently in an environment of frequent interruptions.
• Exhibit expertise in the design and maintenance of paper and digital systems to organize, store and retrieve records, data, and documents.
• Show strong commitment to maintain confidentiality in all assignments as directed.

CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATIONS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee must handle to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position requires working regularly within THA’s offices. The job’s activities occur primarily in indoor office settings:

• Occasional standing, walking, sitting, using hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reaching with hands and arms; climbing stairs; balancing; stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; talking or hearing; occasionally lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds.
• Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; job site noise level may be louder.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

THA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. 

We provide reasonable accommodation to all applicants and employees that can perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. If you require reasonable accommodation, please direct your inquiry to the Human Resources Department at (253) 207-4403 for assistance. We ask for at least 24 hours advance notice when possible.

COVID-19

Tacoma Housing Authority has a COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Policy that requires all regular, part-time and temporary employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the health and safety of its workplace and community. New hires must provide proof to THA Human Resources by their first day of employment that they are fully vaccinated. Individuals with a qualifying medical or religious reason may submit a request for exemption. If you would like to request an exemption, please inquire at hr@tacomahousing.org