Homeownership Program Manager

The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Encompassing the Housing, Economic Development, Community Planning, Zoning and Development, and Environmental and Transportation Planning divisions, CDD’s mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. CDD engages and collaborates with community partners, other government agencies, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.  The Housing Division works to promote and maintain the socioeconomic diversity of the city by managing and implementing the City’s efforts to meet the housing needs of low-, and moderate-, and middle-income residents, managing affordable housing programs, and developing initiatives to preserve and expand the City's stock of affordable housing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Director of Housing, the Homeownership Program Manager will manage the City’s affordable housing programs for income-eligible homebuyers and homeowners including City’s Homeownership Resale Program, HomeBridge, the Home Improvement Program, and Homebuyer Education Program. 

The Homeownership Program Manager will oversee the administration of the City’s affordable homeownership housing program which includes more than 500 affordable homes funded or otherwise assisted by the City.  Managing a team of 3 full time staff, the Homeownership Program Manager will plan and prepare for expansion of affordable homeownership housing in the city while managing the multiple demands of the current program. 

Primary responsibilities include:

• Managing, drafting, developing, implementing, and monitoring program policies, procedures, guidelines, controls, and workflow to ensure efficient operation of the homeownership programs and work of the homeownership program team.
• Actively managing 3 program staff.
• Ensuring consistency and timeliness of housing applicant eligibility reviews and income certification; overseeing homebuyer selection for available homes and home sales through the closing process.
• Managing workflow and monitoring protocols to ensure accuracy of applicant and other data status in program management software; supervising staff administration of several housing applicant lists.
• Managing program funds including revolving loan fund for repurchase and recapitalization of affordable homes and overseeing rehab planning for repurchased homes prior to sale to new buyers.
• Planning for initial occupancy of new homes being created with City funding or through the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance: approval of condominium documents and unit pricing and buyer selection plans for City-assisted homes.
• Overseeing grant-funded loan program for eligible homeowners offered through partner organizations.
• Developing and maintaining relationship with owners of affordable homes, condominium associations, limited equity cooperatives, property managers, other City departments, housing and service providers.
• Implementing periodic training to support residents and condominium associations.
• Overseeing work with participating residents in response to requests to sell or refinance homes, or to address mortgage or other payment delinquencies and assess available resources.
• Working collaboratively with participating residents, property managers, and other City staff and agencies to respond to concerns appropriately.
• Monitoring housing applicant and resident satisfaction through regular efforts to solicit, compile and assess participant feedback to improve programs and services.
• Preparing regular program reports for compliance and planning; compiling and analyzing program data to assess outcomes relative to program goals.
• Assisting with other City housing programs and special housing projects as needed.
• Performing other duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

The Homeownership Program Manager should be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and ready to help CDD in efforts to provide income-eligible households access to affordable homes.

• A Bachelor’s degree in real estate, public administration, management, business or related field and a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing or assisted housing management, with experience in a supervisory capacity; a Master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for 2 years of experience.
• Ability to work well individually, as a member and leader of successful teams, balance individual and team responsibility, encourage ideas and develop leadership in others.
• Good judgement, and excellent organizational, written, and oral communication, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple responsibilities, tasks, and interactions while remaining organized in a fast-paced office environment.
• Experience with affordable housing/homeownership programs, income and eligibility review, application management, mortgage loan underwriting and closings, and working with housing applicants and/or homeowners.
• Superior skills in real estate finance, financial management and planning.
• Ability to research and evaluate information for use in program analysis and planning.
• Ability to clearly relay complex program information and requirements to staff, program participants, property managers, and other housing and service providers.
• Superior computer skills including demonstrated facility with Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel) and familiarity with or ability to learn rental housing management software.
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse; applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with program outreach and marketing including use of web and social media.
• Knowledge of the regional housing market and available affordable housing resources.
• Knowledge of the Cambridge community.
• Proficiency in Amharic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and/or Spanish.