The Department of Housing is a catalyst for increasing access to high-quality affordable housing for households earning a variety of incomes, and supporting related community development activities, so that housing and robust services exist for people of all income levels and ages in San Mateo County. The Department consists of two divisions, Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Housing Authority of the County of San Mateo.

HDC is recruiting for up to four (4) Housing and Community Development Specialist II/III. Reporting to the HCD Supervisor and HCD Housing Program Manager, the Housing and Community Development Specialist II/III positions will engage in a variety of functions aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing throughout San Mateo County and forging partnerships to address critical housing needs. One or more of the Specialist positions will have job duties with a focus on managing, as the subsidy lender, affordable housing development projects from predevelopment through permanent conversion (“Development-focus”). One or more of the Specialist positions will have job duties with a focus on managing grant agreements with public services providers and supporting federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships grant program activities (“Grants-focus”). All Specialists may also have the opportunity to work on activities that are more programmatic in nature and will require the Specialist to provide a variety of program support services including developing program objectives, preparing Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), evaluating project proposals and underwriting, understanding and applying HUD and other program regulations, and providing technical assistance to and working with community groups on housing-related issues. Finally, all Specialists may also have the opportunity to work on activities that are more policy oriented and will require the Specialist to provide a variety of policy and partnership support to the Department of Housing and its interagency and private partners, nonprofit and for-profit, to support housing initiatives.

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• 
  Affordable housing project management
• Housing policy or housing program development and implementation.
• Federal or state housing programs.
• Urban planning development and community revitalization.
• Grant Management.

The Ideal Candidate for this position will possess the following qualities/qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• For the Development-focused positions, one year of progressively advanced skills and experience with affordable housing policies and programs.
• Strong program and project management skills.
• For the Development-focused positions, familiarity with other federal and state housing finance programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
• For the Development-focused positions an intermediate to advanced understanding of affordable housing finance and underwriting.
• For the Development-focused positions, an intermediate to advanced understanding of the complexities of housing development, land use, and affordable housing financing issues.
• Knowledge of issues related to urban planning and equitable community development.
• Knowledge of programs for facilitating and subsidizing low- and-moderate income housing.
• For the Grants-focused positions, one year one year of progressively advanced skills and experience with managing federal CDBG and or HOME contracts for public services providers.
• Experience in community outreach and partnership development.
• A positive attitude and sense of humor.
• An ability to embrace change with initiative, flexibility and enthusiasm.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.

Candidates with an advanced education degree or training in housing, housing finance, public policy, urban planning, sustainable development, or related field are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

The HCD Specialist's programmatic support duties may include, but are not limited to:

• 
  Facilitating affordable housing developments, including preparing contract documents, monitoring the progress of funding recipients from predevelopment through construction completion, and representing the Department in construction and permanent loan closings
• Negotiating contract terms with outside vendors, consultants or organizations and monitoring and evaluating fiscal and legal liability of same.
• Providing support and oversight to planning and developing large scale housing projects sponsored or co-sponsored by the San Mateo County, such as projects funded by the state’s Homekey program.
• Supporting the Department’s applications for funding to state and other funding providers.
• Managing the assets of the Department's loans and grants portfolio and providing analysis and recommendations in response to requests to subordinate, refinance, or restructure existing DOH loans.
• Coordinating the funding cycles of various funding sources including but not limited to the County Affordable Housing Fund and Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG).
• Assisting the Housing Manager in the process of awarding funds from the County's Affordable Housing Fund, funded largely by Measure K sales tax proceeds.
• Developing and administering housing and community development programs which support affordable new construction, acquisition of existing affordable housing, and rehabilitation
• Managing a portfolio of non-profit grantees to ensure compliance with local, State and Federal regulations, including environmental reviews and prevailing wage requirements.
• Managing a portfolio of grantees including negotiating contracts, processing requests for payment, and reviewing quarterly and/or annual progress reports.
• Monitoring the performance of grantees and writing performance reports as needed.
• Preparing written reports such as The Annual Action Plan and Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER).
• Conducting due diligence reviews on applications for community development and public services, housing grants and loans, and coordinating with consultants on final staff recommendation reports.
• Preparing funding recommendations, memos, resolutions and other materials that will go to the Board of Supervisors.
• Interpreting, explaining, and directing the enforcement of all applicable standards, codes and regulations.
• May represent the Department of Housing at meetings of the County Board of Supervisors.
• Preparing detailed written reports, policies, procedures and contracts.
• Managing the County's relationship with, and providing technical assistance to, non-profit and for-profit organizations funded or seeking funding from the Department.

The HCD Specialist's policy and partnership support duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Developing plans, objectives and implementation strategies for Department of Housing outreach, technical assistance, and partnership initiatives.
• Acting as representative of the Department of Housing in collaborations with community stakeholders and inter-departmental work within the County.
• Researching, analyzing, and summarizing data on key housing initiatives in partnership with the Department's interagency and private partners, nonprofit and for-profit.
• Assisting with the development of Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) priorities, guidelines and processes.
• Researching, analyzing, and helping develop affordable housing policy solutions addressing County needs.
• Monitoring the progress of affordable housing-related collaborations and initiatives in which the Housing Department is participating and engaging in problem-solving as needed when challenges arise.
• Evaluating new funding programs and opportunities for the County and its partners to access these new programs.
• Investigating and developing new opportunities for the Department to provide support and assistance to cities, housing developers, housing advocates, and others in facilitating the creation of housing.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

HCD Specialist II: Two years of experience in community development project coordination, economic development, or loan application preparation and processing.

HCD Specialist III: Three years of experience in a housing and community development program that has included responsibility for financing, community development, or economic development projects.

Knowledge of:

• 
  Programs for facilitating and subsidizing low and moderate housing.
• Legislative process at local, state and federal levels.
• Federal and state housing initiatives and programs.
• Principles and practices of public administration, community outreach and partnership-building, and effective communication with the public.
• Basic land use and zoning concepts.
• Project planning, budgeting, scheduling, supervision and monitoring.
• Statistical methods and data collection, tabulation and analysis.

Skill/Ability to:

• Manage and coordinate multiple complex projects and activities.
• Meet deadlines and finish work products within appropriate time frames.
• Prepare grant applications and performance reports.
• Evaluate proposals, manage project schedules, monitor compliance and progress, and evaluate performance.
• Negotiate scope-of-work and other individualized components of contracts.
• Research policies, analyze alternatives, and make concise recommendations.
• Identify problems and propose solutions.
• Express ideas effectively, orally and in writing.
• Compose and disseminate information to the community and general public through various media.
• Work effectively with the public and community groups.
• Make presentations to committees, special purpose groups, and the general public.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions (weight: pass/fail). Candidates who pass the application screening may be invited to a panel interview (weight:100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Monday, April 17, 2023, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of April 24, 2023
Civil Service Panel Interview: May 8 and/or 9, 2023

The County of San Mateo may require that all employees provide proof of COVID-19 vaccine or comply with weekly COVID-19 testing. Employees hired into specified health care facilities and other high-risk settings where there is potential for frequent COVID-19 exposure to staff and highly vulnerable patients are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. For more specific information, please refer to the County's COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Policy.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (04032023) (Housing and Community Development Specialist II/III - R002/R003)