Affordable Housing and Finance Specialist



Affordable Housing and Finance Specialist

Salary

$68,749.73 - $83,589.16 Annually

Location

Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

21/09-9137-OC

Department

Community Development Commission (CDC)

Opening Date

09/01/2021

Closing Date

10/26/2021 11:11 AM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

05

Position Information

Bring your extensive knowledge and experience in real estate and affordable housing development finance and mortgage underwriting to the Sonoma County Community Development Commission (CDC). 

Join the CDC and support our community's efforts to create affordable housing access for all!   

Starting salary up to $38.97/hour ($81,335/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!*

The CDC is dedicated to creating homes in thriving and inclusive neighborhoods for everyone. Please visit the CDC's website to learn more about the Commission's dedication to creating affordable housing opportunities. In support of this mission, the Affordable Housing and Finance Specialist administers the Commission's loan portfolio and assists with the development and redevelopment of affordable single-family and multi-family housing projects. This position supports all phases of assigned projects, including project planning, grant writing, environmental review, mediation of issues, financial planning and reporting, loan processing, auditing and monitoring project compliance, and record-keeping.

Additionally, the Affordable Housing and Finance Specialist coordinates Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) processes; prepares staff reports; works with title companies, lenders, and state regulatory agencies to ensure that the CDC's position is clear; and assists in the management of the CDC's property affordability agreements. Some of the funding programs include: County Fund for Housing (CFH), Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Asset Fund (LMIHAF), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Homeownership Funds, and Housing Assistance Committee (HAC) contract.

The ideal candidate for this position has extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local affordable housing programs; a passion for public service; and the talent needed to effectively:

  • Administer loans, including screening for eligibility, originating and processing, underwriting, closing escrow, post-loan servicing, and loan workouts
  • Draft loan documents, lien recordations, deeds of trust, regulatory agreements, and closing processes for both single-family and multi-family housing properties
  • Administer contracts and regulatory agreements, deed restrictions, land use covenants, rights of refusal, and options to purchase
  • Provide technical assistance to borrowers, contractors, and grantees regarding the administration and development of projects/programs pursuant to contract terms 
  • Engage diverse groups of people and audiences of all levels to work towards improving our communities' affordable housing opportunities!

What We Offer

When you join the CDC, you become part of a challenging and rewarding work environment where you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are working to better your community. You can also look forward to a competitive total compensation package, including*:

  • An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
  • Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
  • A significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
  • County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
  • Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
  • May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
  • Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.

The Sonoma County Community Development Commission is a separate entity from the County of Sonoma and not within the County's Civil Service System. The formal title of this position is Senior Community Development Specialist. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and work experience which would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally this would include academic course work in public administration, business, accounting, real estate, finance or related courses and three years of full-time experience as a Community Development Specialist II or equivalent position.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Special Requirement: Designated positions may require the ability to speak, read and write a language in addition to English.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: the purpose, process and concepts of processing documents related to Community Development Programs; federal assistance programs; real estate transactions; loan application procedures; grant program funding; commonly used documents related to specialized program areas; methods and techniques used in researching, proofing, evaluating and gathering information; organization and presentation of data in reports to the public; computerized equipment and specific systems used within the agency; English grammar, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and composition; public welfare and community resources available to low income groups; instructional techniques and methods.

Ability to: work independently in performing most assignments and in resolving problems; provide training and direction to lower level staff; establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships with clients, other employees and supervisors, community organizations and representatives, the general public, and state and federal agencies; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; assist in management of multi-faceted programs; independently manage multiple projects of a multi-faceted program; organize, coordinate, analyze and synthesize the work of varied and changing work groups including staff of municipalities, County departments, local and state agencies, community organizations, lenders, title companies, real estate agents, developers and/or others; function as lead for a program and/or multiple projects of a program; use computerized equipment; analyze and evaluate program effectiveness and make recommendations; make oral and written presentations to groups and organizations of various size; establish, organize and manage departmental files; prepare clear and concise written reports.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

  • Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
  • You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
  • You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
  • Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting-a-Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
 
Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses which state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer are contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: As the largest employer in Sonoma County, the Board of Supervisors has adopted a vaccination and testing policy to help mitigate transmission of COVID-19. All County employees will be required to either have documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination on file or consent to weekly COVID-19 testing.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: CG
HR Technician: KC

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
 
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
 
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Cash Allowance: In addition to monthly salary, a cash allowance of approximately $600 per month.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired.
 
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
 
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution. For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

01
Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.
  • I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
  • I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
  • I am only interested in full-time positions
02
This eligible list may be used for future bilingual (English/Spanish) positions. Please indicate if you are interested in bilingual positions, and your level of proficiency.
  • Yes, I have basic (conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • Yes, I have fluent (reading, writing, and conversational) English/Spanish bilingual skills
  • No, I do not have English/Spanish bilingual skills, and/or I do not wish to be considered for a bilingual position
03
How did you first learn about this opportunity?
  • Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
  • California Association of Housing Authorities (CAHA)
  • CalJobs
  • CareerBuilder
  • Careers in Government
  • College or University
  • Craigslist
  • Craigslist Mendocino
  • DiversityJobs
  • Employee of Sonoma County
  • Facebook
  • Glassdoor
  • GovernmentJobs.com
  • Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
  • Indeed
  • Job Fair
  • La Voz
  • Latino Service Providers
  • LinkedIn
  • Los Cien
  • Minority Organization or Group
  • Monster
  • National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
  • National Community Development Association (NCDA)
  • Non-Profit Housing (NPH)
  • Pacific Southwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (PSWRC-NAHRO)
  • Press Democrat
  • sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
  • Sonoma County Human Resources Office
  • Sonoma County Job Line
  • Twitter
  • Veterans Services Office
  • Women's Organization or Group
  • Workplace Diversity
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Other Internet Site
  • Other Publication
04
For this question, and all subsequent questions, provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria and may be reviewed by hiring managers.

Please describe your relevant education, training, and experience which meets or exceeds the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • List your relevant certifications, coursework, and/or degree(s) in public administration, business, accounting, real estate, finance, and/or a related field.
  • For each relevant position you list, include job title(s), employer's name, dates of employment (mm/yy - mm/yy), and a description of your primary responsibilities.
05
Please describe your experience working with federal, state, and/or local funding sources to finance affordable housing programs. Include job title(s), employer's name, a description of your primary duties for obtaining and monitoring the funding source(s), and the types of funding you worked with.
06
Please describe a specific example of your experience ensuring compliance with loan administration requirements. Explain the type of funding source, amounts, and your overall responsibilities for meeting requirements.
07
Please describe your experience explaining housing project services and funding to the public. Provide an example of a challenging situation you have addressed, how you addressed the inquiry, and the outcome of the experience.

Required Question

Agency
County of Sonoma (CA)
Address
575 Administration Drive, Suite 116B

Santa Rosa, California, 95403
Phone
(707) 565-2331