Housing Program Manager- HUD Certified

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is seeking a Housing Program Manager to oversee housing programs aimed at empowering women and eliminating racism. The role includes direct supervision of staff, managing program operations, and collaborating with community partners.

The ideal candidate must have at least five years of management experience and strong leadership skills. Responsibilities include developing grant objectives, providing housing counseling, and ensuring program compliance. This position requires flexible hours and the ability to work in various settings.

Qualifications

• Five years of management experience with a non-profit or government organization.
• Experience as a housing counselor or financial educator is a plus.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Housing Program and provide day-to-day supervision.
• Plan and organize activities for grant requirements.
• Educate clients on housing services and assist with required forms.

Skills

Problem solving

Group leadership

Effective communication

Detail orientation

Teamwork

Computer proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum associate’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Client management databases

Job description

Description

POSITION TITLE: Housing Program Manager- HUD Certified

STATUS: Exempt, FT GRADE: 5

DEPT: Economic Empowerment PROGRAM: Housing & Financial Inclusion

REPORTS TO: Chief Economic Empowerment Officer

SUPERVISES: Housing and Financial Inclusion Staff

SUMMARY: The Housing Program Manager is responsible for overseeing the Housing Program that supports the YWCA’s main objective to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. This role will work closely with the Chief Economic Empowerment Officer to provide day‑to‑day supervision of program operations, maintain records pertaining to program activities, oversee the implementation of new programs, and manage marketing and outreach to the community. The Housing Program Manager is responsible for assisting in regular reporting to grantors in regard to program goal achievement, tracking client demographics, or in the preparation of new grant requests and funding continuation from current sponsors. The Housing Program Manager will work with staff, funders and other agency peers on researching and disseminating housing counseling updates and best practices. This position will also be required to carry a case load and provide direct service work to program participants, including conducting pre‑purchase/homebuyer education and financial education workshops and webinars, providing housing counseling (including pre‑purchase and rental) and credit counseling services. HUD Housing Counselor certification is required within the first 90 days of employment.

COLLABORATES WITH: Housing Program Manager – Collaborates with the Financial Inclusion and overall Economic Empowerment department leaders and staff, YWCA program members and other YWCA staff members; program funders and community partners and representatives.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Responsibilities: Plan and organize activities required for the full implementation of Housing program goals, grant requirements and objectives that lead to closing the racial wealth gap and increasing the number of Black and Brown homeowners within the YWCA’s geographical footprint. The Housing Program Manager will ensure that program activities are consistent with the program objectives and that objectives can be met with available resources and ensure the program meets targets, budgets and timelines, with appropriate reporting and evaluation. The Program Manager will work closely with the Chief Economic Empowerment Officer to develop, complete and finalize all program deliverables according to the timeline established within each funder’s grant requirements. To provide proper oversight, the Housing Program Manager must be HUD certified to understand industry standards, requirements, and HUD Housing Counseling policies and procedures which include benefits to the renter, the prospective homebuyer, or the existing homeowner. HUD Housing Counselor Certification must be attained within the first 90 days of employment.

External/Partner Contact: Communicate with community members, organizational leaders, funders and other stakeholders to gain support and increase visibility for housing programs and to solicit input to improve the programs. Develop, implement and evaluate recruitment strategies to expand the number of members utilizing services. Identify direct programmatic assistance opportunities with non‑profit agencies and government agencies around the state. Co‑write and submit work plans on behalf of Housing and Financial Inclusion, and carry out the programmatic assistance as defined in the work plans.

Member Contact: Educate clients and prospective clients about the available Housing and Financial Inclusion services, Economic Empowerment Services, and greater YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Services. Assist members with completion of required forms and assessments. Conduct member screening to evaluate need for immediate support and to facilitate referral and linkage to appropriate community services. Use appropriate judgment in upward communication regarding client or member concerns.

Administrative duties: Develop, plan and coordinate staff trainings. Identify appropriate topics and trainers, and conduct and coordinate trainings as appropriate. Secure contracts, coordinate logistics, and provide on‑site support to Housing staff. Work with the YWCA Communications team to market trainings, programs, and events. Research best practices in housing counseling for possible training topics or other initiatives that would be of value to members and partners. Manage housing counseling staff to maintain program compliance such as securely stored client files with all required documents and forms, regular file reviews, reviewing outgoing reports, conducting site visits, and preparation for the HUD Performance Review. Track and monitor Housing Counseling staff’s data entry and client management processes to ensure client communications are recorded in a timely manner and the utilization of required client management system – mPact Pro. Conduct follow‑ups via phone and/or email to determine whether the client is receiving timely, efficient, and effective housing counseling. This includes monitoring the collection of closing/disclosure statements and related documentation once a client fulfills homeownership or completed their Action Plan. Fulfill all other duties as assigned by the Chief.

NON-ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Participate in staff meetings, and training as scheduled.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

Other duties outside of the responsibilities of the position may be assigned, whether for a project, special needs task or other assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Working knowledge with all aspects of the homeownership process: mortgage lending, realtor service, closing of mortgage loan, loan processing, and loan modification.
• At least five years of management experience with a non‑profit, community‑based organization, or government with varying levels of program implementation and management.
• Strong problem solving and group leadership skills; ability to interact with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Detail and deadline oriented.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Sound computer skills including proficiency with email software, Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook, client management databases, and uploading and downloading of documents.
• Ability and willingness to learn new software and computer systems.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends one to two times per month.
• Travel around the city and state and occasionally out‑of‑state; must have valid ID.
• Prior experience as a housing counselor, empowerment coach, or financial educator is a plus.
• General knowledge of the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs to inform service delivery and outreach.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Accountability: Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high‑quality work.
• Diverse Communication Skills: Uses effective written and oral communication with internal and external stakeholders; demonstrates empathy and active listening.
• Critical Thinking: Consistently identifies, gathers, and applies relevant information to work.
• Customer‑Service Orientation: Recognizes needs of diverse stakeholders and approaches relationships with a service‑orientation, to ultimately maximize impact.
• Growth Mindset: Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required.
• Development Planning: Breaks down projects and tasks into process steps, while considering appropriate stakeholders, and executes them effectively; adjusting timelines and prioritizing as necessary.
• External Relationship Builder: Invests in and builds strong, trusted relationships with partners. Builds market position by locating, developing, defining, and closing business relationships.
• Strategic Thinking: Considers the future of the organization proactively and responsively; weighs diverse inputs to inform strategies; identifies innovative opportunities when relevant.
• Discretion is required for handling of documents and for member concerns. Demonstrated respect and appreciation for working in a multi‑ethnic, multi‑generational, and multi‑cultural work environment must be evident. The Housing Program Manager must be able to work effectively with members who may show stress and impatience.

EDUCATION REQUIRED

Bachelor’s degree is preferred; minimum associate’s degree.

CERTIFICATION(s) REQUIRED

HUD Housing Counselor Certification; must pass certification exam within first 90 days of employment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While in the office, the noise level is usually moderate.

Movement requirements include walking, stooping or kneeling. There may be a need to reach, lift or move objects, such as packages, supplies and computers. Normal (or corrected) vision range; ability to see color and to distinguish letters, numbers and symbols are necessary to the work, which may require close viewing. Occasionally may need to lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Communication needs include seeing, hearing and speaking. While working remotely and/or in the office, there will be periods of sitting, holding a telephone and using computers. Reasonable accommodations will be made for an incumbent to meet the essential responsibilities of the position.

WORK SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Three days in‑office or in the community and two days remotely. This position may require work on some evenings and weekends. Schedule can vary depending on the needs of the agency.