Housing Hearing Officer

State of Connecticut•Hartford, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut, Department of Housing (DOH), is accepting applications from its agency employees for a Housing Hearing Officer (Housing Specialist 2) within the Legal division in Hartford, CT. This is a full-time, 40-hours per week, Monday through Friday, first shift position located at 505 Hudson Street in Hartford, CT. This hybrid position is eligible to apply for telework, in accordance with the Telework Policy. The Housing Hearing Officer will be responsible for reviewing and conducting administrative housing hearings of appeals submitted by Section 8 and RAP applicants. They will be responsible for maintaining the case files, all submitted documentation and all related written summaries, reports, and decisions. The Department of Housing is the lead agency for housing matters for the State of Connecticut and is responsible for the creation of environmental review records for more than ten (10) federal grant programs associated with affordable housing and community development activities. The Housing & Development division is responsible for working in concert with municipal leaders, public agencies, community groups, local housing authorities, and other housing developers in the planning and development of affordable homeownership and rental housing units, the preservation of existing multi-family housing developments, community revitalization and financial and other support for our most vulnerable residents through our funding and technical support programs.

Requirements

Current Dept. of Housing employee
At least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service with the agency
Seven (7) years of professional experience in the development and coordination of housing programs or projects or financial or technical advisory assistance to local, state, or federal government entities relative to housing or related housing matters.
One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at the level of Housing Specialist 1.
College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's Degree.
A Master's Degree in housing and community development, housing studies, housing and human environments, urban planning, business administration, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
Ability to utilize computer software
Supervisory ability

Nice To Haves

Experience communicating with the public and business representatives.
Experience drafting legal documents and handling confidential information.
Experience independently managing multiple projects with competing priorities.
Experience with affordable housing program management or initiatives.
Experience with housing appeals.

Responsibilities

Review appeal submissions related to Section 8 and Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
Conduct administrative housing hearings
Receive and document testimony, exhibits, and supporting materials presented in the appeals and hearings processes
Engage with witnesses, staff, and contractor personnel to clarify facts and ensure a complete record
Evaluate evidence and prepare written decisions that explain findings and conclusions
Maintain case files, hearing materials, and decision records
Prepare summaries, reports, or recommendations
Plan unit workflow and determine priorities
Schedule, assign, oversee, and review work
Establish and maintain unit procedures
Provide technical assistance and review work of unit staff for consistency and conformity with unit policies
Provide staff training
Conduct or assist in conducting performance evaluations
Make recommendations on policies or standards
Review, analyze and complete complex financial assistance applications, program plans, budgets, term sheets, contracts, and revisions to contracts to ensure accuracy and conformity with statutory and agency requirements
Provide funding and other recommendations on financial applications
Review and process requests for disbursements, contract modifications and other program and project modifications requested by the financial assistance recipients and make recommendations
Provide technical assistance to state agencies and federal government entities relative to housing related programs
Consult with local agencies and authorities in areas of program planning, design, operations and management
Serve as liaison with agency administrative staff, state agencies and federal government entities, property managers, landlords, private consultants, advocates, service providers and attorneys on housing, housing related and community development matters including agency projects and programs
Perform inspections, recertifications, reviews and evaluations to determine quality of program operations, conformance with program plan and other contractual requirements and effectiveness and make recommendations
Prepare comprehensive financial documents and other reports
Maintain and monitor program budgets and complete related paperwork
Monitor the status of payment requests
Coordinate activities of agency with local, regional, state, and federal governmental entities and private organizations and individuals
Meet with officials and others to explain agency programs and policies
Represent the agency in meetings with financial assistance recipients
May develop new housing, housing related and community development programs