2 - Lead Housing Choice Voucher Specialist
10 days ago
Saint Paul
Job DescriptionDescription: Open Internally until February 9, 2026. Open Externally until February 16, 2026. Class Title: Lead Housing Choice Voucher Specialist Position Title: Lead Housing Choice Voucher Specialist Accountable To: Housing Choice Voucher Programs Manager Department: Housing Choice Voucher Programs/Section 8 Band: B Grade: 3 Subgrade: 2 Come join one of the nation’s highest ranked housing agencies. Be a part of an innovative and creative team of individuals committed to serving the community by providing affordable, quality housing. The St. Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA) has been serving the community for over 45 years. St. Paul PHA is an independent agency that owns and operates affordable rental housing for low-income families and individuals throughout the City, with subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The PHA provides approximately 4,273 affordable rental units in hi-rise buildings, townhomes, and scattered site single family and duplex homes. The PHA administers 5,242 Housing Choice Vouchers, paying over 45 million annually in federal rent subsidies to private owners who rent units to eligible families and individuals with very low incomes. Mission Statement: The PHA helps families and individuals with low incomes achieve greater stability and self-reliance by providing safe, affordable, quality housing and links to community services. Employment Benefits: The PHA offers a generous employee benefits package. The standard package includes paid vacation and sick leave; eleven paid designated holidays and two paid floating holidays; health and dental insurance coverage; and an employer pension contribution equal to 7% of employee's salary (employee contributes 5%). Additional benefits vary by contract or Supervisory and Confidential (S&C) policies. Class Summary: Incumbents are responsible for determining eligibility or continuing eligibility for Public Housing or Section 8 Program assistance, processing rental applications, calculating rent values, verifying accuracy of eligibility determinations and calculations, and addressing subject matter inquiries from Housing Choice Voucher Specialists. Distinguishing Characteristics: The Lead Housing Choice Voucher Specialist is the second level of a four-level rental series. The Lead Housing Choice Voucher Specialist is distinguished from the Assistant Housing Choice Voucher Programs Manager by its responsibility for verifying and processing rental applications, conducting annual and interim recertification's of eligibility for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participants, calculating and confirming rent values and tenant payments, providing coverage and training to new Housing Choice Voucher Specialists as needed, and its non-supervisory duties. Position Summary: Incumbents are responsible for: verifying calculations and eligibility determinations of all Housing Choice Voucher Specialists; maintaining waiting lists; responding to questions; explaining regulations and procedures to the general public, voucher participants and applicants; interviewing applicants and participants; sending out third party verification forms; determining if applicants meet eligibility requirements for Housing Choice Voucher Programs, including all special purpose vouchers and statewide rental assistance; determining if participants continue to meet eligibility requirements; tracking vouchers; calculating rent values and tenant payments; processing a variety of forms and documents; preparing related correspondence and reports. Duties: • Maximize the utilization of vouchers throughout the Section 8 program by complying with HUD regulations and established PHA policies for program admission and continued occupancy. Determines the program eligibility of applicants and/or continued participants through an interview with follow up on verification of income, household composition and criminal history. Conducts mandatory briefings for all eligible adults, informing applicants and participants of the basic rules and regulations of the program. Processes all related paperwork for participants to continue their assistance in St. Paul or move in according with HUD regulations and PHA policies. Maximizes PHA operating income through collection efforts and appropriate implementation of HUD regulations regarding balances. Ensures participant awareness of and continued compliance with regulations, rules, and procedures. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV, portability, ongoing occupancy, and movers but performance standards may vary., • Responsible for all file verifications from HCV Specialists and Lead HCV Specialists prior to submission for rent roll., • Chiefly responsible for all occupancy functions related to all special purpose vouchers, including (but not limited to) FSS, PBV, BIH, VASH, FUP, and Mainstream., • Serves as “first responder”, a resource to subject-matter questions by HCV Specialists and offers program improvement suggestions to management, as needed., • Performs duties of HCV Specialists, as assigned, in the event of vacancies, unplanned absences, or additional workflow., • Serves as the administrative back up in the absence of a Program Manager, as needed or as assigned., • Takes appropriate action for families utilizing the portability feature of the Housing Choice Voucher Program., • Process interim reexaminations, including rent increases and tenant-reported changes, in a timely manner., • Processes voucher terminations and /or cancellations consistently and in compliance with applicable HUD regulations and established PHA policies., • Individualized responsibilities are completed accurately and within the appropriate time frame., • Responds promptly, courteously and professionally via phone, e-mail or in writing to participant, landlord, general public or staff inquiries regarding the Section 8 program or established procedures., • Processes all files accurately and within a timely manner, according to the separate performance standards for Waitlist, Special Programs, and Portability. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV, BIH, portability, and ongoing occupancy, but performance standards may vary., • Maintains current and accurate waiting lists/records for all vouchers/units, according to the separate performance standards for Waitlist, Special Programs, BIH, and Portability. This duty applies for waitlist, special programs; PBV, BIH, and portability, but performance standards may vary., • Processes voucher terminations and /or cancellations consistently and in compliance with applicable HUD regulations and established PHA policies., • Must abide by all Board-approved policies, policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment, executive communications, administrative procedures, and safety procedures established by the PHA., • Interviewing techniques;, • Basic mathematical principles;, • Customer service techniques;, • Familiarity with laws and regulations pertaining to property management and landlord/tenant relations;, • Using computers and related software applications; prefer MS Word and Excel experience, • Maintaining files and records;, • Resolving problems and disputes;, • Prioritizing and handling multiple projects;, • Writing clear and concise memos and reports;, • Performing basic mathematical calculations;, • Education: AA degree or 2 years of relevant vocational school education., • Experience: Relevant BA degree or additional vocational or technical training., • Experience: Additional relevant experience, including experience in subsidized rental calculations. Demonstrated experience working with ethnically, culturally and economically diverse populations. Light Work (Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated light work: [1] when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or [2] when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing or pulling of arm or leg controls; or [3] when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.) (For complete physical requirements see “Physical Demands Job Analyst” on file.)