Certification Specialist III

Job Summary

Performs assignments in any or all the following areas of responsibility: reexaminations (annual eligibility and interims), fraud investigation and recovery, new applicant processing, participant moves with continued assistance, vendor changes, rent increases, rent reasonableness, and portability. Applies the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver (“DHA”) policies and procedures and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations to Housing Choice Voucher (“HCV”) programs. Assists other staff as requested by Program Manager – HCV. This position is distinguished from the Certification Specialist II in that it has lead responsibilities in specialized and/or technical duties that require detailed knowledge of HCV programs

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Is the first point of contact for questions and conflict resolution for Certification Specialist I and II.
• Ensures established performance standards are met or exceeded by conducting desk audits and works to correct any deficiencies observed; provides work instruction and assists employees with difficult and/or unusual assignments.
• Acts as a liaison between the participants, landlords and department or other DHA staff by following up on escalated requests or complaints and referring to Program Manager.
• Resolves problems encountered during daily operations and determines appropriate solutions or relays problems to Program Manager.
• Identifies and recommends process improvement changes that will effectively and efficiently enhance processes.
• Reports performance concerns and may contribute to the development of the performance enhancement plan and furnish information for the formal performance evaluation to Program Manager.
• Assists staff, participants and landlords with inquiries or problems related to HCV procedures and services, by conducting research and explaining applicable regulations, policies, procedures or standards based on a comprehensive knowledge of HUD or HCV department procedures.
• Provides complete and accurate information to participants and landlords, which may involve explaining applicable regulations, policies, procedures or standards based on a comprehensive knowledge of HUD or HCV department procedures.
• Completes audits as assigned by Program Manager and performs work on special projects that support the goals and objectives of the HCV department.
• Processes all aspects of reexaminations and redeterminations for all new applicants and existing participants which includes but not limited to: collecting data on income and family composition, obtaining verifications calculating rent portions, terminating clients for failure to complete reexaminations/redeterminations information and monitoring clients at zero Housing Assistance Payments (“HAP”) for future termination of subsidy.
• Monitors current assigned area of responsibility for compliance with HUD regulations and DHA policies and procedures. Assists Certification Specialist I and II by providing accurate solutions to compliance questions.
• Processes new applicants, including Request for Tenancy Approval, and prepares contracts. Conducts new applicant orientation. Cancels applicant voucher for failure to lease.
• Investigates cases of fraud by landlords or participants. Prepares repayment agreements. Terminates participant subsidy for failure to maintain repayment agreement.
• Processes participant moves with continued assistance including landlord terminations, notices to vacate, evictions, Request for Tenancy Approvals, and prepares contracts. Terminates participants for failure to lease.
• Schedules and participates in pre-termination conferences with participants.
• Processes all aspects of participant portability, including incoming and outgoing portable participants. Processes billings with the Finance department and other housing authorities. Conducts reexaminations, interims, new move-ins, participant moves with continued assistance, notices to vacate, landlord terminations, evictions, Request for Tenancy Approvals, leases and contracts. Terminates participants for non-compliance issues or participant self-termination. Absorbs incoming portables when necessary. Works closely with other housing authorities.
• Processes vendor changes and prepares leases and contracts accordingly. Obtains required documents.
• Process rent increases and prepares contracts accordingly.
• Follows up on failed Housing Quality Standards (“HQS”) paperwork forwarded by the inspection department. Sends letters and notices to participants and landlords. Terminates participants and landlord contracts as necessary.
• Reviews HAP reports and provides backup for verification.
• Monitors contract variances limited by program requirements (i.e., contract bedroom distribution, payment standards, rent reasonableness, payment adjustments, and 40 percent rent payment client rule.)
• Schedules and compiles documentation for hearings regarding terminations in accordance with DHA policies and procedures and HUD regulations. Presents supporting documentation for informal hearings.
• Completes assigned filing and maintains assigned client files.
• Presents documentation for court proceedings, as needed.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance including scheduling lunches and breaks.
• Performs other duties as assigned and qualified to perform.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Associates degree or college level course work in human services or related field.
• Experience: Two (2) years of clerical experience and a working knowledge of all HCV programs.

One (1) year experience working in DHA’s HCV department.

• Equivalency: A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum educational requirements.

Licenses and / or Certifications: Depending on the position being filled, a valid Colorado driver license may be required. If a valid Colorado driver license is required, a good driving record must be maintained in accordance with the personnel policy.

• Must possess at time of application
• HCV Specialist Certification
• Occupancy Specialist Certification
• Rent Calculation Certification
• Eligibility Certification

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Limit 10)

• Integrity/Honesty – Displays high standards of ethical conduct, understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others, chooses an ethical course of action, and is trustworthy.
• Conscientiousness – Displays a high level of effort and commitment towards performing work and demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Interpersonal Skills – Shows understanding, courtesy, tact, empathy, and concern, develops and maintains relationships, may deal with people who are difficult, hostile, and/or distressed, relates well to people from varied backgrounds and situations, and is sensitive to individual differences.
• Listening – Receives, attends to, interprets, and responds to verbal messages and other cues such as body language in ways that are appropriate to listeners and situations.
• Reading – Understands and interprets written material including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables and applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
• Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning – Performs computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division correctly using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, and formulas and has ability to use 10-key calculator.
• Writing – Uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling to communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing.
• Flexibility – Adapts quickly to changes.
• Speaking – Uses correct English grammar to organize and communicate ideas in words that are appropriate to listeners and situations and uses appropriate body language to effectively communicate in a clear, concise and courteous non – discriminatory and professional manner.
• Memory – Recalls information that has been presented previously.
• Problem Solving – Identifies problems, determines accuracy and relevant information, and uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
• ·Customer Service – Works and communicates with clients and customers to satisfy their expectations and is committed to quality services.
• Reasoning – Discovers or selects rules, regulations, and relationships between facts and other information.
• Teamwork – Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity, fosters commitment and team spirit, and works with others to achieve goals.
• Diversity – Is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workforce.
• Stress Tolerance – Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).
• Attention of Detail – Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
• Decision Making – Specifies goals and obstacles to achieving those goals, generates alternatives, considers risks, and evaluates and chooses the best alternative to decide, draw conclusions, or solve a problem.
• Self-Management – Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals, monitors progress and is motivated to achieve, manages own time, and deals with stress effectively.
• Technical Competence – Knowledge of how to perform one’s job. Refers to specialized knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job training.
• Conflict Management – Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
• Negotiation – Works with others towards an agreement that may involve exchanging specific resources or resolving differences. Ability to type 40 wpm.
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience in programs, DHA policies and procedures and HUD regulations.
• Skill in the application of existing guidelines to a variety of work situations.
• Works effectively with angry, hostile and/or verbally abusive individuals.

Physical Requirements

• Physical Demands
• Carrying: Transporting an object, usually by hand, arm or shoulder.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds by the ear.
• Reaching: Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words.
• Repetitive Motions: Making frequent movements with a part of the body.
• Driving: Moving body parts for automobile operations.
• Physical Strength
• Lifting: Raising or lowering an object weighing 10 pounds.
• Vision Requirements
• Near Acuity: Ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less.
• Accommodation: Ability to adjust vision to bring objects into focus
• Mental Demands
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Memorization
• Oral Comprehension

Written Comprehension

Interpretation (Policies, procedures or practices)

• Applies and interprets HUD regulations and DHA policies and procedures. Makes recommendations to the Program Manager-HCV regarding changes to DHA policies and procedures.

Internal/External Contacts:

• Internal: Contact with DHA department staff. External: Frequent contact with the public and organizations where explanatory or interpretive information is exchanged, gathered or presented. Contact occurs during interview process where data is obtained and verified.

Supervisor Responsibilities: none

Working Conditions:

• Intense and stressful office environment. At times, working conditions are stressful, due to volume of workload and constant interruptions from participants, housing providers and other Certification Specialists.
• No hazardous physical working conditions are present.

Position Reports To: Program Manager – HCV

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $31.47 - $39.32 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Do you have (1) year experience working in an HCV department?

Ability to Commute:

• Denver, CO 80204 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Denver, CO 80204: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $31 - $39