Bilingual Housing Counselor

About Portland Housing Center

Portland Housing Center (PHC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 with support from the City of Portland, local banks, and a concerned community. We were founded to ensure all Portland residents had equal access to information and resources to achieve homeownership. We specialize in providing first time homebuyers with education, counseling, financial resources, and other homebuying support. We are in search of a full time Bilingual HomeBuying Specialist to join our dynamic team.

Position Summary: The Bilingual HomeBuying Specialist reports directly to the Homeownership Program Director and works closely with other Portland Housing Center staff and community partners to facilitate homebuying transactions and support first-time homebuyers. This role involves providing culturally-specific guidance throughout the homebuying process, assisting clients in overcoming barriers to homeownership—such as language and cultural challenges—and ensuring they have access to necessary resources. The counselor will educate and empower clients by offering one-on-one counseling, conducting workshops, and connecting them with applicable assistance programs, toward the goal of sustainable homeownership.

Major Responsibilities:

• Assess English- and Spanish-speaking homebuyers by collecting and analyzing information regarding income, credit, assets, debts, and other personal financial information.
• Provide culturally specific pre-purchase guidance, which includes interviewing and developing work and action plans with homebuyers.
• Assist homebuyers in overcoming credit and other barriers to home purchase.
• Counsel homebuyers on the mortgage financing process.
• Make appropriate referrals to and communicate with realtors, lenders, housing professionals, and other community resources.
• Conduct pre-closing meetings and document reviews with homebuyers.
• Maintain up-to-date entry of customer contact and status notes in relevant databases to reflect most current customer information.
• Provide homebuyer readiness information and analysis to the appropriate agency staff.
• Carry out appropriate client follow up per HUD Housing Counseling requirements, while implementing an internal “triage system” that converts mortgage-ready buyers efficiently to lending.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality per agency policy and HUD Housing Counseling requirements.
• Obtain documentation of client loan closings which includes follow up with lenders and title companies.
• Ensure that data for monthly and quarterly production reports is entered in a timely manner.
• Participate in outreach activities and attend community meetings as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or two-years’ work experience in a mortgage lending, credit, and/or escrow environment
• Fluency in both English and Spanish
• Experience assisting consumers in overcoming financial barriers.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Knowledge of mortgage underwriting criteria and financial management techniques and tools
• Proficient computer knowledge and experience, including Microsoft Word, Excel and other spreadsheet programs, and data entry
• Demonstrated analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to affordable housing
• Ability to complete NeighborWorks America homebuying counseling trainings and to obtain appropriate certifications
• Must be able to pass the HUD certified housing counselor examination within two months of hire date
• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for working with underserved populations and communities of color
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications:

• HUD Housing Counselor Certification, or ability to obtain certification within one three months of hire.
• Facilitation or Co-Facilitation of financial education experience
• Targeted Marketing and Outreach experience
• Bicultural competency: ability to effectively understand, communicate with, and support clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and ensure that counseling services are delivered in a culturally responsive manner.

Organizational Performance Measures:

• Work cooperatively with agency staff to carry out organizational goals
• Adhere to organizational policies and procedures
• Promote the Portland Housing Center and its services
• Apply an equity lens to all practices and decisions
• Professional experience working with diverse populations

Working Conditions

PHC provides a typical office environment. This is a full-time position located in Portland, OR. PHC operates on a hybrid work model (currently at least two 8-hour days per week in the office) which is subject to change. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and travel to other training locations is periodically required.

Benefits

The salary range for this full-time position is $48,162-$58,239, commensurate with experience and skills. Portland Housing Center offers excellent benefits, including PTO, flex time, medical, dental, vision & prescription insurance, FSA plan, 401k with employer contribution, short-term disability, and optional life, AD&D insurance, & long-term disability.

Portland Housing Center is committed to providing equal employment opportunity (EEO) and equal pay to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We continually review and improve our company to ensure it’s a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We encourage all to apply who have a passion for the most vulnerable.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified applicants to submit a resume and cover letter by email to HR@portlandhousingcenter.org.  This position is open until filled.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.