What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Housing Counselor (Education/Outreach Inst) position at Prince William County Government?
Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) is seeking a Lead Housing Counselor to support our Financial Education and Housing Counseling team in Prince William County. This full-time role will provide one-on-one housing counseling services, financial education, and leadership to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations while supporting staff development and client success.
If you are a HUD-certified housing counselor with leadership experience and expertise in credit counseling, homeownership education, lending practices, and financial action planning, we invite you to apply!
About This Role
Key Responsibilities include:
Counseling Duties
Conduct confidential, one-on-one financial and housing counseling sessions
Assist English- and Spanish-speaking clients by providing translation support as needed
Educate clients on credit management, debt reduction, homeownership, savings strategies, and financial planning
Provide accurate data entry and client tracking using CounselorMax
Stay up to date with personal finance laws, HUD regulations, and lending practices
Leadership Duties
Supervise, train, and mentor VCE-PW housing counselors to ensure professional growth and service excellence
Support program manager with preparation for performance reviews for housing counselors, providing guidance and feedback to enhance service quality
Monitor and ensure quality control of all client counseling reports, ensuring compliance with HUD Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1, National Industry Standards (14 steps), and Virginia Housing Train-the-Trainer policies
Manage secure client files (physical and digital) following confidentiality policies
Oversee financial assessments completed by HUD-certified counselors and ensure accuracy and completeness
Staff Development & Mentorship
Develop training programs and ongoing professional development plans for housing counselors
Provide guidance and coaching to newly hired counselors to help them achieve certification and proficiency in their roles
Establish a peer review and feedback system to promote continuous learning and best practices
Secondary Responsibilities
Lead financial literacy and homeownership seminars
Represent VCE at community outreach events and networking meetings
Minimum Requirements
High school diploma or GED and 4 years of experience in housing counseling, financial education, or personal finance counseling
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Social Services, Counseling, or related field
HUD Housing Counseling Certification
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and CounselorMax
Experience supervising or training financial counselors
Familiarity with low-income or unbanked client services
Bilingual (English/Spanish preferred but not required)
One or more of the following certifications:
Master Financial Education Volunteer (MFEV)
Virginia Housing "Train the Trainer" Qualification
Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
Special Requirements
Candidates must obtain Virginia Housing "Train the Trainer" certification within 30 days of hire if not already certified
Background check required
Work Schedule
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Primarily scheduled during weekday business hours (8:30 AM - 5 PM)
Limited telework available as determined by supervisor approval and business needs
Hiring Range: $65,910.00 Annually
We also offer great benefits to full-time employees including:
Important Notices
At-will employment: Positions at Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William are in the exempt service of the County. Employment is at-will, meaning that either the employer or employee may terminate employment at any time for any legal reason, with or without notice.
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If you are a HUD-certified housing counselor with leadership experience and expertise in credit counseling, homeownership education, lending practices, and financial action planning, we invite you to apply!
About This Role
Key Responsibilities include:
Counseling Duties
Conduct confidential, one-on-one financial and housing counseling sessions
Assist English- and Spanish-speaking clients by providing translation support as needed
Educate clients on credit management, debt reduction, homeownership, savings strategies, and financial planning
Provide accurate data entry and client tracking using CounselorMax
Stay up to date with personal finance laws, HUD regulations, and lending practices
Leadership Duties
Supervise, train, and mentor VCE-PW housing counselors to ensure professional growth and service excellence
Support program manager with preparation for performance reviews for housing counselors, providing guidance and feedback to enhance service quality
Monitor and ensure quality control of all client counseling reports, ensuring compliance with HUD Housing Counseling Handbook 7610.1, National Industry Standards (14 steps), and Virginia Housing Train-the-Trainer policies
Manage secure client files (physical and digital) following confidentiality policies
Oversee financial assessments completed by HUD-certified counselors and ensure accuracy and completeness
Staff Development & Mentorship
Develop training programs and ongoing professional development plans for housing counselors
Provide guidance and coaching to newly hired counselors to help them achieve certification and proficiency in their roles
Establish a peer review and feedback system to promote continuous learning and best practices
Secondary Responsibilities
Lead financial literacy and homeownership seminars
Represent VCE at community outreach events and networking meetings
Minimum Requirements
High school diploma or GED and 4 years of experience in housing counseling, financial education, or personal finance counseling
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Social Services, Counseling, or related field
HUD Housing Counseling Certification
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and CounselorMax
Experience supervising or training financial counselors
Familiarity with low-income or unbanked client services
Bilingual (English/Spanish preferred but not required)
One or more of the following certifications:
Master Financial Education Volunteer (MFEV)
Virginia Housing "Train the Trainer" Qualification
Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
Special Requirements
Candidates must obtain Virginia Housing "Train the Trainer" certification within 30 days of hire if not already certified
Background check required
Work Schedule
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Primarily scheduled during weekday business hours (8:30 AM - 5 PM)
Limited telework available as determined by supervisor approval and business needs
Hiring Range: $65,910.00 Annually
We also offer great benefits to full-time employees including:
- Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
- Annual leave and sick leave
- Paid personal days
- Paid holidays
- Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
- Group Life Insurance
- 401a and 457 Retirement Savings Plans
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Career Development
Important Notices
At-will employment: Positions at Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William are in the exempt service of the County. Employment is at-will, meaning that either the employer or employee may terminate employment at any time for any legal reason, with or without notice.
Salary : $65,910 - $119,906
