Director, Office of the Homeowners’ Association Ombudsman

Shape the future of community living in Utah. The Utah Department of Commerce is offering a rare and compelling opportunity for a licensed attorney to become the founding Director of the Office of the Homeowners’ Association Ombudsman. This is your chance to architect the processes, shape the policy, define the vision, and build the team for a brand-new entity within Utah government. Your leadership will be instrumental in forging its identity and impact on law and policy statewide and potentially beyond.

The Office comes as a result of HB 217, meant to improve the relationship between Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Condominium Associations (COAs) and their members. The director will set up the office to provide outreach, education, guidance, and review complaints against HOAs and COAs. As necessary, the director will also provide opinions on issues arising before the Office. The director will also manage a new annual registration process for HOAs and COAs.

Through the leadership of the director, this office will serve as a resource for members and board members in HOAs and COAs, a thought leader engaged with interested stakeholders on issues of policy, and a bridge to resolve disputes. 

This position is an in-person role in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and responsibilities will include, but not be limited to the following: 

• Meet statutory requirements for the HOA Office
• Hire and manage an attorney and additional staff member to assist in the duties of the office
• Engage with members and other stakeholders to gain perspectives on current issues facing HOAs and COAs and to receive feedback on processes and implementation
• Prepare and present outreach and education related to the HOA Office and HOA and COA topics generally
• Create and manage a website to facilitate education and engagement between the HOA Office and the public
• Manage intake of inquiries from HOA and COA members and other members of the public
• Work with the Commerce communications team to create releases, respond to press inquiries, and engage in other external communications
• Coordinate with Department of Commerce leadership to engage in policy and legislative issues

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Passion for the subject matter and a desire to make a difference in this space
• Experience managing a team of employees
• Experience providing representation on HOA and COA issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability and desire to network and become familiar with and make connections to industry and community leaders in this space

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PREFERENCES

• 3 years of experience representing HOAs, COAs, or members of associations in legal matters
• 3 years of experience managing a team
• Familiarity with law underlying regulations relating to HOAs and COAs.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

As a member of Commerce’s senior team, you’ll be working with fast-paced, dynamic individuals who are actively pursuing ways to improve Utah’s regulatory environment in order to enable the economic prosperity needed for Utah’s future.

You are eligible for a rich benefits package, generous paid time off, and great work-life balance. As an appointed direct report of the executive director, you are eligible for additional benefits including 7 hours of paid vacation leave every two weeks.

AGENCY

The Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and business community. Its mission is to strengthen trust in Utah’s commercial activities through education, licensing, enforcement, and regulation.  We provide oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional and occupational licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate and residential mortgage lending. Please visit our website for more information about our agency.

BENEFITS

This position is eligible for a rich benefits package, generous paid time off, and great work-life balance. You can learn more about offered benefits here. 

• Health Insurance - Public Employee Health Program (PEHP):
  1. 3 medical plan options. Choose a Traditional or High Deductible Health Plan. There is an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other medical insurance coverage.
  2. 5 dental plan options, with an Opt-Out Cash Benefit option for those that have other dental insurance coverage.
  3. 4 vision plan options under EyeMed or OptiCare
• Retirement - Utah Retirement Systems (URS):
  1. Employees who have any service credit with an employer covered by the Utah Retirement Systems prior to 7/1/2011 are in the Tier I Public Employees System.
  2. Employees hired on or after 7/1/2011 and who have never been in the URS retirement system have two options for retirement in the Tier II System. 
     1. Tier 2 Hybrid Retirement System. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary between both plans (pension and 401(k))
     2. Tier 2 Defined Contribution Plan. Employer contributes an amount equal to 10% of your salary to a 401(k) plan only.  
  3. Employer contributions to your 401(k) are vested after four years.
• Paid Time Off:
  1. Normally for new hires, annual leave and sick leave are accrued at 4 hours per pay period each (4 hours annual, 4 hours sick). But since this position is a Director reporting to the Deputy Director, new hires will receive the max accrual of 7 hours for annual leave. 
  2. We have 12 paid holidays.

• This is an in-person role, telework is not available. 

• Job Classification: Division Director II, Commerce (#83069). 

Salary : $50 - $60