HRA - Housing Director

Salary : $72,800.00 - $89,440.00 Annually
Location : Brainerd, MN
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 20250417
Department: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Opening Date: 04/15/2025

General Definition of Work
The Housing Director is responsible for and coordinates all program activities in both the Housing Management programs and the Housing Choice Voucher programs. This includes the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), Family Self Sufficiency (FSS), Homeownership, Bridges Rental Assistance, Bring It Home Rental Assistance, Valley View Townhomes, Public Housing (PH), Section 8 New Construction, Section 236 Subsidized Rental Housing, and Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) programs. The Housing Director conforms to HRA and federal policies, regulations and requirements, and is responsible for the supervision of the Rental Assistance Specialists, the Resident Program Coordinator, the ROSS Service Coordinator, the Housing Admin Specialist, the Housing Specialist, and the Activities Coordinator.

Essential Functions

• Supervise staff and activities across both the Rental Assistance and Housing Management departments. Determine staffing needs, training needs, work schedules and assignments. Sets performance standards and conduct performance evaluations.
• Develop, interpret, implement, update, and follow the HCV Administrative Plan and the Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan.
• Prepare 5-Year and Annual Plans for the Brainerd and Crosby HRA.
• Formulate Department policies and implement department procedures. Supervise all activities relating to waiting list management, intake, eligibility determinations, leasing, occupancy, interim rent changes, annual re-certifications, rent calculation, property inspections, rental assistance checks, leasing documents, file maintenance, utility schedules, portability, Housing Assistance Payments (HAP), terminations, and the appeals process.
• Prepare monthly Board reports for the Brainerd HRA and Crosby HRA and attend monthly Board meetings.
• Ensure program compliance for the HCV and PH programs with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, submitting reports as necessary.
• Maintain working relationships with property owners and managers, HUD and MHFA officials, City and County personnel, other agency staff, management, program participants, and vendors.
• Establish and monitor annual budgets for the HCV and PH programs and managed housing programs.
• Enforce Lease provisions and HAP contracts, including lease violations or terminations, HAP terminations, and cases involving fraud.
• Report to HUD through VMS (Voucher Management Systems) and monitor EIV System (Enterprise Income Verification) monthly.
• Perform 5% Quality Control on all HCV unit inspections annually.
• Prepare annual SEMAP reporting (Section 8 Management Assessment Program) to HUD.
• Complete Annual Owner Certification Questionnaires for MHFA-funded programs.
• Oversee election process of Resident Commissioner positions for Brainerd HRA, Crosby HRA and Brainerd South Boards.
• Assist with preparation for all audits.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Ability to serve customers in a professional manner.
• Ability to effectively organize, set priorities and work independently.
• Ability to systematize department procedures and methods.
• Ability to resolve conflicts and negotiate effectively.
• Ability to prepare and submit reports and required information.
• Ability to multitask and adapt to change.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of HCV, PH, Project Based Vouchers, Section 236, and other managed housing program policies, regulations, and procedures
• Knowledge of National Standards for Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) habitability standards.
• Knowledge of Fair Housing laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of MN Landlord/Tenant Statutes and Data Privacy Laws.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related field and two years' experience in position with similar job duties or six years' combination of relevant education, training and experience that meets the requirement to successfully accomplish the assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the Executive Director. Must complete the Public Housing Manager designation, the HCV Manager designation, and NSPIRE habitability inspection certifications from Nan McKay, NAHRO, Quadel, or other industry-recognized vendor within two years of employment. Extensive experience with Windows based personal computer software applications is required. Possession of a valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.

Other Requirements and Supplemental Information
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing this job, the employee is required to talk, hear, have eyesight and have mobility enough to operate a variety of office machines, operate a vehicle and work in buildings with stairs and elevators. The employee frequently is required to bend/stoop, reach above shoulder level, push and pull. The employee is occasionally required to squat, crawl, climb, kneel and carry/lift up to 24 lbs.
At Brainerd Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), we offer a competitive wage and excellent benefit package*.

*Disclaimer: The Brainerd Housing and Redevelopment Authority is a separate employer and its employees are not City employees; however, the HRA is included in the majority of City of Brainerd's benefits (same health, life, dental and ancillary plans).

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Work Hours
Normal work hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00am - 4:30pm (10 hour shifts).

Probationary Period
Probationary period is 6 months upon assuming the position. Completing the probationary period does not guarantee future employment with the HRA. All employment with the HRA is "at will."

Holidays
The 11 calendar holidays that are observed are as follows: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday following, and Christmas Day. 16 additional personal leave hours of your choice. 2024 personal leave will be pro-rated based on date of hire.

Vacation
Vacation is earned at the rate of 6.67 hours per month (2 weeks per year) for the first 5 years of employment. After the first five years, monthly accrual rate is increased annually per the Employee Policy Manual. Maximum vacation balance is 240 hours.

Sick Leave
Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per month with a maximum sick balance of 960 hours. Sick leave is not paid out upon termination.

Employee Sick & Safe Time (ESST) is earned at a rate of 1 hour per every 30 hours worked. ESST is not paid out upon termination.

Health Insurance
Health Partners is our current health insurance provider. Coverage takes effective the 1st of the month following the date of hire. The HRA currently offers one insurance plan or $400 per month for an Opt-out election with appropriate group coverage documentation. The following is a summary of the insurance plan option for 2024:

• High Deductible Health Insurance Plan - $3,200 single/$6,400 family deductible. The employee pays 0% of the single premium. The employee pays 20% of the family premium or $464.52 per month. The employee also receives an additional annual employer Health Savings Account contribution of $2,000 for a single policy and $2,500 for a family policy (amount will be prorated and deposited in quarterly increments) into the employee's Health Savings Account.

Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability
An employer paid $25,000 life insurance and long-term disability insurance policy is provided by the HRA the 1st of the month following the initial-six months waiting period of eligibility.

Retirement Plan
HRA employees are eligible for Brainerd Housing & Redevelopment Authority Retirement Plan (defined contribution plan) on the 1st of the month following six months of employment. The employee contribution rate is 5.5% and the employer contribution rate is 7.5%. HRA employees are also immediately eligible to participate in the MN Deferred Compensation Plan. Employee contributions are made into this state run 457 plan on either a pretax or post tax basis.
01

Do you have a minimum of a four-year degree AND two years' of relevant experience OR do you have at least six years' equivalent combination of education and experience?

• Yes
• No

02

What best describes your overall computer proficiency experience?

• No Experience
• Limited
• Moderate
• Extensive

03

Describe an experience where you have had to respond to and resolve a difficult and sensitive client/tenant inquiry or complaint?
04

The Housing Director must be organized and detail oriented. Please provide an example of something you have done that has used those skills.
05

Have you been through an audit or compliance monitoring/review? If yes, describe your part in the preparation and process.
06

Describe your experience working with housing software.
07

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to supervision of staff and delegation of workflow.
08

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to conducting research and collecting and analyzing data.
09

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to presenting to governmental or non-profit boards and preparing board reports.
10

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to budget creation and monitoring.
11

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to program compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations.
12

Please describe your experience and level of responsibility relative to enforcing lease provisions, including lease violations and terminations.
13

Why are you interested in working for the Brainerd Housing & Redevelopment Authority?
Required Question