Director of Family Services

Position Summary

Provide leadership and direction to support families with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. This role is dedicated to assisting families who lack safe, decent, and affordable housing, and who demonstrate the willingness and ability to become successful homeowners or maintain their current homeownership. This position plays a crucial role in fostering stable, thriving communities by empowering families to secure and maintain their homes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Strategic

• As a member of the Leadership team, contribute to the organization’s strategic process development of priorities and objectives as it relates to affordable housing strategies and solutions for families with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. Make key decisions from a Family Services perspective on behalf of the organization.

Development/Budgetary:

• Develops and manages the financial budget and operational plans for Family Services related programs and services.
• Research down payment assistance opportunities and negotiate with the provider.
• Implement grant requirements that apply to Family Services and provide the data to support compliance with the grant reporting.

Homeowner Selection and Mortgage Origination:

• Accountable for Habitat loan origination policies and the accurate processing of loan/program applications ensuring that they meet compliance with Habitat for Humanity policies, state regulations, and federal regulations (such as the Fair Housing Act).
• Coordinate and manage the application cycles for Homebuyer and Home Repair programs; recruit families, respond to family inquiries, work with Homebuyer Counselor to support ineligible applicants for future consideration.
• Key decision maker for financial need in the homeowner selection process. Accountable for final loan underwriting.
• Oversee the mortgage closing process and ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations
• Determine eligibility for other non-loan-based Habitat programs.

Family Support

• Collaborate with other departments to ensure available lots, home design and sweat equity are highly effective for both Habitat and the family, and are executed in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Establish high quality family education programs that provide family support, focus on self-sufficiency, and are relevant to the needs of local Habitat families.
• Ensure that family case management follows established procedures, regulations, and Habitat’s strategy and Mission.
• Responsible for family loss mitigation plans when temporary and/or permanent hardships exist.

Supervisory

• Supervise the Homebuyer Counselor, Family Services Coordinator, Mortgage Loan Assistant, and Receptionist/Program Assistants
• Develop department policies and procedures and educate staff in appropriate tools to use.
• Coach and mentor staff and provide relevant opportunities to support their growth and development.

Internal Representation

• Staff liaison to the Family Selection Committee, ensuring that the Committee is trained appropriately and has sufficient data to make informed decisions relevant to their responsibilities with the homebuyer program.
• Staff Liaison to the Mortgage Stewardship Sub-Committee of the Finance Committee, ensuring that Habitat’s policies and procedures for mortgage underwriting, mortgage servicing and loss mitigation remain compliant and consistent with federal and state regulations.
• Develop strong, positive, and lasting relationships with staff and volunteers throughout the organization.
• Manage neighbors’ issues when escalated to more complex issues.

External Representation

• Represent Habitat for local advocacy efforts and participate in state and national advocacy efforts with a focus on both strategic issues and program-specific issues.
• Manage relationships with members of the Fox Cities Housing Coalition, engage in conversations with local housing task forces and other related community agencies.
• Keep abreast of current state and federal regulations for Fair Housing/Federal Lending laws and HFHI updates and resources as it relates to loan programs.
• Develop relationships with third parties that offer home purchasing loans or home repair loan programs that may apply to families in our programs.
• Develop and maintain a strong network of community partners to provide referral sources, support family education and family case management.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• At least five years of case management experience
• Strong leadership, management, supervisory, analytical, and representational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to make sound judgments, assume responsibility, and work independently in a challenging environment
• Knowledge of mortgage loan underwriting, servicing procedures and loss mitigation tactics
• Expert level understanding of Fair Housing Laws, diversity, and low-income populations
• Ability to establish policies and address all details in a timely and professional manner
• Ability to manage financial resources
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills which must be effective and courteous, requiring high integrity when dealing with a broad array of backgrounds
• Commitment to mission and values-driven work environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
• Maintain Qualified Loan Originator certification