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NEOGOV · 1 week ago

COMMERCE SPECIALIST 5

Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$77K/yr - $104K/yr

9+ years exp

NEOGOV is seeking a Commerce Specialist 5 to work within the Department of Commerce, specifically in the Housing Division. This role is responsible for overseeing project management activities related to affordable housing and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

GovTechHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologySoftware

Responsibilities

Supervises a team of professional staff

Oversee the work performed by the team. Delegates workload responsibilities and assignments to staff

Provides regular feedback, coaching, and guidance to staff

Evaluates staff performance and addresses performance concerns as necessary. Recommends corrective and/or disciplinary actions to the Assistant Managing Director

Encourages and supports staff professional development goals and opportunities. Works with staff to identify training needs. Manages staff’s mandatory training requirements ensuring timely completion

Performs the following aspects of the hiring process: screening applicants, identifying interview panelists, interviews, completing reference checks. Ensures that all agency hiring procedures are followed and requirements are fulfilled in coordination with Human Resources. Monitors and ensures all mandatory and position specific training is completed prior to due date

Assigns contracts, maintains reports and tracking log of all project activity and closing dates, ensures deadlines are met, and provides quality assurance of all contract-related activities

Ensures team participation in Results Commerce and other performance management activities to include setting clear expectations, goals and objectives, streamlining workflows, and creating a culture of accountability, trust and respect; implements plans that support the accomplishment of established performance targets

Acts as the state technical expert on technical assistance for external partners, implementation and administration of the NHTF and HOME programs, including expert knowledge of national objectives, eligible activities, and federal requirements governing the awarding and implementation of NHTF or HOME funded activities

Leads the project development administration of NHTF and HOME programs, ensuring compliance with Title I of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, 24 CFR Part 93 (NHTF) and Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, 24 CFR Part 92 (HOME)

Oversee the HTF project management of capital projects and collaborate with other CS5 project management supervisors of capital projects. This includes reviewing and underwriting received applications, negotiating and executing contracts and loan terms, managing projects through construction, and following projects until placed in service and transferred to the Asset Management team within the unit

Coordinates and collaborates with other CS5’s on aligning and ensuring consistency among managing and contracting for HTF, HOME, and NHTF projects

Develops, implements, and maintains policies and procedures related to capital project funding and management activities within the unit while also adhering to federal guidelines related to HOME and NHTF

Ensures timely workflow and coordination within, and among, the unit teams and other workgroups in the department through oversight of the Project Status Report, Contract Management System, Housing Contract Management System, federal Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) and individual project due diligence forms

Ensures timely development, negotiation, and execution of contracts, loan terms, and other legal documents appropriate to each capital project; coordinate with contracting staff; negotiates with contractors and developers; facilitates real estate transactions and develops escrow instructions; oversees contract negotiations, contract executions, and real estate closings; coordinates and communicates with other project funders

Directly negotiate capital contract terms, including loan and grant terms, with real estate developers, title officers, escrow agents, lenders, attorneys, housing authorities, single asset entities, and nonprofit affordable housing providers

Troubleshoots and problem-solves pre-development, development, and contract-related issues; renegotiates contract terms and financial structures, as necessary

Ensure file documentation is complete, and data is properly maintained in the unit’s data systems and project/contract files within Contract Management System (CMS), Housing Contract Management System (HCMS) and SharePoint

Oversee the implementation and administration of the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard program from the state project management team

Serves as state NHTF and HOME NEPA and Section 106 Environmental Review specialist, ensuring projects meet the federal requirements, guiding staff and contractors through the process in a timely manner to ensure choice limiting actions are not committed

Coordinates and contracts for third-party construction reviews, reviews and approves requests for payment, and monitors expenditures and project progress

Coordinates and collaborates with the State CS5 on aligning and ensuring consistency among the HTF, HOME, and NHTF programs and aligning the application rounds and resource allocation processes

Develops, implements, and maintains policies and procedures related to underwriting and resource allocation activities within the unit

Coordinates and collaborates with Housing Investment Manager and CS4’s in the application processes for HTF funds

Participates in the review, analysis, and recommendation of projects for funding; ensures public investments are cost-effective and consistent with state and federal regulations and priorities

Reviews, analyzes, and determines award and contract conditions, including financial structuring; negotiates key performance measures and timelines with the awardees

Provides technical assistance and feedback to applicants of HTF, HOME, AND NHTF programs to strengthen application quality, ensure compliance with program requirements, and support equitable and strategic allocation of housing resources

Provides data and assists the unit Managing Director in preparing legislative requests and responds to legislative inquiries, as assigned

Oversee the HTF, HOME and NHTF program management, coordinates and collaborates with the State CS5 and Rapid Capital Housing CS5 on aligning and ensuring consistency among the HTF, HOME, and NHTF programs. Ensures correct implementation, program requirements and reporting standards are met in accordance with state, federal and agency standards

Oversee the work, organizational design, and workflow of the HTF, HOME and NHTF underwriting and project management team within the unit

Ensures cross-team coordination and collaboration within the unit teams, division, Commerce, and with external stakeholders on matters related to underwriting and project management

Assists the Housing Development Manager and the other unit supervisors in the design and implementation of the organizational structure and workload distribution within MHU

Assists the Housing Development Manager and the other unit supervisors in program planning, budget development, and development and implementation of unit policies and procedures

Assists the Housing Development Manager and the other unit supervisors by providing input on improving, documenting and implementing unit processes and procedures

Ensures cross-team coordination within the MHU teams, as well as within HD, Commerce, and with external stakeholders, on matters related to contract development and administration and fiscal accountability. Coordinates and resolves conflicts of priority between staff, program, and activities

Acts on behalf of the Housing Development Manager at stakeholder, unit, state agency, and Commerce meetings as assigned

Qualification

Affordable housingHousing financeReal estateContract managementSupervisory experiencePolicy developmentProject managementInterpersonal communicationConflict resolutionMentoring

Required

Nine (9) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience working in community, trade or economic development with a focus in two or more the following areas:

Affordable housing

Housing finance

Real estate

Contracting

Developing, underwriting, negotiating and managing contracts for affordable housing projects with multiple funding sources, such as local, state, federal, private and tax credits

Two of the nine years must include the following:

Supervising one or more employees including hiring staff, training and development, assigning work, evaluating performance, and taking corrective action

Education involves housing finance, business, public administration or related field. Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience

Ability to foster professional development through mentoring and training staff, and other job growth opportunities

Ability to openly and honestly communicate and actively engage co-workers, contractors, and other stakeholders

Ability to identify and implement changes necessary to streamline and standardize processes, improve administrative efficiency and effectiveness, and enhance customer services

Ability to apply excellent interpersonal communication skills and conflict resolution skills

Ability to manage and work with diverse personalities, styles, and cultures

Ability to effectively communicate, analyze, and weigh the risks versus benefits in decisions and recommendations related to real estate finance and contract negotiations

Preferred

Experience with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, such as HOME, Community Development Block Grant, and the National Housing Trust Fund

Demonstrated experience with real estate contracts and transactions, such as subordination and priority agreements, deeds of trust, covenants, and property liens

Demonstrated experience with writing and implementing policies and procedures

Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses.

Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).

New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems.

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month.

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165.

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave.