Housing Program Landlord Liaison

Housing Program Landlord Liaison

Department of Social Services, Housing

Full-Time, 12 Months

Exempt, Pay Grade 34

VRS-Eligible, Benefits-Eligible

Job Summary/ Objective: 

The Landlord Liaison supports Albemarle County Office of Housing’s (ACOH) strategic and operational goals of quick access to housing and housing stability for Housing Choice Voucher participants through leading efforts to effectively market ACOH’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs to new and existing landlords and rental property owners. The Landlord Liaison is responsible for increasing access to both private and public rental markets for HCV participant families, and for fostering effective relationships with landlords and owners to ensure retention of units available to participant families. Work is performed with considerable independence, initiative and judgement within established policies, procedures, and practices. The Landlord Liaison is supervised and reviewed by the Housing Choice Voucher Program Manager.

Essential Functions: 

• Works closely with the Housing Office team to ensure that communication and coordination with landlords is consistent, accurate, and timely to support participant families quickly finding housing, moving in, and maintaining housing stability.
• Develops and implements communication strategies to monitor landlord/owner satisfaction and prepares customer satisfaction reports.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for property managers and/or owners participating in the HCV program.
• Plans and performs landlord outreach efforts including meeting with interested parties to discuss the advantages of participating in ACOH’s HCV programs, on-site visits at apartment complexes or realtors’ offices, presentations for landlord audiences, and attending community landlord association meetings.
• Resolves landlord / owner questions, inquiries, issues, or complaints in person and/or via phone, email, fax, or correspondence.
• Coordinates and conducts informational and educational seminars for property owners, property investors, managers, and/or tenants.
• Identifies and proposes/develops landlord incentive program(s) aimed at increasing the number of units available to participant families.
• Invites landlords and owners to initial and ongoing orientation sessions as needed and facilitate orientation sessions.
• Administers and monitors usage of flexible funding to assist families with rental application fees and security deposit assistance.
• Serves as a liaison and mediator for housing issues that may arise.
• Completes owner/management changes; add new property owners/managers and complete address change requests.
• Frequently researches, records, and updates available unit lists and coordinate rental listing newsletter for participant families seeking housing.
• Coordinates with other community partners providing landlord supports, landlord incentives, or housing navigation services.
• Maintains and high degree of confidentiality relative to work performed and participant families.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency: Knowledge/ Skills/Abilities:  

• Thorough knowledge of federal Housing Choice Voucher Program policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of HUD Fair Housing policies
• Knowledge of the rental markets in the Charlottesville metropolitan area.
• Knowledge of property management and real estate practices are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to form professional relationships with program stakeholders, and county staff to effectively manage and work through conflict, participate as a team member, and to give and accept criticism constructively.
• Ability to engage a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds with a high degree of professionalism, courtesy, compassion, and light-heartedness.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed action, and implement recommendations.
• Ability to operate standard office and computer equipment as required to accomplish the work assigned.
• Basic to Intermediate level proficiency in office-related software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public, as well as government officials.
• Ability to engage with clients tactfully and courteously.
• Ability to prioritize, organize, and perform work independently.
• Ability to perform work under pressure and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to maintain complex records and ensure their accuracy.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures.
• Willingness to work outside of normal business hours on occasion.

Required Education and Experience: 

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a high school diploma supplemented with some lease and real estate inspection experience OR any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities is required.
• Workers in this position are required to drive and they must meet eligibility requirements of the County’s safe driver policy.

Preferred Qualifications/Certifications:  

• Preferred direct housing assistance experience and/or experience working with populations with limited English proficiency.

Physical and Mental Requirements:  

• Works typically in an office setting/work from home setting, home site of clients or classroom setting. Frequent contact with clients, outside agencies, private housing providers and the general public.
• Regular contacts made with individuals from: (a) other internal organizations units; or (b) outside organizations or [c} frequent contact with the general public for purposes of exchanging factual information which may require some judgement or interpretation in order to be responsive to questions or applicable to a specific situation.
• Communication is usually cooperative in nature, with infrequent conflicts resolved by higher authority.
• Conducts work in a sitting position; however, job requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping and light lifting.
• Ability to operate a variety of office machines and operates computer regularly.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions.
• Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle.

Remote Work:

This position is eligible for a hybrid remote work schedule that is in compliance with the County’s Remote Work Policy and meets the operational and service needs for the position. All County staff must maintain residence within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Salary Range:

The hiring range for this position is $36.70 - $40.56 per hour (approx. $76,336 - $84,372 per year). Starting offer is based on applicable education beyond minimum requirements and internal equity. The position also provides excellent benefits including 12 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities. This is a full time, FLSA exempt position. Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, §P-60.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Position open until November 28, 2024.

Virginia Values Veterans:

Albemarle County is a certified V3 organization.

EOE/EEO:

Albemarle County is an equal employment opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against any group or individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in regards to any aspect of employment policy and practice: recruitment, testing, selection, assignment, pay, conditions of work, training, leave, overtime, promotion, discipline, demotion, and separation.