Contact: Craig Nielson
Email: cnielson612@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chaffee Housing Authority Seeking Executive Director
Salida, Colorado, January 16, 2023. The Chaffee Housing Authority’s Board of Directors is beginning recruitment for an Executive Director who will be responsible for executing the organization’s strategic plan, overseeing existing staff and programs, and moving the organization through its next phases of growth.
The Chaffee Housing Authority, a government entity formed in 2020, operates under a strategic plan focusing on organizational operation, advocacy, housing stability, and housing development. The organization was formed by jurisdictions of Chaffee County, City of Salida, and the City of Buena Vista to address the local housing crisis. Its staff of five, three of whom are grant-funded, operate a Rental Deposit Guarantee Program and the Salida Open Doors RV program; facilitate a Continuum of Care; produce the We Are Chaffee storytelling initiative; advocate for housing affordability in local and state land use, development, and funding conversations; assist residents with a host of housing related matters; and manage the development of Jane’s Place, a seventeen-unit rental housing project in Salida.
The outgoing Director, Becky Gray, is stepping down after serving Chaffee County for four and a half years. “I am very proud of the successes the Chaffee Housing Authority has achieved thus far. The staff, Board of Directors, and community supporters have been integral to fulfilling many of the recommendations contained in the 2016 Housing Needs Assessment, including establishing a multijurisdictional housing authority.” Gray points to the current programming and advocacy, the Jane’s Place development, and the coordination of a local Continuum of Care as milestones for the organization.
The position is employed by the County government, is an exempt full-time and salaried job with corresponding benefits. Candidates interested in the Director position can find the full job description and instructions on how to apply at www.chaffeehousingauthority.org/edposition. A review of the first round of applicants will begin on Monday, February 13. To apply, applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to Board Chair Craig Nielson at cnielson612@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION
PRESS RELEASE SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CHAFFEE HOUSING AUTHORITY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION DESCRIPTION
COMPENSATION:
$75,000 to $125,000 annually, contingent upon 2023 CHA budget and applicant qualifications.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance, disability, retirement plan, paid leave and holidays.
FLSA Status: This is an exempt position.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of the Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA) is responsible for leading a regional approach to addressing Chaffee County’s housing shortage across the housing continuum. The CHA is a relatively new start-up organization, established in October of 2020, that builds on a regional commitment to establish the local organizational capacity necessary to address workforce and lower-income housing needs. The CHA Executive Director is responsible for executing the strategic plan under the oversight of a nine-member Board of Directors.
Chaffee County is a fast-growing, newly-designated Rural Resort community that offers endless outdoor recreation opportunities and a rich arts and culture scene with a high quality of life in a friendly and small town atmosphere. The area offers high-quality schools, services and infrastructure.
The CHA is looking for candidates interested in making a long-term commitment to further execute the CHA’s Strategic Plan, advocate for development within the CHA’s member jurisdictions, and meet the needs outlined in the 2022 Housing Needs Assessment (HNA).
CORE COMPETENCIES:
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Demonstrated leadership in public administration
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Demonstrated leadership in the formation and/or execution of affordable housing policy, programs, and developments
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Entrepreneurial approaches to problem solving and authentic community engagement
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Understanding of the Social Determinants of Health
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Understanding of “small town” or “rural resort” values, priorities, and experience
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Demonstrated success in securing funding to support housing projects and/or programs
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Considerable experience in grant-writing and administration
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Ability to collaborate and maintain effective working relationships with community-based organizations, elected officials, technical experts, and other stakeholders
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Knowledge of and/or experience with facilitating community planning processes
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Expert knowledge of affordable housing policy and financing
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Experience working for or leading a housing program or organization
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Experience with organizational revenues diversification and long-range financial planning and fiscal management
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Practical knowledge of land use code and policy, including inclusionary housing policies
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Practical knowledge of Deed Restriction administration and oversight
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Practical knowledge of the development process
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the position and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. The CHA Board of Directors reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this position at any time.
INTERNAL OPERATIONS:
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With the Board of Directors, establishes and updates strategic goals and plans to manage the work and expectations of the CHA
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Works with the various CHA committees to coordinate activity on a monthly basis
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Responsible for the fiscal management and monthly reporting to the CHA Finance Committee of revenues and expenditures
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Directs development, implementation, and management of housing-related direct-service programs, in alignment with goals of the CHA strategic plan and HNA
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Provides oversight and performance evaluation of CHA staff, including Deputy Director, Housing Navigator, Grant Evaluator, and additional staff and contractors
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Continues to build a library of affordable housing best practices
NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION:
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Works with local partner jurisdictions and agencies, including elected officials and municipal department directors to coordinate activities
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Establishes contacts and works with local, regional, statewide, and federal housing resources including, but not limited to, CHFA, Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing and Office of Homeless Initiatives, Colorado Department of Human Services, Upper Arkansas Council of Local Governments, USDA, Federal Home Loan Bank and HUD
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Maintains active membership in the Colorado Mountain Housing Coalition and Housing Colorado.
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Conducts community engagement activities to develop an understanding of affordable housing issues in the community; contacts and communicates with businesses and private and public sector agencies to coordinate and assist in meeting community needs; performs speaking engagements, develops media responses and press releases with the CHA Community Engagement Committee.
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Assists member jurisdictions analyzing and adapting land use codes, building codes, and public policy to support the execution of the strategic plan efforts
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT:
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Oversees CHA development activity and acquisition opportunities, including ownership structure, financing, assembling the development team and project/construction management
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Recruits development partners (developers, builders, and operators) for supportive housing
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Advises private developers on a range of options for achieving affordability in a private public partnership model including funding and compliance
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Pairs developers/builders with partners and other resources to further affordable housing
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Develops and oversees Deed Restriction (DR) programs and properties
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Oversees special limited partnerships for tax abatement and partial ownership
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCACY:
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Serves as an advocate for affordable housing efforts within the member jurisdictions, the mountain region, the state, and the federal level
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Advocates on the state and federal level for proposed legislation supporting affordable housing
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Engages with municipalities to identify potential and existing incentives/ assistance/ streamlining for developing affordable housing within higher density areas of the jurisdiction
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Initiates an outreach program with builders/developers, making them aware of incentives to include affordable housing within their development plans
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Assists county and municipalities in working with current owners of affordable housing to ensure that their properties are safe and secure for tenants
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Proactively provides advice and assistance to proposed affordable housing developments
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Serves as a central repository/distribution center for information regarding housing
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
(Minimum education and experience)
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Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university
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Six or more years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership, with a minimum of three years of experience in the development of public-sector affordable housing; or,
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Six or more years of experience in public administration
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Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job
Certificates or licenses: Valid Driver’s License with satisfactory driving record.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
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Proficient at reading and comprehending written materials
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Highly developed writing and oral communication skills
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Employs time management and organizational skills to manage deadlines and projects and various other assignments
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Above average skills working with other people taking into consideration their needs, their personal styles and the requirements of their jobs or interests
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Working knowledge of pertinent data sources, including the US Census Bureau, the State of Colorado Demographer, Colorado Realtors, Kids Count, etc.
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Highly developed aptitude for the use of computers and other digital tools to complete the various requirements of the job whether routine or project oriented
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Familiarity with GIS systems for mapping affordable housing properties and projects is helpful
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
This position reports to the Chaffee Housing Authority’s Board of Directors. The position has supervisory/management responsibilities to CHA staff.