Program Specialist

Position Description

About Harris County Housing & Community Development

Harris Count Harris County Housing & Community Development provides life-enhancing projects and programs to residents of Harris County.

Our services include spurring community investment through the provision of homebuying programs, partnering with community members and housing developers to build diverse housing options that uplift communities and offer other assistance that support community building.

Program Specialist Overview:

The Program Specialist provides construction and inspections expertise in the performance of tasks in the daily operations of the Housing Construction and Inspection Services (HCIS) section which includes overseeing all phases of rehabilitation and reconstruction on single-family homes and conducting inspections on multi-family and single-family properties for low and moderate-income persons living in Harris County's Service areas. This dedicated full-time staff also works in support of other housing programs administered by HCHCD in accordance with all HUD, GLO, Treasury ARPA and local requirements.

Funding for these housing programs is provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development utilizing Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership funds.

Duties & Responsibilities:

General:

• Support leadership team, HCHCD sections and other County departments in the execution of program goals.

• Learn and apply the principles of the Housing Construction and Inspections Services department guidelines, policies & procedures.

• Data Management & Reporting:

• Responsible for daily data entry of construction and inspection activity using multiple software platforms.

• Prepare status reports and project summaries for on-going activities and departmental forecast

• Maintain program hard & soft files, verifying compliance and documenting daily activities and communications.

Construction:

• Schedule contractors, consultants, and vendors in critical path to ensure timely completion.

• Perform quality control duties and responsibilities regarding the work being performed.

• Communicate with project team regarding project status.

• Ensure that contractor is fully executing and complying with the contracted scope of work.

• Coordinate required inspections with local jurisdictions, city, and program.

• Build relationships with contractors, homeowners, and vendors.

• Identify contractor non-compliance with safety, health, and environmental quality standards.

• Identify conflicts in construction progress and communicate them to project team for resolution.

• Daily reporting of construction progress, delays, and all other project activity in the on-line database.

• Review requests for payment and approve completed work.

• Upload photos of completed work.

• Monitor build times and budgets.

• Ensure subcontractor has corrected all deficiencies identified.

• Walk all projects to inspect and assess quality for future planning.

• Issue notices of non-compliance to subcontractors regarding quality of work or scheduling.

• Ensure that the job site is always kept in a clean and organized manner.

• Perform job progress and completion punch list identification and completion.

• Address warranty requests quickly & report progress.

• Ensure proper documentation is tracked (log homeowner communication, photos of completed work, & homeowner signature)

Inspections:

• Conducts inspections on new & existing single and multi-family units to determine condition and compliance with relevant codes and in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements.

• Schedule daily inspections with program participants and maintain weekly/monthly field visits calendar.

• Documents inspections, noting failed areas, time of visit and recommended course of corrective action needed for HUD compliance.

• Obtains photographs, measurements and other data as needed.

Other:

• Maintains professional competence to enhance the construction management and technical skills by staying abreast of current construction methods and materials, via HUD or other related publications/entities.

• Attend seminars, conferences, and complete formal coursework.

• Other duties as assigned.

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.

• Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from a college or university in building construction, architecture, engineering or related construction field or an in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

Experience:

• Five (5) years' experience in housing rehabilitation, renovation, reconstruction.

• Must be proficient in using Xactimate cost estimating software.

• Must be proficient in using Microsoft Suite of Software (Word, Excel) HUD programs (CDBG/HOME), FEMA, and/or other Disaster Recovery housing rehabilitation programs

Licensure/Certification:

• Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) and current liability insurance coverage

• Housing Quality Standards certification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must have technical/professional background in construction and have thorough knowledge, aptitude and skills relating to housing rehabilitation plans and housing specifications.

• Experience in rehabilitation, substantial-rehabilitation, re-construction, and new construction projects.

• Proficient in using estimating software to create work write-ups for single family homes.

• Ability to use office equipment, computer, laptop, scanners, printers as well as software such as Words & Excel.

• Ability to provide direction to and resolve problems amongst contractors, subcontractors, and vendors.

• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to deal courteously and effectively with clients, contractors, the community, and co-workers.

• Ability to manage difficult or emotional client situations and respond effectively under pressure.

• Strong communication and time management skills.

• Ability to prioritize and plan work activities.

• Ability to acquire and apply a working knowledge of applicable program guidelines, rules, and HUD regulations.

• Ability to multi-task and complete work assignments independently with minimal supervision/guidance.

• Ability to work in paperless environment and maintain detailed tracking system.

• Ability and willingness to travel on a flexible schedule as needed.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Experience:

Some experience in septic and well installation or new construction.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

• Full-Time | Grant-funded or Regular

• Monday

• Friday | 8 a.m.

• 5 p.m. (or an alternate schedule-ex. 7:30am-4:30pm)

• Occasional holidays, and overtime may be required based on the specific needs and demands of the department.

Work Environment:

• The work is primarily performed in the field visiting single family homes and multi-family properties located within Harris County.

• In office work includes time spent completing reports, attending training events or meetings.

• Possible exposure to inclement weather or various temperature changes.

Physical Demands:

• The job requires mobility to visit home sites, training centers or partner meeting sites.

• The employee must have a normal range of vision, hearing, and speech to complete paperwork, review documentation, and communicate on the telephone or in person.

• Employees must be able to stoop, kneel, stand for long periods and walk to/from home sites and apartment unit and buildings.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds.

• Work involves the normal risks associated with the on-site inspection of buildings.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

BENEFITS

Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.

The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage

• Dental Coverage

• Vision Coverage

• Wellness Plan

• Life Insurance

• Long-term disability

• Employee Assistance Program

• Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service

• Accrual rates increase based on years of service

• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday

• Professional development opportunities

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

• Healthcare Reimbursement Account

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:

• Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
• Flexible schedule (varies by department)
• Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:

https://benefitsathctx.com/

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.

• High School or GED diploma

• Associate Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's Degree or higher

• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Building Construction

• Architecture

• Engineering

• Other Related Field

• Unrelated Field

• N/A; No Degree

03

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.

04

Do you have a Housing Quality Standards certification?

• Yes

• No

05

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in housing rehabilitation, renovation, reconstruction? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than five (5) years

• Five (5) years but less than six (6) years

• Six (6) years but less than seven (7) years

• Seven (7) years or more

• I do not have this experience

06

Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in housing rehabilitation, renovation, reconstruction. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience. Example: "January 2020 - December 2023" If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, please type "N/A" in the space provided.

07

Do you have some experience in septic and well installation or new construction?

• Yes

• No

08

Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions: Advanced: A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Intermediate: A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons. Basic: A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it. Entry Level: A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to preview documents. Has ability to change the font, the margins, insert or delete pages and use the built-in spellchecker and grammar check.

• Advanced

• Intermediate

• Basic

• Entry Level

• Not proficient

09

This role requires a Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire) Do you have a Valid Driver's License?

• Yes, I have a Valid Texas Driver's License

• Yes, I have a Valid Driver's License but understand I must obtain a Valid Texas Driver's License prior to start date

• No, I'm not interested

Required Question

Agency Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx