Recertification Specialist

Classification:             Recertification Specialist

Supervisor:                  Senior Community Manager 

Department:                Housing Operations 

Status:                         Non-Exempt                     Pay Grade/Range: 9 – Specialist II

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide a wide range of activities within the public housing regarding processing and determining participant continued eligibility status for various housing programs for low-income housing. The incumbent receives annual, interim, and transfer information, determines continued eligibility. The incumbent provides case management for low income rent assistance within the guideline of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations and Spartanburg Housing policies. 

All activities must support the Spartanburg Housing mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following is a listing of the key duties and responsibilities of this position, and the skills, experience and knowledge required for the employee in this position.  The listed duties are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities, but a representative listing of the key duties of the position. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Spartanburg Housing reserves the right to assign work in other areas to equalize or balance the workload, cover absences, or for other business needs of Spartanburg Housing. 

1. Administer the tenant annual and interim recertification process.
2. Provides timely notifications to the tenant are required in accordance with the governing policy.
3. Provides advance reminder notice to tenants and if necessary follow up with telephone call or house visit.        Provide a list of information needed for the recertification.
4. Schedule a recertification interview with the tenant, collect information to verify income and family composition and obtain signatures and consent forms to allow verification of income.
5. Notify the tenant of any change in the rent resulting from the recertification and ensures any increase in rent provides the tenant a thirty (30) day notice, as required.
6. Conducts file audits and maintain a system to ensure timely recertification.
7. Conducts routine inspections of the property to ensure a quality presentation of the community and identify potential safety hazards. 
8. Implements corrective measures as necessary.
9. Conducts move-in and move-out inspections.
10. Performs administrative duties to include data entry into property management software, answer phones, correspondence, reports, and other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Knowledge of HUD, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as Spartanburg Housing policies and procedures related to the position.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of business English, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Knowledge of the regulations affecting Spartanburg Housing’s housing programs and demonstrated ability to understand the terms, conditions, and content of Spartanburg Housing standard operating procedures for data entry.
3. Skill in the operation of housing program software and databases.
4. Skill in composing accurate and accessible compliance reports and related documents.
5. Skill in explaining policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
6. Ability to prepare and present ideas in a clear and concise manner in order to address compliance initiatives and issues with staff and leadership.
7. Ability to prepare and present ideas in English, in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in writing.
8. Ability to perform program-required computations with speed and accuracy.
9. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, vendors, consultants, contractors, residents, HUD, and local, state, and federal officials. Ability to communicate with people from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds.

Behavioral Competencies

This position requires the incumbent to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

Job Knowledge: Exhibits requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position effectively. Demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements, and activities as they apply to the assigned organizational entity of Spartanburg Housing. Uses appropriate judgment & decision making in accordance with level of responsibility.

Customer Service: Provides timely, courteous, and quality service to all internal or external customers by anticipating individual needs, following through on commitments and ensuring that our customers have been heard.

Communication: Employee is prepared, clear, concise, and organized in all facets of communication in order to fully establish understanding. Actively listens and understands the audience to adapt message appropriately.  Communicates information with appropriate personnel in a timely manner.

Teamwork: Actively participates and collaborates across boundaries and works toward the achievement of common goals.  Employee is adaptable and open to new ideas and/or approaches.  Employee is aware of changes that impact internal and external customers and effectively communicates the impact when working as a team.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness. Holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work and does fair share of work.

Safety Awareness: Employee is cognizant of his/her surroundings.  Follows proper safety procedures and considers the safety of self and others.  Identifies, communicates, and assists in the correction of any safety concerns where appropriate.

Supervision

The employee receives supervision and assignments from the Senior Community Manager.  Courses of action, deadlines and priorities are set by established HUD or Spartanburg Housing procedures, the Senior Community Manager, Community Managers or the employee, depending on the assignment.  Routine duties are initiated and completed by the employee without supervisory direction.  Instructions to the employee may be general or specific in nature.  Complex problems or situations not covered by instructions are usually researched by the employee, and/or referred to the supervisor for concurrence.  The employee’s work is reviewed regularly for accuracy, completion, and compliance with policies and procedures.

Minimum Education and/or Experience

1. High school diploma or GED required.
2. Associate's degree, from an accredited college or university in social work, nursing, counseling, sociology, psychology, business administration, public administration or a related field is preferred.
3. Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which, in the sole determination of Spartanburg Housing, provides the required knowledge and abilities, may be considered sufficient.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals and technical procedures. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

Must demonstrate proficiency in basic business math. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, the employee should have strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, and Outlook). Must have the ability to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks. 

Special Requirements

1. Must possess a valid South Carolina driver’s license, have reliable transportation, and be insurable under Spartanburg Housing’s automobile insurance plan.
2. Criminal background checks will be performed on all applicants.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily stationary, but is regularly required to move throughout the office. The ability to move, transport, or position small objects around the office, such as books, binders, files, documents, and supplies is required. The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via telephone. The employee must be able to operate a computer and standard office machinery.

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To ensure the greatest possible protection for employees in the workplace, Spartanburg Housing requires cooperative efforts of all employees with help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful work environment. 

Office environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.  

Read and Acknowledged

____________________________________­­­­_________      ________________________

Employee Signature                                                              Date

______________________________________

Employee Name [printed]