Rural Housing Program Coordinator - Housing Planning Policy and Programs

Summary

This position is responsible for a variety of planning related tasks and is the first point of contact for public inquiries to assist in the delivery of the Rural Housing Program pilot project that includes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program and the Pre-Development Funding Program. This position will assist with application intake and process tracking, reviewing necessary documentation and professional reports, interpreting program components to provide guidance to applicants on eligibility and process, reviewing agreements/legal documents for compliance and completeness, and preparing reports.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Respond to program inquiries from members of the public, developers/contractors, and other agencies as required in the office, by phone, or through email.
• Provide information and interpretation to members of the public regarding program elements, requirements, limitations, process, and timelines.
• Responsible for application intake, setup, tracking and records management, correspondence, reporting, and post-approval follow-up.
• Reviews and complies relevant information to ensure complete and compliant applications.
• Conducts technical reviews of necessary documentation to ensure appropriate approvals and permits are in place.  
• Supports the manager by organizing and coordinating the internal Rural Housing Program Review Committee to consider projects for funding.  
• Undertakes the preparation and issuing of documentation related to granting activities. 
• Supports the drafting of funding and contractual documentation.
• Organizes and facilitates stakeholder meetings and liaise with community members. 
• Prepares meeting agendas, reports, background documentation, and records decisions. 
• Tracks program performance, expenditures, and conducts monitoring and analysis in response to corporate reporting requirements and program related requests. 
• Coordinates production of reports on funding awards and other RHP initiatives.
• Monitors projects to ensure the requisite terms of the funding awards and agreements are adhered to, including receipt of documentation such as occupancy permits, rental tenancy agreements, and proof of development costs. 
• Works closely with the CRD finance officer to ensure funding commitments are tracked and accounted for. 
• Provides content, information, and maintains website for RHP initiatives.
• Acts as a liaison to external funding organizations such as the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership and provides progress reporting as necessary. 
• Acts as a liaison to other relevant government agencies such as Islands Trust to coordinate and share data collection and collaborate on community engagement or other projects.
• Acts as a resource for rural housing initiatives to community groups and non-profit housing providers, including support navigating inter-agency requirements or providing advice on accessing other funding programs to support the success of rural housing projects. 
• Supports the manager in building and maintaining external partnerships and seeking additional funding for program sustainability and continued funding beyond the pilot phase. 
• Provides internal coordination between Regional Housing, Building Inspection, and the Electoral Area Administrators as needed.
• Follows all policies, procedures and standards of the CRD.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Additional Information

• None

Key Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and customer service skills. 
• Understanding of rural communities, development processes, housing issues, and government procedure. 
• Strong ability to express ideas and findings clearly and concisely, both verbal and written. 
• Strong ability to synthesize and analyze information, including financial pro-forms, and compose reports and documents. 
• Strong ability to deal with the public with professionalism, tact and diplomacy. 
• Strong presentation and communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate complex, technical information to non-technical and technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to work under pressure, prioritize work and to set and meet deadlines.
• Strong ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders and across multiple disciplines.
• Considerable experience related to financial and contract administration.
• Thorough knowledge of government funding practices, due diligence analysis, processes and principles.
• Working knowledge of and/or experience with affordable housing programs in British Columbia and the Capital Region, including CMHC and BC Housing programs.
• Proven ability to collaborate and build effective partnerships across diverse demographics and inter-governmental organizations. 
• Advanced MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and SharePoint skills.

Qualifications

Certifications