Director of Housing

 Location: Milwaukee, WI – Washington Park Neighborhood

Position Type: Full-time

Compensation: $70,000-75,000 base annual salary, experience and qualifications considered

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Property Manager

Agency: United Methodist Children’s Services of WI, Inc. (UMCS)

Overview:

Established in 1962, UMCS has a deep commitment to and long-standing presence in Milwaukee’s Washington Park neighborhood, where it has provided a wide range of social service programs and assistance to low-income, marginalized families, including affordable housing, community health promotion, community organizing, emergency food pantry and family resource center, social work and childcare.

Under the supervision and support of the Executive Director, the Director of Housing is responsible for overseeing the effective management of UMCS’s current 72-unit, mission-driven supportive housing portfolio and leading the pursuit and execution of new housing opportunities, including the agency’s strategic decision to promote and develop homeownership solutions in the Washington Park neighborhood.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions:

1. Oversee and ensure efficient, cost-effective, high-quality management of UMCS’s 72-unit supportive housing portfolio in a manner consistent with the agency’s mission and values
   • Supervise the UMCS Property Manager and provide effective coaching and performance management for the full property management team
   • Oversee compliance, reporting and coordination with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), tax credit investors and other regulatory and funding entities
   • Support the Property Manager and ensure an effective, transparent pre-screening and application process; collaborate with the Director of Social Services on Coordinated Entry referral processes
   • Ensure the safety, security and confidential treatment of partner and resident information
   • Support the Property Manager to identify and vet new potential contractors and service providers
2. Coordinate closely with the Director of Social Services to ensure that UMCS housing residents, particularly those who are referred by our partners at Milwaukee County Housing Division, the Impact-led Coordinated Entry system, and Hope House, are connected to the resources that they need to maintain their housing security, achieve stability and pursue their longer-term objectives
   • Crisis management – collaborate with the Director of Social Services and other partners to seek solutions, secure assistance and advocate for the needs of residents who are experiencing a crisis, acute hardship or other serious challenges
   • Corrective action – collaborate with the Director of Social Services to develop corrective action plans for residents when lease violations or other behavioral challenges arise
   • Develop and implement a strategy to identify and support renting families who wish to pursue homeownership opportunities
3. In collaboration with the Executive Director and Housing Task Force, lead UMCS’s efforts to identify and pursue new housing development opportunities for both homeownership and the supportive housing rental market
   • Research, identify and assess the viability of new housing opportunities
   • Cultivate relationships with potential partners, including the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, architects, developers, financial institutions, philanthropic entities, donors, construction managers and contractors
   • Develop proposals and pro forma for new housing and mixed-use development opportunities
   • Lead the project management of new developments and oversee consultants, construction managers and other contractors who are partnering on these projects
4. Represent the agency with external partners and in citywide housing-specific initiatives, coalitions and advocacy opportunities
5. Serve as a member of the UMCS Board-appointed Housing Task Force and the staff senior management team
6. Manage relationships and provide support for community-serving commercial tenants
   • In collaboration with the Executive Director, lead the recruitment of new community partners when commercial space is available
7. Provide support to UMCS’s Neighborhood Engagement Team; attend and support community events as available and ensure that housing resources and opportunities are updated and disseminated to Washington Park residents
   • Support residents’ efforts to engage with neighborhood initiatives, events and activities
8. Collaborate with the Director of Development on new proposals and grant funding opportunities
   • Represent the agency at fundraising events or meetings; engage with prospective and existing individual and institutional donors

Qualifications:/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive, experience-based knowledge of the Milwaukee housing landscape, particularly supportive housing for at-risk, vulnerable families
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to shifting conditions within what is frequently a dynamic and unpredictable work environment
• Ability to learn-while-doing, take on challenges with enthusiasm and develop new areas of expertise within the housing sector
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to collaborate with community partners
• Knowledge of Federal and State regulatory/compliance policies and procedures
• Demonstrated awareness of boundary/safety and confidentiality issues inherent to case management
• Skill in using computers and Microsoft Office software; particularly Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word and Publisher
• Ability to both work independently and function effectively as a team member

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant social service-related field
• Five or more years of experience, preferably in a leadership or management role, with community-serving organizations within the housing sector
• Previous experience with staff supervision, coaching and performance management

Benefits:

Paid time off vacation/holidays; Employer-supported 403(b) retirement/savings plan; Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Allowance (ICHRA); Life insurance; Discounted onsite childcare available via the Growing Tree Children’s Center; Short-Term Disability.