Housing Project Specialist

Environmental Health & Preparedness Division

Reports To: Environmental Health & Preparedness Manager

Division Manager:  Jodi Willemsen

FLSA Status:  Non-Exempt, Full Time – 32 hours per week, 0.8 FTE

Expected Work Week:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 2:30 pm

Definition:

The Housing Project Specialist will work within the Environmental Health and Preparedness division to support multiple federally funded housing repair grants. This position will be the front-facing position with families to process program applications, audit documentation, determine program eligibility, correspond with enrollees, create bid packets, maintain the lead-safe housing registry, assist with lien recording, track data and update various databases. Primary responsibilities will fall under the 48-month Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program funded by the U.S. Office of Housing & Urban Development, continued employment after the 48-month grant may be contingent on grant funding.

Duties to Include:

Under the general supervision of the Environmental Health & Preparedness Manager, the Housing Project Specialist performs the following essential functions within the framework of CG Public Health’s provision of core functions and essential services:

Responsibilities:

Work with individuals and families to determine eligibility for the program for income-based

qualifications, age of home, age of children, etc.

• Intake and review applications for completeness and required documentation
• Follow up with individuals to gain the required documentation; sometimes this means visiting homes
• Ensure the accuracy of documentation & verify eligibility
• Enroll eligible individuals/families in the program
• Connect families to agencies to assist with needed resources

Schedule program activities:

• • Schedule lead testing for appropriate children; follow up to ensure family and program manager receive results
  • Schedule home inspections for CG Public Health inspectors
  • Schedule contractors as needed
  • Coordinate client relocation with contracted hotels and process stipends
  • Maintain contracts with hotels for client relocation

Coordinate housing rehabilitation work

• • Develop bid packets & distribute these to contractors
  • Develop pre-construction documents
  • Assist with the release of lien and mortgage documentation for properties

Complete administrative work

• • Receive and direct incoming program phone calls
  • Distribute & collect customer satisfaction surveys
  • Ensure all documentation is complete in enrollee and/or home files
  • Create and enter required reports, inspections, and activities in designated locations
  • Maintain program spreadsheets and databases
  • Manage equipment and supply inventories for programs
  • Maintain Lead Safe Housing Registry
  • Track invoices for programs to include those for relocation, stipends, contractor work, etc.
  • All other clerical duties as assigned

Work with the housing team to ensure program success

• • Provide general support for program and team activities
  • Be the hub for communication among the team members as needed
  • Take notes at team meetings and disseminate
  • Update electronic and/or paper tracking of home progress
  • Provide general support where needed with the team

• • Attend outreach events and assist with marketing activities.

Sustain an effective knowledge of the department’s public health preparedness and response plan.

• Review appropriate plans & train for emergency response roles(s).
• In times of response, fully participate in all assigned roles to respond to health emergencies.
• Assist with reporting and documenting emergency response activities.
• Assist in the public health call center as needed during emergency situations.
• Assist with review and timely updates to the All-Hazards Emergency Response Plan.
• Participates in emergency preparedness training and exercises.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

An associate degree in a related field with at least three (3) years of relevant work experience that will provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Experience may be substituted for education.

Public health core competencies are the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the public health workforce to practice effectively and achieve the core functions of public health. Core Competencies required for this position: Analytical/assessment skills, policy development/program planning skills, communication skills, cultural competency skills, community dimensions of practice skills, public health sciences, leadership and systems thinking skills, financial planning, and management skills.

Public Health Preparedness:

Ability to gain knowledge of public health, EMS and hospital preparedness issues. Knowledge of the Incident Command System and National Incident Management System. Must achieve NIMS competency training compliancy. Employee will report to public health for emergency response as requested by the health director.

Training/Continuing Education Requirements:

• As approved by the Division Manager, must attend 16 contact hours annually of county-funded continuing education from any State of Iowa or environmental health-related association.
• Completion of National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) trainings: IS-100, IS-200, & IS-700
• Bloodborne Pathogen and Tuberculosis Training
• Depending on the role, occasional virtual or in-person Office of Lead Hazard Control & Healthy Homes training may be required.

Optional Licensure Incentives:

As approved by the Division Manager, an approved and applicable certification listed per the CG Public Health Employee Handbook or Manager’s Guide.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the employee to constantly stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and to talk or hear. Position may exert up to I0 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) and/or exert a negligible amount of force frequently (from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Position involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Frequently will reach with hands or arms. Employee will occasionally be required to carry or lift up to 50 pounds and will frequently carry or lift up to 35 pounds. Employee will occasionally sit, climb, balance, taste, or smell. The individual will be required to have corrected 20/40 vision, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Special Requirements:

• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Be an excellent communicator and accepting of people of all backgrounds.
• Organized, and skilled in tracking progress on individual projects.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Able to work effectively with a team.
• Use remote meeting technology.
• Utilize phone and computer applications.
• Represent CG Public Health in a professional manner.
• Follow various policies such as completing time studies, adhering to HIPAA requirements, attending staff meetings, personnel policies etc.
• Respect the rights of persons visiting CG Public Health.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Obtain a dependable personal vehicle.
• Obtain a valid Iowa driver’s license if driving on county business.
• Ability to obtain automobile insurance if personal vehicle is ever used for county business for which mileage reimbursement would be received. To be reimbursed for mileage, must provide proof of auto insurance in the amounts of 100/300/100.

Environmental Adaptability:

The job will create occasional environmental exposure to wet or humid conditions (non-weather), work in high, precarious places, extreme cold or heat (non-weather), possibility of explosions, and vibration. There will be frequent environmental exposure due to work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outdoor weather conditions, steady and impulse noises or 85 decibels and greater, communicable disease, and human waste. Constant environmental potential exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of electrical shock. In addition, should a public health disaster arise, possible risks may also include exposure to biological agents, toxic gases, chemicals, radiological agents, and explosions.

This description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification.  The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Persons with disabilities:  The above is a general listing of job duties.  Essential and non-essential functions may vary by individual position.  Reasonable accommodations may be available for both essential and non-essential job duties.