Community & Homeownership Services Manager

About Habitat:

With a strong sense of purpose, a dedicated team, and the chance to contribute to something greater, working at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. The organization’s unwavering commitment to providing safe and affordable homeownership and changing lives is inspiring. From day one, employees are immersed in a supportive and collaborative work environment where their skills and passions are valued. The opportunity to make a real difference in the local community is unparalleled, as employees witness first-hand the positive impact their work has on families in Orange County.

Job Summary/Position Overview:

Community and Homeownership Services Manager will implement and manage Habitat OC’s Affordable Home Ownership Program and community engagement initiatives. The manager will provide the strategic direction and support to the department to align with Habitat’s strategic vision. The Program includes family outreach and cultivation efforts, homebuyer orientation and education, family selection process and family sweat equity requirements. In addition, this leader will work with Finance and Legal Services to achieve the timely and efficient home purchase, escrow process, and closing. The Manager will develop and implement tools to measure effectiveness of Habitat OC’s continuum of offerings for Habitat homeowners. Additionally, this position supports Home Preservation department with community outreach and initial screening of potential home repair applicants.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Program Oversight and Management

• Manage the implementation of Habitat OC’s Affordable Homeownership Program
• Manage the potential homeowners’ pipeline and facilitate the Habitat homebuying process for selected families in addition to providing post-purchase support and empowerment opportunities.
• Develop the homebuyer outreach and marketing strategy for Habitat OC’s new developments and resale of existing portfolio
• Manage schedule for homebuyer orientations, presentations, and participation in community events
• Manage family selection process, recommendations, and board approval
• Manage and coordinate the onboarding, escrow and closing process with designated team members
• Collaborate with other departments the participation of homeowners in Habitat OC events including Welcome Home Day, Dedication Day, and other fundraising related events
• Manage annual recertification of homeowner status and annual family surveys

Community Engagement and Partner Relations

• Develop outreach and partnership strategies to build the pipeline of qualified potential homeowners of new home construction and resale of existing Habitat OC homes
• Expand outreach and build relationships with local organizations, community leaders, and potential homebuyers
• Collaborate with City partners to ensure timely and seamless approval of Program families
• Work closely with Housing Development to leverage first-time homebuyer and down payment assistance funding available to Habitat OC home buyers
• Participate in Sunshine meetings, homeownership resource fairs, and events with chambers, collaboratives and other network organizations
• Identify funding for community outreach programs including neighborhood revitalization.
• Community outreach to build relationships and mentor community advocates.
• Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Job Description

Lending and Financial Management

• Establish partnerships and manage relationships with lenders
• Obtain approval for Habitat’s Affordable Home Ownership Program with the lenders
• Manage cross-training for qualifying and underwriting homeowners with lenders and HFHOC staff
• Audit and approve selected families based on program and lender underwriting guidelines
• Identify and manage potential mortgage lending sponsorship opportunities (e.g., DPA, grants, etc.)
• Identify community lending partners and ensure our underwriting process aligns with the lending partners

Data and Reporting

• Data collection and management
• Manage database for quality control and integrity
• Generate reports and data for management, board of directors, and external agencies
• Customize and manage homeowner campaigns in Salesforce

Team Management and Cross Functional

• Supervise, train and develop department team members
• Participate in cross-functional team meetings and ensure the department is contributing to advance the mission of Habitat OC.

General Requirements

• Knowledge of mortgage lending and underwriting guidelines and first-time homebuyer and down payment assistance programs
• Knowledge of the home buying process from pre-qualification through escrow and closing
• Flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends

Skills & Knowledge

• Excellent interpersonal and cultural competency skills
• Bilingual ability a plus
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Excellent project management and organizational skills
• Ability to work in a cross-functional team environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience with virtual platforms and databases

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in related fields
• 3-5 years of experience in real estate, mortgage lending, home buyer assistance programs and community engagement
• 3-5 years of supervision and staff development
• Experience with Salesforce a plus

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift to 15 pounds at times
• Ability to navigate various departments and locations of the company
• Valid California driver's license and reliable transportation

Comments:

Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (Habitat OC) actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications. Habitat OC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, regardless of race, religion, age, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetics, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic. Habitat OC will not inquire about a job applicant's criminal conviction history prior to making a conditional offer of employment.