About Us

For over eight decades, the Housing Authority Birmingham District (HABD) has been a committed leader in providing affordable housing for qualified families in the City of Birmingham. Our ultimate vision is to empower self-sufficiency, economic advancement and quality living for a successful future.

Our Mission

The mission of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District is to provide the highest standard of affordable housing while fostering vibrant, inclusive communities and serving as a catalyst for opportunity. 

HABD’s leadership has continued to develop and grow programs, offerings and partnerships that help to promote self-sufficiency, empowerment and quality of life for personal and community success. Birmingham has the largest public housing authority in Alabama, serving more than 10,000 people.

Benefits of Working with HABD

Medical/Dental/Life Insurance, Short-Term/Long-Term Disability,  Workers' Compensation, Retirement Plan/Deferred Compensation, Paid Holiday (Federal & State), Paid Personal Days, Paid Sick Leave- Eight (8) hours Per Month, Paid Vacation:

Less than 90 days……………0 hours; 90 days to 5 years…………96 hours; 5-11 years………………………120 hours; 12-15 years……………………144 hours; 16+ years………………………160 hours

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

It is the policy of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and any other condition protected by the law. No question on the application is asked for the purposes of limiting or excluding any applicants consideration for employment because of his/her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other disability protected by the law. 

Director of Housing Choice Voucher Programs  (Full Time)
Department: Executive

Position Title:	Director of Housing Choice Voucher Programs	Department:	Operations
Reports to:	Chief Operating Officer	Employment Status:	Full-Time
FLSA Status:	Exempt	Date Created:	October 2023

Summary

The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District ("HABD") is Alabama's most significant public housing authority. With approximately 4,500 public housing units, several tax credit and Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) properties, about 6,300 vouchers, and several Project-Based Voucher (PBV) properties, HABD provides quality, affordable housing to almost 22,000 individuals.

The primary purpose of this position is to lead the operations of the Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV") program and other rental assistance programs at the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District ("HABD" or "Authority"). The incumbent is responsible for interpreting federal, state, and local regulations regarding the HCV program operations. This position is also responsible for preparing reports measuring the program's success and ensuring that program activities comply with federal, state, local, and Authority regulations.

HABD seeks individuals passionate about affordable housing, the families we serve, and the Housing Choice Voucher program. HABD is committed to transformative change in its HCV program and seeks a leader who can achieve excellence in operations, program expansion, and service innovations.

All activities must support HABD's mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The position duties and responsibilities listed below describe the general nature and scope of work. Other responsibilities, duties, and skills may be required and assigned as needed.

Directs the work of staff, including assigning, planning, and reviewing work; effectively evaluating work performance and completing performance evaluations; motivating staff and maintaining team cohesion; coordinating activities, maintaining standards, allocating personnel, selecting new employees, training staff, acting on employee problems, and recommending and implementing discipline.

Directs all Rental Assistance Department operations; establishes, communicates, monitors, and evaluates department goals and initiatives; creates, implements, and maintains monitoring and reporting systems to ensure quality and timeliness of department and program work.

Leads efforts to expand the portfolio of rental assistance and other grant-funded programs administered by HABD.

Ensures staff maintain affirming, effective communication with participant families, owners/agents, neighborhood groups, housing advocates, and service providers.

Monitors and analyzes Housing Assistance Payments ("HAP"), voucher issuance, and participant attrition to ensure steady, authorized utilization of Housing Choice Vouchers, including special purpose vouchers such as VASH, Mainstream, FUP/FYI, and the Project-Based Voucher program.

Oversees the inspection function and ensures that housing quality standards are developed, monitored, and adhered to for all programs.

Evaluates applicant and participant access barriers, revise policies, and implement practices to reduce and eliminate barriers.

Reviews program policies against changing regulations, laws, and viewpoints to coordinate the timely implementation of amended goals and policies. Develop and implement HCV policies and procedures to include the Administrative Plan.

Manages a comprehensive quality control program, identifies compliance risk areas, and oversees risk audits as necessary in various program-related aspects, including HQS, SEMAP, finance, fair housing, etc. Presents thoughtful solutions for managing and mitigating risk.

Prepares performance and activity reports, including VMS, utilization, and PIC reports for HABD leadership, including for dissemination to the Board of Commissioners, and attends board meetings to respond to information verbally.

Prepares applications and supporting data to secure additional funding and programs from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase housing opportunities for families.

Forecasts funds needed for program administration, and HAP employs cost savings strategies as required.

Develops program budgets and coordinate with the HABD Finance Department to ensure adequate subsidy assistance to maximize program participation without exceeding authorized voucher allocations.

Reviews, develops, and modifies Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMR) and payment standards for the program; analyzes area rental markets and rent burdens; develops, reviews, and monitors utility allowance schedules.

Ensures HUD performance standards and other reporting requirements are maintained at a high-performance level and/or improved if required; ensures accuracy and efficiency of all HCV utilization activities to include a comprehensive written quality control process; conducts reviews and audits to assure that policies, procedures, and regulations are adhered to.

Supervises the landlord services functions, including initial, annual, interim, special, and quality control inspections, rent reasonableness determinations, landlord clearance, contracting, education and outreach to prospective landlords/units, supervision of staff, and monitoring of inspection contracts.

Monitors HCV program performance and policy adherence; reviews client folders before quality control reviews; provides personnel training and development; and stays abreast of proposed changes in policies, procedures, guidelines, and best practices in personnel development.

Represents HABD when meeting with elected officials, private landlords, housing advocacy groups and organizations, community associations, and other entities to explain program policies, goals, etc.

Leads the development of the Project Based Voucher (PBV) program, including issuing solicitations, managing contracts, monitoring utilization, etc.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies

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

Leadership:Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting the course of action for department and subordinates; manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement to subordinates.

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 HABD. Uses appropriate judgment & decision-making by level of responsibility.

Commitment:Sets high-performance standards; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service:Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind. Recognizes work colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication:Ensures essential information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing. Demonstrates attention to and conveys understanding of the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.

Initiative:Proactively seeks solutions to resolve unexpected challenges. Actively assists others without formal/informal direction. Possesses the capacity to learn and actively seeks developmental feedback. Applies feedback for continued growth by mastering concepts needed to perform work.

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

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts team success above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Job Competencies

Knowledge of housing authorities' general operations and procedures and the HCV program.

Profound knowledge of core HCV and PBV program tasks, including waitlist management, lease-up, recertifications, financial management, and inspections.

Vast knowledge of the local, state, and federal laws governing the HCV Program, including Housing Quality Standards, health and fire regulations, landlord/tenant regulations, and evictions.

Skilled in providing instruction on HCV program requirements to potential participants and landlords, groups of participants and landlords, and one-on-one.

Skilled in operating commonly used office equipment, especially personal computers for word processing and spreadsheet applications.

Skilled in customer service and resident relations.

Ability to research and interpret HUD, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as HABD policies and procedures related to the position.

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.

Ability to prepare and present ideas in English clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Ability to perform program-required computations with speed and accuracy.

Ability to perform duties with high judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.

Ability to plan, organize, and develop various operational and management programs and procedures.

Ability to develop, promote, and evaluate HABD's goals, objectives, departmental and agency policy and procedures, and other initiatives.

Ability to perform multiple tasks under pressure while maintaining professional composure under stress.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, or related field and a minimum of seven (7) years of experience in public and/or assisted housing, including a minimum of three (3) years of experience in a management capacity. An equivalent of a combination of education, training, and experience, which, at the sole determination of the Housing Authority, provides the required knowledge and abilities, may be considered sufficient.

Must possess or have the ability to obtain a Housing Choice Voucher Manager Certification within one (1) year of employment.

Some positions may require possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to be insurable under HABD's automobile insurance plan at the standard rate.

Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, the employee should have strong computer skills (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Must learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks.Currently, HABD utilizes the Yardi platform as its system of record.

Physical Demands

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

To perform this job successfully, the employee is frequently required to remain in a stationary position. Daily movements include sitting, standing, reaching, and grasping; operating computers and other office equipment; moving about the office; and attending onsite and offsite meetings. The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

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

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

The position is open until filled.