Program Managers for Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Incubator & Permanently Affordable Homeownership

The East Palo Alto Community Alliance and Neighborhood Development Organization (EPACANDO), along with our two sister democratic, community-based, member-controlled institutions (the City of East Palo Alto and One East Palo Alto), were chartered to advance “progress” on the community’s own terms, to assure that community members are the primary beneficiaries of that progress, and that residents who committed themselves to community can thrive in place, and do.  Since its inception in 1990, EPACANDO has developed 350 permanently affordable rental homes and helped over 3,500 low-income residents gain or retain homeownership. We’re launching two new programs and adding two staff positions.

This year we’ll launch two major programs and retool our organizational infrastructure.  Right now we are adding someone* to develop and manage our new Accessory Dwelling Incubator, and another someone** to develop and manage our Permanently Affordable Home Ownership program.  As one of these program managers,

     *    You would empower local long-time homeowners to create affordable secondary dwelling units, through feasibility analysis, resource location, regulatory compliance navigation, and most critically originating accessible revolving development loans that can be refinanced in three-years no-strings attached or converted to silent, equitable shared-appreciation notes in exchange for renting affordably to low-income residents.

   **    You would administer and expand the City’s Permanently Affordable Home Ownership (aka below-market-rate “BMR”) program, providing constituent relations for 100+ participating households, as well as compliance monitoring; conducting refi’s and resales, as well as buyer preparation, and engaging in policy and advocacy work with partner organizations to expand the City’s BMR portfolio and support emerging housing coop and housing land trust efforts.

That would be your focus, and you’d be part of a team.

Together with a posse of partners, specialists and contractors our (five- or six-person) core team will also: continue to co-develop two large tax-credit financed rental complexes; continue to help renters and homeowners alike respond to emergent housing issues and opportunities; help the City meet aggressive, progressive goals for housing protections, preservation and protection; and rebuild our voting membership—we’re a member-based community development corporation (CDC).

Together we’ll need serious chops: real estate transactions, credit and loan counseling, grant writing, office administration, business planning, property management, project management, program management. Are you a community organizer, an administrative ace, a small business planner, a digital media adept, a passing-point-guard project manager, a spread-sheet jockey, servant-leader, blog-worthy prose-composing, relatively unflappable, high-communicator who knows and loves this town—or knows what it’s like to, based on relevant experience?  We don’t each need to be all of these, but we do need to be all of these collectively. 

We are intentional about cross-training and organizational succession, so we’re looking for community-based generalists who also bring particular specialized skills, who will come in as comfortable leaders and collaborators, and who may aspire to advance to deputy or executive director with experience.

If you’re interested, we want to hear from you right away.  The two new positions will remain open until filled, but don’t dally, we’re ramping up fast.

Job Composition

Together with the Executive Director, the core staff will cover the program areas outlined below under Program Management.  Most probably, the two open positions will be organized as program managers for the two major new programs — Accessory Dwelling Incubator and Permanently Affordable Home Ownership.  However, depending on the team we assemble, we may organize assignments around a credentialed Housing Counselor and a business development / organizer ace, each of whom would take on responsibility for those particular aspects across program areas.

Program Management

The successful candidate will have a combination of vision, experience and competencies to develop and manage one or more of these major programs.  Cover letter should address, and resume should support, any focus preferences.

• New Accessory Dwelling Unit Incubator program to help homeowners determine the feasibility and desirability of developing an ADU, then move ahead to plan, finance, build and rent.
• New ADU loan product that enables low-income homeowners to build or install an ADU, enables the community to increase its supply of deed-restricted affordable rental unit, and provides simpatico donors and investors the opportunity to support.
• New Permanently Affordable Home Ownership program to monitor, refinance and resell homes in the City's “BMR” portfolio and expand permanently affordable ownership opportunities.
• Housing counseling for renters and homeowners alike: from incidental information and referral services to specialized assistance for low-income homebuyers and low-income homeowners
• Property Management
• Membership development and member relations program.
• Affordable Housing Development
• Housing policy advocacy

Proficiencies

The successful candidate will also possess and practice many of the following proficiencies or characteristics.  Cover letter should address, and resume should support, particular differentiators rather than generic attributes.

Essential Proficiencies

• Program management:planning, accountability, mission alignment, staffing, resourcing, marketing
• Project management:planning, executing, expediting, troubleshooting, process coordination
• Grant management/accountability/reporting; assuring compliance with funders’ requirements
• Budget preparation, financial analysis, expense control

• Ability to work effectively with co-workers, clients, community organizations and public officials
• Strong financial and analytical skills
• Effective written and oral communication; good listener; clear communicator

• Software: MS-Word, Excell, Powerpoint

Specific Additional Desirable Proficiencies

• Housing counseling and credit counseling, ideally HUD Housing Counselor certification
• Performing basic information and referral for homeowners and renters experiencing a range of housing-related difficulties
• Counseling homeowners and renters on financial literacy, credit improvement, borrowing
• Counseling prospective homeowners to attain homeownership
• Counseling homeowners about existing or new accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
• BMR homebuyer program administration experience
• Recruiting and selection of residents for rental and/or ownership affordable housing
• Residential property management
• Affordable housing development project management
• Community outreach, engagement, advocacy, especially related to housing projects or policy
• Revenue development and grant writing
• Real estate and lending knowledge and transaction experience; underwriting mortgage loans
• Establishing and maintain an effective social media presence
• Website content management
• Staff supervision; Staff development
• Spanish fluency

Additional Proficiencies Also Appreciated

• Generic administrative skills: contracts, editing, setting up or maintain basic office systems
• Experience working in a public agency or exemplary public-interest organization
•  
• Multi-lingual, especially Spanish and/or Tongan
• Academic degree(s) in a related field
• Local resident, ideally long-term

To Apply:             Please send a cover letter, resume, a writing sample that showcases who you are or what you can do or what motivates you, and an interesting spreadsheet, blog or publication you created to:  Duane Bay, Executive Director at dbay@epacando.org.  Upon receipt, we will send you a confirmation by email. If you don’t hear back within two days, please follow up via email and/or phone.

Deadline:            No deadline.  Position will be open until filled

Salary:                  Commensurate with experience, negotiable; budgeted at $60,000 to $84,000

Benefits:             Paid time off, medical, dental and vision insurance.

Status:                  FSLA Exempt; Full-time, will consider flexible schedule and telework

Location:             2369 University Avenue, East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Website:             www.epacando.org

Posted:                3/31/2019