Working Title: Project and Programs Manager
Job Class: Housing Program/Policy Specialist
Agency: Housing Finance Agency

• Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted: 05/12/2023
• Closing Date: 05/26/2023
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: Housing Finance Agency / Housing Finance-MAPE
• Division/Unit: Payroll Processing / SF-Lending Prog Mgmt
• Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
• Days of Work: Monday - Friday
• Travel Required: No
• Salary Range: $32.13 - $47.65 / hourly; $67,087 - $99,493 / annually
• Classified Status: Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status: Nonexempt
• Telework Eligible: Yes
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Minnesota Housing is hiring! We’re a mission-focused financial institution looking for a Projects and Program Manager to lead new program development work and lead the most complex project work for the Homeownership and Home Improvement Programs Team at Minnesota Housing. You will be part of the Lending Programs Sub-team, a dynamic team that manages over $1 Billion in annual loan production. You will support the team with data analysis and develop recommendations to make our programs more user-friendly and effective at meeting borrowers' needs. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with multiple teams to identify and implement strategies to advance our mission goal to reduce Minnesota's homeownership gap by helping more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color achieve homeownership

Essential Job Duties

• Lead the development and implementation of new loan products, programs, and program changes.
• Serve as project manager for the most complex projects and projects of the most strategic value, including cross-team and inter-divisional projects. Analyze and advise on such business problems, researching the issue and analyzing data as needed, and collaborating with the Lending Programs Team, Business Relationships Team, Portfolio Management, and Research Team as applicable.
• Present complex data in an easy-to-understand format. Create PowerPoint slides, board memos, and present recommendations to senior leaders and the Board.
• Collaborate with the team and others across the division to problem-solve and identify creative user-friendly solutions to overcome obstacles. As needed, research the problem and the layers of requirements that govern our loans in order to arrive at an innovative solution.
• Monitor loan production, analyzing trends that impact mission and production goals or budget.
• Lead statute/rule research, policy analysis, and policy recommendations as needed
• Research programs and products available around the country and identify successful strategies to consider replicating and less successful strategies to avoid.
• Research, identify and implement strategies to help Black, Indigenous, and people of
• color attain successful homeownership.
• Develop program manuals, documents, materials, processes, and procedures to facilitate effective and efficient program implementation.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders to incorporate community feedback into program design and program processes.
• Act as a mentor/trainer for newer employees
• Represent the Agency with Lenders, professional associations, and other external parties at the local and national level.
• Support the Homeownership and Home Improvement Team and the broader Single Family division, as needed to achieve the division’s goals (e.g., review Community Development funding requests, provide back-up technical assistance to lenders, staff Minnesota housing public events at least once per year, etc.).
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

To be qualified for and considered for this position, applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications listed below. Ensure that your resume contains descriptions of your work experiences sufficient for comparison against the requirements stated below and indicate the beginning and ending month and year for each job held.

Only applicants whose resumes clearly demonstrate fulfillment of each of these minimum qualifications will considered for this position.

• Four (4) years of experience working in homeownership mortgage lending or administration of city/county/non-profit/state single family housing programs.
  • A Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, housing, real estate, public policy, or related field will substitute for one (1) year of experience, a master's degree in business administration, finance, housing, real estate, public policy, or related field will substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience specifically in the home mortgage lending industry
• Knowledge of Minnesota Housing homebuyer programs sufficient to conceptualize ideas for new programs
• Knowledge of available mortgage financing options
• Experience in program development and/or program evaluation
• Strong project management skills. Demonstrated track-record of successful projects completed.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Strong data analysis skills
• Strong critical thinking/problem-solving skills
• Intermediate experience in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Demonstrated organizational, time management, interpersonal skills, and dependability

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration, finance, housing, real estate, public policy, public administration, or related field
• Experience as a mortgage underwriter, processor, loan originator, or in a mortgage lending leadership role
• In-depth knowledge of Minnesota Housing's homeownership programs, including Start Up, Step Up, Monthly Payment Loan, and Deferred Payment Loan
• Strong background in program development and/or program evaluation
• Experience in community lending or as a Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) lender
• Cultural competency as demonstrated by communication skills, interaction across cultures and awareness of one’s own world view and acknowledgment that different world views exist and are valid
• Experience in public speaking
• Bi-lingual or fluent in multiple languages

Physical Requirements

Requiresments moving office items such as folders, laptops, and small office tools.

Additional Requirements

• Reference Checks.
• Job related background checks.

How to Apply

Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.

If you have questions about the position, contact Human Resources at minnesota.housing.human.resources@state.mn.us.

To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Human Resources at minnesota.housing.human.resources@state.mn.us.

About Housing Finance Agency

At Minnesota Housing, we know that affordable housing is an essential part of Minnesota’s infrastructure. When you work here, you’re helping to build stronger communities. We also have a national reputation as one of the finest housing finance agencies in the country.

Why Work for Us

Diverse Workforce

We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.

A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:

• 95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
• 91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
• 88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
• 87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits

Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

• Public pension plan
• Training and professional development
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 11 paid holidays each year
• Paid parental leave
• Low-cost medical and dental coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Vision coverage
• Wellness programs and resources
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Health care spending and savings accounts
• Dependent care spending account
• Tax-deferred compensation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.