Community Engagement Specialist

In addition to the salary posted above, this position is currently receiving an additional 5% premium pay due to the position being in King County.

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) is currently recruiting for a full-time, permanent Community Engagement Specialist in the Multifamily Housing & Community Facilities Division.

The Multifamily Housing and Community Facilities Division ("MHCF" or the "Division") is one of the divisions within the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (the "Commission") with the primary responsibility assisting with the development of multifamily rental housing through the issuance of bonds, the allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits ("LIHTC"), and other financing tools. The Division similarly participates through federal bonds and loan programs in assisting nonprofit organizations develop community facilities, assisting beginning farmer/ranchers in acquiring property, and the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

The Community Engagement Specialist helps to ensure the inclusion of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and other interested parties whose voices have not traditionally been included in the development of multifamily affordable rental housing under the direction and guidance of division management. This position will identify barriers and develop outreach and engagement tools and strategies to promote equity and inclusion. It will also develop effective and measurable data collection efforts to evaluate the progress toward goals established for Division policies, engagement and outreach.

This position reports directly to the Division Operations Manager within a Division that works in a team environment with positions interacting and responsibility sharing practiced among staff positions.

The duty station for this position is Seattle, WA. The work associated with this position will be performed through a combination of teleworking and complemented with on-site work and meetings as needed. Employees are required to work in the Seattle office at least once a week and may need to come in more frequently based on Division needs. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance of our worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

The Commission is a market-driven and self-supporting agency created to provide below-market rate financing for building, purchasing, or preserving affordable housing and nonprofit capital facilities. The Commission functions as a financing conduit between developers, lenders, first-time home buyers, real estate professionals, and nonprofit organizations to provide affordable financing for homes, rental housing, civic and social services facilities, energy conservation projects and first-time farmers and ranchers.

We believe that creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment is important and vital to the success of the Commission. We believe in working together to create an environment free from harassment and discrimination and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

• Design and execute community outreach and engagement initiatives in collaboration with the Division Director and team members to increase access to and improve participants' experience in MHCF programs.
• Engage directly with developers, CBOs, and other interested parties, especially those historically marginalized, to understand their experiences, identify barriers, and guide strategies that align with the Commission’s Racial Equity Strategic Plan.
• Create and implement specific community outreach and engagement strategies in collaboration with MHCF staff to inform policy and program development across a variety of programs.
• Develop effective metrics and research best practices to determine progress toward program goals for CBO and BIPOC developer involvement in the Bond/Tax Credit program.
• Design and implement a data collection strategy in collaboration with MHCF and the Asset Management Compliance (AMC) division to establish program goals and…