Test Coordinator, Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania

Posted by Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania on November 17, 2014

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit agency whose mission is leading the effort to eliminate housing discrimination through education, advocacy, and enforcement of fair housing laws. The Housing Equality Center carries out ambitious programs to ensure equal access to housing for members of the Fair Housing Act’s protected classes by investigating rental, sales, mortgage lending, and homeowners insurance practices to support allegations of those who believe they were victims of housing discrimination; adjudicating housing discrimination lawsuits and administrative complaints; and providing consumers, social service organizations, government agencies and members of the housing industry with accurate, current, and understandable information concerning their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. The Housing Equality Center’s service area covers the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties.

Definition
Under the supervision of the Assistant Director, the Test Coordinator is responsible for complaint intake and case investigations. The Test Coordinator’s primary duty is planning, coordinating, conducting, and evaluating fair housing testing investigations and for maintaining all documentation relating to complaint allegations and investigations. In addition, the Test Coordinator is responsible for providing victims of housing discrimination with counseling, information and advice, and referrals to enforcement and other services. The Test Coordinator must also select and/or recruit and train testers and make all necessary arrangements for tester training sessions. This job posting will remain open until position is filled.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Conduct intake of bona fide complaints and perform case management activities
• Design and plan fair housing testing investigations in connection with bona-fide complaints in housing rental, sales, homeowners insurance, accessibility, racially identifiable voice-based, and lending testing; also design and plan fair housing testing investigations in connection with HUD and other contracts, settlement agreements, and random compliance checks
• Recruit, train, brief, deploy, and debrief fair housing testers and ensure accurate and timely completion of testing investigations
• Analyze test results to determine outcome and perform timely follow-up as necessary to ensure comprehensive investigations
• Research property owners, tax records, corporate ownership, and other related areas as necessary to complete an investigation for enforcement proceedings
• Provide testimony, if needed, at deposition or at trial regarding all aspects of the testing investigation
• Provide input on proposals and budget development for enforcement programs
• Identify emerging issues and develop programs to appropriately address
• Maintain data filing systems, meticulous records of activities, and prepare periodic activity reports for enforcement investigations
• Assist with document preparation in legal proceedings as assigned by the Executive Director
• Constantly expand knowledge and skills necessary to perform effectively as a fair housing counselor; attend appropriate training for fair housing/other skills development
• Create and update tester training and reporting materials as necessary
• Provide information, referrals, and technical assistance to callers with various housing issues
• Attend community meetings to recruit potential fair housing testers and network with other community groups for referrals and testers
• Assist with other Housing Equality Center programs and events as assigned

Qualifications
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• Commitment to going above and beyond to meet all contractual deadlines
• Ability to recruit, train, and deploy volunteers for fair housing testing investigations or related experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to exhibit consistent patience, tact, and professional composure
• Ability to work well with people of diverse backgrounds and in group settings
• Proficiency with a variety of software programs, particularly Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple assignments
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to implement tasks and follow up as assigned
• Ability to work independently after training
• Demonstrated commitment to fair housing and civil rights
• Ability to represent the Housing Equality Center in a professional manner

Education and Experience
Minimum of BS or BA in appropriate discipline. Experience in non-profit, social service, or public entity desired. Comprehensive fair housing testing experience highly desirable.

Other Requirements
This position will require non-traditional work hours for training sessions, agency related meetings, and contact with fair housing testers (i.e. evenings and weekends) and attending occasional overnight conferences throughout the United States. Must have own transportation and be willing to travel within the Housing Equality Center’s service area for tester recruitment, training sessions, testing site decisions, tester debriefing and other enforcement activities.

Salary and Benefits
$40,000
Paid Holiday, Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
Cafeteria plan
401K after 1st year

Send Resume to:
Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania
455 Maryland Drive, Suite 190
Fort Washington, PA 19034

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

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