Test Coordinator, Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia

Posted by on April 18, 2011

Test Coordinator, Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia
Posted on: March 29, 2011

The Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia (“FHCSP”) is a private, non-profit fair housing agency. FHCSP 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; providing consumers, social service organizations, government agencies and members of the real estate, lending and insurance industries with accurate, current and understandable information concerning their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act; and collaborating with an extensive variety of social service and government agencies. FHCSP’s service area covers the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties.

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director, the Test Coordinator (TC) is responsible for complaint intake and case investigations. Generally, the TC is responsible for planning, coordinating, conducting, and evaluating fair housing tests. TC must design and modify test types as necessary and perform any follow-up testing needed to complete investigations in a timely manner. TC must select and/or recruit and train testers and make all necessary arrangements for tester training sessions. TC must maintain all documentation relating to investigations. This job posting will remain open until position is filled. FHCSP will be relocating to Fort Washington, PA.

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 test 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
• Assist with proposal writing and budget development for enforcement programs
• Ability to 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 non-fair housing issues
• Attend community meetings to recruit potential fair housing testers and network with other community groups for referrals and testers
• Assist with other Council 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 FHCSP 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 and agency related meetings (i.e. evenings and weekends). Attend overnight conferences throughout the United States. Must have own transportation and be willing to travel within FHCSP’s service area for tester recruitment, training sessions, testing site decisions, tester debriefing and other enforcement activities.

Send Resume to:

FHCSP
225 South Chester Road, Suite 1
Swarthmore, PA 19081

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE