Senior Specialist, Affordable Housing)(Program Admin Officer 4)

Competition # : 43102
Department: Municipal Affairs and Housing
Location: HALIFAX
Type of Employment: Term
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 13-Jun-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing is dedicated to working with municipalities to build healthy, vibrant, and safe communities throughout Nova Scotia. The Department provides programs, grants, and funding opportunities for municipalities and community groups. The Department also provides services and guidance to municipalities in many areas including land use planning, budget planning and finance, infrastructure development, policy and program development.

The Department is also responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, suitable, and affordable housing for all Nova Scotians. Our work involves making strategic investments, leveraging new funding, and building on critical partnerships to help further position ourselves to meet current and future housing challenges.

About Our Opportunity

We're hiring a Senior Specialist, Affordable Housing. This role is perfect for individuals with a background in mortgage lending or experience within the banking industry, and who are passionate about making a difference in the housing sector. Under the guidance of the Program Manager for Affordable Housing, the Program Specialist will play a key role in administering a variety of programs aimed at preserving and creating affordable housing across the province.

We are looking for a detail-oriented and analytical professional who has a strong understanding of real estate development and can quickly adapt to evolving work demands. Join our team and use your expertise to impact affordable housing options

Primary Accountabilities

Your expertise will be instrumental in driving the success of our affordable housing initiatives. You will:

• Address program queries and collaborate with private and non-profit real estate developers to clarify project scopes and work plans.
• Evaluate applications for capital funding for affordable housing projects, ensuring compliance with established guidelines.
• Draft and issue conditional approval letters and legal agreements.
• Review appraisals, environmental site assessments, building condition reports, and other technical documents.
• Prepare mortgages, review progress claims, and manage payment disbursements.
• Partner with external stakeholders such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), lawyers, engineers, and community housing groups.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the perfect opportunity for you if you have completed a Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g., Business, Real Estate, Commerce, Finance, Land Development) and have at least six (6) years of relevant experience in program delivery and/ or mortgage/ loan administration.

General knowledge of mortgage lending, the ability to read construction documents, and familiarity with real estate development processes and/or property management are highly desirable assets.

You must demonstrate:

• strong financial analysis skills including reviewing financial statements and understanding financial reports, development cost projections, and pro forma budgets.
• excellent verbal and written communication abilities, including report writing and presenting recommendations.
• interpersonal, consultative, influencing/negotiating, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish productive relationships with senior representatives from private, non-profit, and government sectors (municipal, provincial, and federal).
• excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance priorities.
• an understanding of client service principles, with the ability to handle confidential information discreetly.
• ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).

Assets include familiarity with:

• ICM (Integrated Case Management) or other case management systems.
• Government-funded housing programs and policies.
• Managing grants for housing or community development projects.
• Property law, zoning regulations, land-use planning, sustainable building practices and green certification programs

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

• A completed related Masters degree and 4-years of experience
• A completed related Diploma and 8-years of experience
• 10 years of total related experience

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

Most of your work is in a comfortable office environment. There is a need for you to balance competing priorities, attend multiple meetings, and meet strict deadlines. Provincial travel may be required.

Additional Information

A valid Nova Scotia driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle for travel to various project sites are required.

This is a term employment opportunity with an anticipated end date of April The appointment status ('term', 'temporary' or 'casual') is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.

What We Offer

• Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
• Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
• Countless Career Paths.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.

Pay Grade: PR 17
Salary Range: $3, $3,649.33 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement:

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to