Ombudsperson (OPA2)

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OHCS commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Our Vision is that all Oregonians can pursue prosperity and live free from poverty.

Our Mission is to provide stable and affordable housing and engage leaders to develop integrated statewide policy that addresses poverty and provides opportunity for Oregonians.

Our Core Values: Collaboration - Compassion - Equity - Integrity - Leadership - Transparency.

• Working Condition: Hybrid > This position has some requirements for in-person work.

• This position is permanent, full time, and represented by SEIU.

• Per the SEIU CBA for OHCS represented positions, applicants who are current OHCS employees will be considered and interviewed before external applicants.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

• Occasional overnight travel may be required.

• Candidates must possess and maintain a current, valid driver license and an acceptable driving record. Driving records will be reviewed by Human Resources on an annual basis. If candidates do not drive, they can utilize an acceptable alternate method of transportation.

• This position requires both a resume and a cover letter, the cover letter will need to address the desirable attributes listed in this job posting.

On behalf of the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Ombuds Program, this position acts as an impartial advocate for individuals eligible for and/or have applied for Oregon Housing and Community Services assistance programs, program compliance, and others served by OHCS programs by performing senior-level, problem-solving intercessory, mediation, and case-management work. This position supports access to quality, value-based care by providing independent, informal mediation, rules, policy, and process review and recommendations to individuals or stakeholders that have complaints, questions, or grievances about OHCS services, programs, polices or processes. This position identifies, articulates, recommends, and supports policy or procedural changes to strengthen agency program applicants' access to quality, value-based care where individual Ombuds cases identify systems or policy concerns.

This position supports the OHCS mission, vision, and core values particularly equity in the execution of the agency's duties. The OHCS Ombudsperson works independently within the Public Affairs Division; this also requires obtaining the cooperation and joint planning efforts of multiple divisions within the agency, community organizations, individual stakeholders, and private sector businesses. This position uses empathy, strong interpersonal and cultural humility skills, confliction resolution, and analytical investigation to support resolution of concerns and critical situations. This position provides subject matter expertise, analysis, and recommendations to resolve cases for executive management, elected officials, and program areas across the agency. This position uses case management and documentation, data analysis from OHCS programs, and collaboration with community programs to ensure case resolution, understand trends, write data-driven reports, and articulate systems changes where appropriate. This position must operate with a high degree of cultural competency and utilize trauma informed practices.

A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Finance, Political Science, or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the knowledge and skills; and two years professional-level evaluative, analytical and planning work.
-OR-
Any combination of experience and education equivalent to five years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification.

To request a copy of the position description, please contact:

The most competitive candidates will possess the following attributes, experience, and knowledge:

• Experience providing community engagement and outreach.

• Knowledge of supportive housing to serve high needs populations, and must have experience working with culturally specific housing, communities of color and/or social service agencies.

• Must have skill in self-direction and prioritizing work while achieving results with and through others, within OHCS and with relevant stakeholders.

• Ability to demonstrate written and oral trauma informed communication suitable for executive audiences, peers, citizens, and stakeholder groups, some of whom may be unfamiliar with OHCS or affordable housing.

• Must have excellent written & verbal communication skills, computer knowledge, and presentations skills.

• Demonstrated awareness of race and social justice, including the ability to positively influence equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

• Bi-lingual skills are preferred but not required.

You will become part of an innovative and strategic group of professionals and enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package!

• A positive environment that offers opportunities for career growth and cross-training.

• An agency that supports and encourages work/life balance and overall wellness.

• including, employer-paid health insurance, vacation, and sick leave, eleven paid holidays, three paid personal days, flexible spending accounts, and an employer contribution retirement plan ().

• The posted salary range is the total possible range for the classification. Candidates are screened through a Pay Equity process that evaluates various factors. Please see the website for more information.

*These dates are approximate and may change. *

• Recruitment Closes: 05/10/24
• Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: On-going
• Hiring Manager Screening for Requested Skills: On-going
• 1st Round of Interviews: Week of 05/20/24
• 2nd Round of Interviews: TBD if needed.
• Anticipated Start Date: 06/17/24.

• Current State of Oregon employees: Apply via your employee Workday account.

• External applicants: View this . A PDF is also available by .

• REQUIRED: Attach your most up-to-date Resume. Please ensure your Workday profile matches your submitted resume.

• REQUIRED: Attach a Cover Letter that demonstrates how you meet the "Desired Attributes" for this position.

• A Cover Letter that does not meet the required criteria will be graded as ineligible.

If you have questions about the job announcement, or need an alternate format to apply, please contact the HR Solutions Inbox at:

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is Oregon's housing finance agency. We provide financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of lower and moderate income. Our vision is that all Oregonians can pursue prosperity and to live free from poverty. Across Oregon, housing has emerged as a paramount concern. The lack of available housing, high rents and high home prices are driving rapid increases in housing instability and homelessness. The data is clear: too many Oregonians are without a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

OHCS is placing a greater emphasis on strategic planning and the way we invest our resources. Recently, we have restructured, refocused, and reimagined our agency. Our work has led to an increased emphasis on data, research, and customer service. We are carrying that effort forward with the . The plan articulates the extent of Oregon's housing problem and what we can do to address it. OHCS committed to the Housing Stability Council and our stakeholders that the plan will be responsive to the needs of the state.

OHCS released its to update the agency's significant progress in meeting the goals outlined in the 2019 Statewide Housing Plan. We are now more than halfway into the five-year plan.

To learn more about Oregon Housing and Community Services, visit our website:

OHCS's Public Affairs Division includes community and stakeholder engagement, Government Relations, Communications, and public records management. Public Affairs is the primary Division that engages with the public, elected officials, and stakeholders. While this position will ultimately be transitioned into the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office, it will support, navigate, and respond to constituent inquiries that come to OHCS from elected officials, community partners and directly to OHCS. High priority constituent support will be given to emergency programs such as Emergency Rent Assistance, Homeowner Assistance Funding and Disaster Recovery program funding. Longer-term, this position will support the EDI office with building on-going long-term trust building for all OHCS programs and services.

• If you need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have questions or need assistance with the application process, please send your request to and include the job requisition number.

• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%. Please review the page for more details.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference as it may not be available to view after the job closes.

• Finalists will be subject to a computerized criminal history check.Adverse background data may be grounds for immediate disqualification.

• Work Authorization: OHCS does not offer visa sponsorship now or in the future. If hired, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States.

• Veteran's Preference: Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: . NOTE: If claiming veterans' preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your "My Applications" section.

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