Neighborhood and Community Investment Specialist

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.

What you will do

• HUD's Mission The mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is to foster strong communities by supporting access to quality, affordable housing, expanding the housing supply, and unlocking homeownership opportunities for the American people.
• The Department is committed to furthering the promise of self-sufficiency in every American while promoting economic development to revitalize rural, tribal, and urban communities across the country.
• This position is located in the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), Office of Public Housing Investments.
• PIH's mission is to provide low-income families affordable housing opportunities as they transition to self-sufficiency and homeownership.
• PIH oversees the administration of HUD's Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Section 8 Rental Assistance, and Native American Programs through a staff of Headquarters and Field employees.
• The field structure for PIH consists of 29 Hub Offices and 16 Program Centers that provide oversight, direct monitoring, and coordination for approximately 3,300 public housing authorities.
• The Office of Public Housing Investments enables PHAs and communities to develop, operate, and sustain affordable housing and mixed-income communities through a variety of housing opportunities that support families and assist individuals to become self-sufficient.
• As a Neighborhood and Community Investment Specialist, you will: Develop policies, procedures, Federal Register Notices, Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), operating guidance, and program strategies related to redevelopment, repositioning, and supportive services activities.
• Formulate recommendations, develop policy alternatives, and provide expert technical assistance on financing, grant administration, and program implementation issues.
• Facilitate and oversee complex public/private redevelopment, repositioning, or supportive services.
• Coordinate with HUD program offices, field offices, and other federal agencies to address complex redevelopment, financial, compliance, and operational issues associated with redevelopment, repositioning, and supportive services activities.
• Travel to housing authorities, multifamily properties, redevelopment sites to evaluate operations, investigate programmatic and financial issues, assess redevelopment progress, and develop solutions to complex redevelopment, repositioning, and supportive services and compliance matters.

Requirements

• The official duty station for this position will be in Alexandria, Virginia.
• Failure to report to duty at this location may be grounds for a disciplinary action, including removal.
• Key Requirements: Must be U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
• A probationary or trial period may be required.
• Continued employment is contingent upon supervisory certification that continued employment will benefit the Federal Service; the certification will occur no less than 30 days before the end of the probationary/trial period.
• A one year supervisory or managerial probationary period may be required.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.
• Public Trust - Background Investigation will be required.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
• Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
• If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
• Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9.
• Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
• Please refer to "Additional Information" Section for additional Conditions of Employment.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the result of the online assessments required for this position.

Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination. In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Rating: You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application may be referred to a selecting official for consideration.

You may be required to participate in a selection interview. If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee (eligible for the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)) you must be rated as "well qualified" to receive special selection priority.

Well-Qualified includes those applicants whose knowledge, skills, and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.

Documents you must provide

• A complete application includes: 1.
• A resume: All applicants are required to submit a resume either by creating one in USAJOBS or uploading one of their own choosing.
• (Cover letters are optional.) USA Jobs restricts resume uploads to a maximum of 2 pages.
• Resumes attached in other sections (such as "Documents" or "Other") will not be considered in the determination of specialized experience.
• If multiple resumes are submitted, the resume submitted last (based on time stamp) will be the only one reviewed as a part of your application.
• To ensure readability, resumes must be formatted using an easy-to-read font (such as Lato, Calibri, or Arial) with a minimum font size of 10-points and margins no smaller than 0.5 inches.
• Failure to follow these formatting guidelines may result in disqualification from further consideration.
• To receive full credit for relevant experience, please list the month/date/year and number of hours worked for experience listed on your resume.
• For resume writing guidance, please visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• Vacancy question responses: All applicants are required to complete vacancy question responses by clicking the apply online button of this vacancy announcement.
• Performance Appraisal or explanation: Submit a copy of all pages of your most recent completed annual performance appraisal, dated within 12 months of the opening date of this announcement, that includes the final rating.
• In cases where the performance appraisal is more than 12 months old, incomplete, missing pages, or unavailable, you must attach a written explanation of the reasons.
• Failure to do so may prevent you from being considered for this position.
• If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal or have not received one in the last 12 months, please submit a statement as to why it is not available when completing your application questionnaire.
• Submission of any required documents identified below, if applicable: Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible) CURRENT EMPLOYEES -- Documentation Relating to Your Federal Employment:- Submit a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive service as Tenure 1 or 2 (Block 24), Position Occupied as 1 - Competitive Service (Block 34), current Grade (Block 18) and Salary (Block 20).
• Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates you are a current HUD PIH employee (as defined in the clarifying text above).
• If you do not have a copy of your SF-50 that indicates this information, you must upload an explanation.
• Applications without this information will not be considered.
• Typically Award SF-50s do not provide the required information.
• If the full performance level of your position is different from the grade indicated in Block 18, please provide proof of the full performance level.
• If your highest permanent grade is different from your current grade, submit a copy of an additional SF-50 showing that grade.
• If you are currently on a Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA), you must submit a copy of an SF-50 indicating that type of appointment.
• Also, you must submit a copy of your DD214 or other documentation showing dates of service and type of discharge and any other applicable documents such as SF-15, VA letters, etc. If you are currently on a Schedule A Disability Appointment, you must submit a copy of an SF-50 indicating that type of appointment.
• CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (CTAP) DOCUMENTATION: If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, submit the documents applicable to you: A copy of the documentation demonstrating your status as a surplus or displaced employee (See OPM's Career Transition Guide for additional information regarding these statuses); A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action," noting your position, grade level, and duty location.
• If you have already separated, submit a copy of your SF-50 documenting your separation; A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating (if your separation notice does not have this information included); and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
• Current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employees: Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title; Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); Agency; and Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What to expect next

After you have completed your initial application, you will be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

We will review your resume and transcript(s) (if appropriate) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and may interview the best-qualified applicants. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct any required suitability and/or security background investigation.

Additional information

OTHER INFORMATION: We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation incentive will not be paid.

Recruitment incentive will not be paid. This is a bargaining unit position. This position is Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

HUD offers alternative and flexible work schedules. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies for similar positions across HUD. During the online application process, you will be asked to specify if you would like your application information shared with other hiring managers in the Program Office listed in this announcement or in other HUD Program Offices.

Opting to share your application information will not impact your application for this announcement, nor will it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (CONTINUED): HUD employees are subject to a number of government-wide and HUD specific ethics laws and regulations, including restrictions on working in a real estate related business, and having Section 8 tenants, along with other prohibited interests and activities.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (***)