The Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) is seeking a Co-op Preservation Project Associate. The primary function of this role is to work with affordable housing co-op residents to protect and strengthen their housing. The ideal candidate will be passionate about housing justice and eager to learn about the affordable cooperative housing model and other related policy issues. Because many of the residents we serve are monolingual Spanish speakers, we are prioritizing English/Spanish bilingual applicants for this position.
The Project Associate works with the Director of Co-op Preservation and the Director of Contracts to assess the overall needs of each co-op and develop a strategy to assist, stabilize, and improve each one.
The PA will:
• Provide as-needed technical assistance and referrals to a portfolio of HDFC co-ops and/or city-owned buildings converting to cooperatives
• Help boards of directors and shareholders organize effectively to improve the performance of their co-op. Work to identify problems, clarify goals, and implement plans to meet those goals
• Attend virtual and in-person meetings (often in the evening) with co-op residents and leaders on an as-needed basis
• Monitor and facilitate elections of co-op boards
• Provide financial planning support, such as budget creation and loan packaging
• Maintain open lines of communication, positive working relationships, and high levels of trust with building leaders and residents
• Create reports to enable the organization to track and bill for services provided under the contracts that support our work.
• Participate in UHAB-wide meetings, committees & activities and contribute to improving and promoting the organization
Qualifications
What matters most for a candidate coming into this role is not expertise, but having a curious nature and a positive attitude. Our team provides training on various topics relevant to the work and offers support throughout the first year to ensure a strong onboarding process. However, from the start, we believe that the successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they have certain talents and attributes, including the ability to:
• Fluently speak English and Spanish (preferred)
• Establish productive trust-based relationships with residents and leaders of limited-equity housing cooperatives
• Establish effective professional relationships with real estate professionals, particularly property managers, bank representatives, and government officials
• Proficiently use Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Research government regulations and legal documents and interpret them to concerned parties
• Express oneself clearly and persuasively in speech and in writing
• Work both independently and as part of a team
• Maintain positive relationships, even under conditions of some adversity and pressure
• Utilize a problem-solving/dispute-resolution style that favors flexibility and creativity