Bremerton Housing Authority

Recruitment Services Provided by Ralph Andersen & Associates

Executive Director

Welcome to Bremerton, washington

Bremerton Housing Authority offers a top affordable housing executive an exciting leadership opportunity in the desirable Puget Sound Region of the Pacific Northwest. BHA’s next Executive Director will lead a high performing agency with a national reputation, in a community known for strong partnerships and innovative work.

Bremerton, WashingtonThe largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton is home of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) and has a strong Navy history. The City boasts many new publicly and privately funded buildings along its extensive waterfront. Residents have easy access to parks and a newly expanded marina, as well as unique local shops, restaurants, and brewpubs.

Amenities include the Admiral Theatre Live Performing Arts Center, an historic Arts District, and Gold Mountain Golf Course, rated one of the best public golf courses in the country. Family friendly, with great schools, top-notch healthcare, and a true sense of community – Bremerton and Kitsap County offer the perfect work-life balance, with the Puget Sound and Cascade Mountain Range to the east, the Olympic Peninsula, backed by the Olympic Mountains to the west, and Mount Rainier looming to the Southeast. Bremerton’s charm, natural beauty, and central location in the heart of Puget Sound make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Offering the best of both worlds, Bremerton offers a small city feel with quick, easy access to two big cities. Major shopping, national sports, expanded nightlife and entertainment are easily accessed via a 30-minute ferry ride to Seattle, or a 20-minute drive to Tacoma.

The Bremerton Housing AuthorityFulfilling its mission in Bremerton for over 80 years, Bremerton Housing Authority (BHA), is a public agency that provides thousands of families and individuals access to quality housing in our community.

BHA has an annual budget of $206 million and a property portfolio that includes 206 units of public housing, 159 project-based Section 8 units, 48 tax credit units, and 28 market rate units. BHA also administers 1,327 tenant-based vouchers and 80 VASH vouchers.

Established in 1940 when affordable housing was quickly constructed in Bremerton during the World War II era, by the 1990’s BHA faced significant challenges with resources to fix or replace depreciated affordable housing units. However, a new and encouraging chapter began for BHA in 2000, when the organization entered into Performance Based Contract Administration (PBCA) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This created a new division of BHA that is Contract Management Services (CMS).

CMS furthers HUD’s policy priorities by carrying out activities to create jobs and contribute to local economic development, particularly for low-income populations and communities. Funds generated by the PBCA program directly benefit local residents including major redevelopment projects which provide additional units of affordable housing to the community, homeless shelters, and self-sufficiency and training programs for residents. Today, CMS oversees more than 600 HAP contracts and 28,800 units of affordable housing across the country.

Bremerton Housing Authority’s ValuesTo underscore BHA’s commitment to excellence, the following values are an integral part of how we go about fulfilling our Vision and Mission.

Responsibility – We are careful stewards of the public and private financial and environmental resources entrust- ed to our care.

Compassion – We are kind to others and provide assistance to those in need.

Self-Discipline – We strive for personal improvement, setting goals and working to achieve them.

Honesty – We are trustworthy, tell the truth, and do not take unfair advantage of others or take that which is not ours.

Respect – We use appropriate language in all our communications, hon- or the feelings of others, and deal peace- fully with anger, insults, and disagreements.

Integrity – We have the courage to do the right thing and strive to uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior.

Innovation – We continually look for new solutions to the challenges we face.

Professionalism – We have a clear sense of purpose, perspective, and direction in the work that we do.

Diversity – We appreciate the diversity of our staff and clients. We are committed to promoting better understanding of our differences and look for ways to make these differences into strengths.

Success – We strive to meet the goals that we set for ourselves and by those who interact with us.

The PositionReporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director provides overall direction for the Agency within the policy and guidelines set by the Board. Key responsibilities include:

• Plan, develop, coordinate, delegate, supervise, and direct the implementation of the Agency’s housing programs. Work with senior managers and Board of Commissioners to develop the Agency’s strategic and annual agency goals.

• Direct or coordinate an organization’s financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize revenue, or increase efficiency. Identify federal and non-federal funding sources to supplement declining subsidy, helping to ensure the viability of housing and associated programs offered by the Agency.

• Analyze operations to evaluate performance of the Agency and its staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, increase of productivity, program improvement, or policy changes. Coordinate the development or implementation of internal control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes.

• Establish or organize major departments, appoint department heads, directors, or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them. Confer with board members or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems. Implement corrective action plans to solve organizational or departmental problems.

• Meet with residents concerning complaints and/or grievances after unresolved investigations and negotiations by designated staff and advises them of their rights to hearings according to the Agency’s procedures.

• Act as the agency’s Contracting Officer. Administer the process for selection of sites, construction of buildings, or provision of equipment or supplies. Negotiate or approve contracts or agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal or state agencies, or other organizational entities.

• Direct or conduct studies, reports or research on issues affecting areas of responsibility, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting the agency or program services. Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and recommend changes to promote or support interests of the general population or special groups relating to low income housing.

• Support, assist, and work with other agencies and affiliated organizations in joint efforts by participating in community activities and functions relevant to Agency objectives and by maintaining membership in appropriate community organizations. Preside over or serve on boards of directors, management committees, or other governing boards. Attend and participate in meetings of municipal councils or council committees. Nominate citizens to boards of directors or commissions.

• Oversee non-profit entities, associations, or instrumentalities of the Agency. Prepare bylaws approved by appointed officials and ensure that bylaws are enforced.

Challenges and OpportunitiesThe next Executive Director for the Bremerton Housing Authority will have a number of identified challenges and opportunities to address:

• In this era of uncertainty related to federal funding, creative partnerships are needed in the region to accomplish Bremerton Housing Authority’s Mission. A successful example of a recent partnership is Pendleton Place. The Pendleton Place project was a joint effort between the Bremerton Housing Authority, Kitsap Mental Health Services, and the City of Bremerton. The 74-unit apartment building combines affordable housing and mental health care to support the most vulnerable members of the community – those experiencing chronic homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse. Similar collaborations will be needed to provide housing where it is needed most.

• The next Executive Director for BHA will have the opportunity to leverage the success of CMS to best support the core mission of BHA in the future. This may include expanding CMS’ services for external stakeholders and/or accessing CMS’ capabilities for internal improvements.

• Not unlike many other cities, the Bremerton area is experiencing an uptick in persons who are chronically homeless. Efforts to help the situation are collaborative, with BHA as a critical part of the solution. The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to leverage BHA’s financial strength and strong partnerships to deliver innovative solutions.

• More broadly, the need for more affordable housing units is ever increasing and it is likely that the Bremerton Housing Authority will be in a development role to address this issue for the foreseeable future.

• The Bremerton Housing Authority has a strong reputation and equally strong performance. The next Executive Director will need to encourage innovation and creativity to continue to advance the organization without disrupting the good work already being accomplished.

bremertonhousing.org

The Ideal CandidateIn addition to being ethical, well-qualified, and experienced, the next Executive Director must possess certain traits that will be essential for success:

• A strong collaborator and relationship builder is needed, as these traits have been highly successful in delivering needed services in this tight-knit region. Both the Bremerton Housing Authority and the greater Bremerton community seek an Executive Director that will imbed in Bremerton and be an effective community leader.

• The Bremerton Housing Authority is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and its next Executive Director must telegraph these values throughout the organization and the Bremerton community.

• While the Bremerton Housing Authority is smaller than many affordable housing agencies, it has built a powerful reputation as a national influence. This involvement on the national level has delivered credibility on the local level and is a trait the Board of Commissioners would like to see continue.

• The Board of Commissioners and BHA’s regional partners seek an Executive Director who is willing to take calculated risks and encourage that spirit through the organization.

• The next Executive Director will have the opportunity to mentor and coach a talented and capable staff to not only improve their performance, but also to prepare the next generation of leadership.

• A strong financial and business acumen, with the ability to analyze data to make the best decisions in complex situations would be an asset in the role.

QualificationsThe following are required qualifications for the position of Executive Director:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Accounting, or related field.

Experience: Eight or more years of experience in low income housing programs, housing management, community development, public administration, or a closely related field. Experience must include considerable knowledge of local, state, and federal governmental procedures and regulations as they relate to residential properties and the management of local housing authority operations. At least five of the years of experience must have been in a significant management capacity at a public housing authority or other similar experience; overseeing a staff of ten or more for at least three years.

Certification: Public Housing Manager Certificate from a HUD approved organization or a NAHRO Certified Management Executive designation is not required, but highly desirable.

Compensation and BenefitsThe salary range for the position of Executive Director is $126,232 - $168,772, with placement in the range dependent on qualifications.

The Bremerton Housing Authority offers an excellent benefits package including the following major areas:

• Retirement: Washington State PERS retirement. The Executive Director will have a choice between PERS Plan 2 (defined benefits) and Pers Plan 3 (hybrid of defined benefit and defined contribution plans).

• Insurance: Washington State PEBB Benefit Package which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death, and disability insurance.

• Leave and other benefits: Annual leave will be negotiated with the selected candidate. In addition, BHA provides a rich suite of additional benefits.

Recruitment ProcessAll interested candidates should apply by October 5, 2020 by submitting a compelling cover letter and comprehensive resume to apply@ralphandersen.com. Confidential inquiries are welcomed to Greg Nelson at (916) 630-4900. Prior to interviews, candidates will be required to sign a release form to authorize verifications to be conducted including employment history, degrees obtained, and other certifications.

Bremerton Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

LEARN MORE & CONNECT

Apply Today!

Recruiter’s Website

BHA’s Website