Assistant Director - Contract Administration

About the role

The Assistant Director – Contract Administration provides leadership and operational oversight for key Asset Management functions supporting IHDA – assisted developments. This role ensures effective regulatory compliance, program support, physical inspection coordination, portfolio risk mitigation, and enterprise-level contract administration.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Regulatory Oversight: Provide strategic leadership in analyzing inspection data from 800–1,000 developments annually, elevating critical issues, identifying portfolio-level trends for watchlist consideration, and guiding senior leadership in prioritizing risks and preservation efforts.
• Provide strategic leadership in analyzing risks and potential process improvements related to program administration for efficiency, risk management controls over a portfolio of developments that receive rental subsidy.
• Partner with internal departments, such as Multi Family Finance and Strategic Response Unit (SRU) departments, as appropriate, to ensure contract and execution of contract updates.
• Provide regulatory oversight across program administration functions including rental assistance contract processing, compliance, inspections coordination, and portfolio oversight.
• Maintain relationships with HUD, USDA Rural Development, state partners, and external stakeholders to ensure effective program administration and information sharing.
• Promote a collaborative, solution-oriented, high-performance work environment.
• Procurement & Risk Management: Serve as the department liaison for new procurements, contract amendments, and contract renewals, partnering with Procurement, Legal, and business units within Asset Management on scope development and approval processing.
• Oversee procurement-related risk management, including: Vendor performance monitoring and payment approval, Contract compliance assessments, Risk identification and mitigation tied to vendor-dependent operations, Development of exception reports and quality control protocols.
• Program Compliance, Reporting & Operations Support: Lead contract administration in a highly regulated/government environment, ensuring adherence to state and federal procurement requirements, IHDA policies, and meticulous documentation standards.
• Supervise the compliance functions for Section 811, SRN, Mod-Rehab, and other IHDA rental assistance programs including performance management, quality control, workflow design, training, and capacity planning.
• Provide guidance on relocation plan reviews, Preliminary Project Assessments and Full Application documentation, and rental assistance contract approvals.
• Establish and enforce management procedures for physical inspection scheduling, NSPIRE/REAC compliance, training requirements, and quality assurance requirements.
• Guide cross-team coordination for risk identification, data review, and operational troubleshooting.
• Ensure accurate production of reporting dashboards, audit documentation, HUD-required program reports, and internal management reports.
• Serve as a liaison for internal and external audits, with responsibility for implementing corrective action plans and policy improvements.
• Support appropriate referrals to Portfolio Risk Management for troubled or at-risk properties.
• Lead or support special projects and agency priorities as assigned.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, real estate, finance, public administration, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: 7–10 years of experience in affordable housing, compliance, asset management, physical inspections, or related fields. Minimum 5 years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience in public-sector procurement, contract administration, and risk management strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Section 811, SRN, Mod-Rehab, LIHTC, HOME, Tax Exempt Bonds, and associated compliance programs desirable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and relevant compliance, inspection, or contract management systems.
• Knowledge of NSPIRE or other physical inspection standards preferred.
• Certifications such as COS, BOS, CPM, NSPIRE/REAC training preferred; required certifications must be achieved within one year if not already held.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle with appropriate insurance.
• Ability to perform physical activity associated with on-site inspections or project visits.

Qualifications

• Alternating between sitting, standing, and walking.
• Ascending and descending stairs.
• Crouching and stooping.
• Pushing and pulling.
• Reaching overhead or below.
• Repetitive task movements (filing, keyboarding, copying).
• Lifting, carrying, and moving objects of up to 10 -15 pounds.

Benefits

• Paid time off, plus paid holidays
• Medical/dental/vision/life insurance plans
• Short/long term disability
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flex spending
• 401K plan – immediate vesting
• IHDA employees may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs

Pay

$131,761.15 - $164,701.44

Schedule

Flexible scheduling is available, upon completion of a six-month probationary period.