Housing & Consumer Counselor/Mediator

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct themselves in a manner respectful of all clients and adhere to BCRHA's mission and goals.
• Act professionally while relating to BCRHA staff, clients, business contacts, and seek to resolve differences or complaints through appropriate agency procedures.
• Adhere to BCRHA personnel policies, including preventing conflict of interest, misuse of funds, or abuse of trust, and report known misconduct to an Executive Officer.
• Respect the legal and moral rights and privacy of confidential information due all clients and uphold BCRHA's affirmative action policies.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES

• Report to and work in cooperation with the Director of Housing, Legal, and Consumer Services to ensure program quality assurance and furtherance of BCRHA's mission.
• Provide housing/legal counseling to tenants and landlords/property managers with the goal of preserving/stabilizing tenancies.
• Provide foreclosure prevention services to assist homeowners in maintaining homeownership or exploring softer landing options.
• Provide consumer advocacy to consumers filing complaints against businesses through the Berkshire Consumer Services Program/Local Consumer Program, working in cooperation with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
• Conduct informal mediation/negotiation between tenants and landlords, neighbors, property owners, managers, other agencies, etc. to assist clients to maintain, stabilize, or obtain permanent housing.
• Implement court-connected mediation services during summary process eviction sessions.
• Maintain and continuously develop a strong knowledge of housing/consumer law and community resources by attending relevant trainings/continuing education.
• Establish an understanding of and relationships with community resources.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and work cooperatively with the Program Director and other team members.
• Complete up-to-date and accurate client files and program statistics in the organization's Client Management Systems.
• Prepare accurate periodic program and statistical reports for relevant funding sources.
• Provide educational workshops and community outreach to state, local, and community organizations and agencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree preferred; may be substituted for 2 years of relevant work experience.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• HUD Housing Counselor Certification (Preferred but must be able to obtain within 3 months of hire).
• Knowledge of current tenant/landlord law (Preferred).
• Communicate and deal effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Operate in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in both oral and written communication.
• The knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently.
• Prior Mediation Experience (Preferred).

BILINGUAL STRONGLY PREFERRED

A RESUME AND A COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED UPON SUBMISSION.