Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Manager (CS 4)

Full Job Description

Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Manager (CS 4)
At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work.

We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes.

We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Housing Division (HD) partners with local governments, Tribes, housing authorities, nonprofits and other organizations to develop and preserve affordable housing, promote individual and family self-sufficiency, and reduce adult and youth homelessness.

The Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (OHY) in HD manages funding and direction for the state’s efforts to address youth and young adult homelessness.

Youth of color and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ experience homelessness and housing instability at higher rates than their peers.

The OHY strives to achieve equity for these youth and places youth at the center of funding, practice, and policy decisions.

OHY is responsible for leading efforts to coordinate a spectrum of ongoing and future funding, policy, and practice efforts to improve the safety, health, and well-being of homeless youth in Washington State.

This position serves as the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) Manager and is the expert on the youth homelessness in rural communities in Washington State.

This position is responsible for all aspects of YHDP and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements including outreach, communication, training, continuous quality improvement, and relationship building among the collaborative applicant, YHDP grantees, and young people receiving services or participating in Youth Action Boards.

As part YHDP grant, this position will implement the coordinated community plan to end youth homelessness in the Washington state Balance of State Continuum of Care.

This position will maintain existing initiatives and support the development of new initiatives to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness and will coordinate with other community-based efforts.

In addition, the position makes policy recommendations and develops strategies to end youth homelessness.

Requirements

Qualifications

Required Position Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience in community, trade or economic development with a focus in housing assistance or related field (supportive housing, behavioral health, affordable housing, victim services, mental health services etc.) in three or more of the following areas:
• Expert- level knowledge of youth and young adult homelessness, including funding streams at the local, state, and federal level; programmatic solutions; public policy development; and best practices.
• Experience in contracts, grants financial management, finance, accounting, and/or auditing.
• Managing and understanding the principles, practices and techniques of homeless youth services, housing and/or social service programs, including their application, intent, source of funds, legislation, regulation, and reporting.
• Providing technical assistance to community-based organizations, non-profits, local governments etc.
• Managing and/or monitoring programs, projects and/or contracts.
• Developing, maintaining, and updating program policies, procedures, guidelines, objectives, and/or programmatic-related forms.
• Experience as a housing provider or provider of homeless youth services.

Lived experience with housing instability and/or experience navigating and receiving services from public systems such as homeless and housing services systems, foster care, the criminal legal system, or behavioral health system may substitute for two years of professional experience.

• What is lived experience? Lived experiences is relevant expertise derived from the accumulated personal life and professional experiences of an individual.

Experience can be gained through life events, volunteer role/capacity, any experience gained outside of professional paid and unpaid experience, academic or a combination of experiences.

The above-listed experience will demonstrate that a candidate possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to successfully qualify for and perform the duties of the position.

Education involves study in housing finance, social sciences, health and human services, business, public administration or related field.

Examples of how to qualify:
• 8 years of experience
• 7 years of experience and one year of education
• 6 years of experience and two years of education
• 5 years of experience and three years of education
• 4 years of experience and four years of education
• 3 years of experience and five years of education
• 2 years of experience and six years of education
• 1 year of experience and seven years of education

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
• Experience supervising social services staff.
• Demonstrated knowledge of HEARTH Act and other federal initiatives, existing national and local strategies, HMIS specifications/capabilities, and project planning.
• Demonstrated experience in advanced level homeless program evaluation.
• Experience and strong understanding of coordinated entry systems.
• Strong understanding of statistics, output, and outcome measurement.
• Demonstrated experience in advanced level project management.
• Experience in public speaking and providing trainings.
• Experience navigating and leading in political environments.
• Recognized skill negotiating and championing system change efforts.
• Experience developing and managing budgets and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated proficiency in translating technical requirements to a non-technical audience.

Required Position Competencies:
• Accountability: Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, manages change, sets personal standards, and stays focused under pressure.
• Customer service: Responds professionally to customer questions and complaints in a timely manner.
• Integrity: Accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, works with staff in a straightforward and honest manner.
• Leadership: Leads through change and adversity, makes tough calls, listens carefully to others and values all opinions, motivates and encourages others.
• People development: Provides feedback and coaching, recognizes hard work and risk taking, mentors, motivates, challenges staff, and promotes team atmosphere.
• Results focused: Sets and achieves targets, prioritizes task, creative problem solver.
• Ability to work successfully with people who have opposing ideas and opinions and build relationships.
• Proven understanding of the intersection of race and social justice as it relates to efforts to address homelessness.

To be considered for this position, the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• Complete supplemental questions
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.

Additional Information

Work from Anywhere in Washington State
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.