Job Description:

Associate Homeownership Director

PURPOSE:

The mission of OPAL Community Land Trust is to help sustain Orcas Island as a healthy, economically diverse community by providing permanently affordable homes and related education and support for islanders—families, seniors and singles—whose housing needs are not met by the traditional market.

To accomplish its mission OPAL: (1) acquires land and buildings; (2) develops land in an environmentally and socially responsible manner; (3) constructs or renovates buildings to be healthy, durable and energy efficient; (4) educates and counsels homebuyers and rental tenants; (5) facilitates financing for mortgages and home repairs, and (6) stewards what it creates for current and future generations.

The Associate Homeownership Director is the primary contact and advocate for prospective OPAL homebuyers. They are responsible for meeting with applicants to evaluate their buying potential, providing educational opportunities and support for applicants and homeowners.

POSITION STATUS:

This is a year-round at will position for 32 – 40 hours per week supervised by OPAL’s Housing Director. Salary Range from $80,000 – $110,000 depending on hours and experience.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

Counsel prospective homebuyers.

1. Implement all existing policies for new homebuyer selection and resales.
2. Conduct HUD approved homebuyer education, both one on one and in groups, to prospective homebuyers.
3. Ensure OPAL’s application process is streamlined and working as intended. This includes interfacing with Public House, Homekeeper and Salesforce.
4. Manage OPAL’s applicant pool to ensure potential eligible and qualified buyers are offered homes in the order in which they applied
5. Support and coach prospective homebuyers with all aspects of qualifying to purchase an OPAL home, including:
   • OPAL’s application process which is managed through Public House and Homekeeper (a Salesforce App)
   • Income calculation, determination and eligibility,
   • Financial assessment, household budget and buying capacity,
   • Completing OPAL’s participation requirements, and
   • Helping applicants make the best decision for themselves.
6. Support and assist OPAL applicants in becoming homeowners. This includes:
   • Drafting purchase contracts.
   • Supporting homebuyers in their mortgage application process.
   • Identifying and supporting homebuyers in accessing downpayment assistance funding from San Juan County, the WSHFC, FHLB, lending partners and others.
   • Drafting OPAL’s closing documents including the OPAL Memo of Lease, Lease Cancellations, Notes and Deeds of Trust.
   • Coordinating and attending closings.
7. Work with USDA, public funders, and private lending institutions to ensure prospective residents have access to affordable financing to purchase their OPAL home.
8. Represent OPAL at community events and within the existing social service network.
9. Provide the Housing Director with regular updates and recommendations regarding the areas of responsibility outlined in this job description.
10. Maintain up-to-date data in Salesforce regarding housing counseling services provided.
11. Secure and maintain active Housing Counseling Certification and HUD Certification for Housing Counselors.

Steward OPAL’s existing homeowners by providing housing counseling services for OPAL homeowners in need of support.

12. Respond to homeowner questions and provide homeownership and budget counseling regarding financing, insurance, taxes, etc.
13. Provide housing counseling for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties.
14. Provide default and foreclosure prevention counseling to OPAL homeowners and other islanders in need.
15. Facilitate access and provide counseling to homeowners who need to re-structure debt or secure financing from OPAL and from outside sources.

Maintain administrative records and file compliance reports:

16. File quarterly reports to WSHFC and HUD on all staff activity related to existing housing counseling activities and grants.
17. Provide data and help write grant applications for housing counseling and OPAL’s new development activities.
18. Maintain an up-to-date database in Salesforce (Homekeeper) of all applicants and homeowners.
19. Keep track of data quality, generate data clean up reports and implement good data hygiene practices.
20. Update Salesforce with new annual resale values for OPAL homes and communicate these new values and associated lease fees to homeowners each year (November-December).
21. Annually (January) inform the San Juan County Assessor about OPAL resale restricted values.
22. Help configure and implement new systems and software to streamline processes.
23. Recommend refinements to existing policies and legal documents and help to implement necessary policy changes.

Support Office Operations:

24. Attend staff meetings and occasional meetings of the board of trustees or committees.
25. Attend and support outreach and fundraising events.
26. Work as part of the OPAL’s awesome team.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Desired characteristics include:

1. Ability to listen, communicate clearly, mediate and work as part of a team.
   • Direct and compassionate.
   • Ability to have difficult conversations.
   • Must adhere to polices regarding confidentiality
2. Strong math and excel skills.
3. Education or experience working with the public.
4. Education or experience with lending, finance or real estate.
5. Qualities of respectful perseverance.
6. Creativity and problem-solving.
7. Careful attention to detail.
8. Ability to balance many competing responsibilities – project management experience useful.
9. Flexibility in work schedule.
10. Proficient with Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook and Teams, as well as familiar with database management and a willingness to learn.
11. Salesforce experience preferred.
12. Certified as a HUD Housing Counselor, or willing to achieve certification (supported by OPAL) within six months of being hired.
13. Commitment to affordable housing and the island community.
14. Spanish proficiency preferred.

Submit cover letter and resume to Lisa Byers, lisa@opalclt.org.  Position is open until filled. Applications will start to be reviewed on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. 

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Submit cover letter and resume to Lisa Byers, lisa@opalclt.org.  Applications will start to be reviewed on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. 

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