Director, Housing Policy and Research (GMG/SEG 4)

Job Purpose

The incumbent is required to provide support to the Senior Director and lead the development, amendment and implementation of housing policies, strategies, action plans and legislation. The incumbent is also required to recommend new policy initiatives and legislative provisions and assess congruence with international agreements. In addition, this job involves providing oversight for the undertaking of all research activities to inform the development of effective policies, legislation, programmes and strategies. This position also provides oversight and technical support for the development of Cabinet Submissions, Cabinet Notes, Ministry Papers, and other position papers, as well as provide technical and general information to the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Chief Technical Director, as directed.  

Key Responsibilities

Management/Administrative 

• Develops and co-ordinates the preparation of the Section’s Corporate/Operational Plans, Budget and Individual Work Plans; 
• Organizes meetings, seminars, workshops and international conferences; 
• Prepares and oversees preparation of reports to the Ministers, Permanent Secretary, Chief Technical Director, Agencies, local and international organizations, as directed; 
• Co-ordinates actions arising from decisions of Steering Committees; 
• Represents the Ministry at local, regional and international meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars/fora, for example, the National Homelessness Committee, 
• Caribbean Urban Forum, UN-Habitat Sessions and MINURVI; 
• Assists with the recruitment of suitable staff; 
• Conducts staff performance evaluation. 

Technical/Professional: 

• Develops, reviews and amends policies to effectively address housing needs and other related issues, for example, the National Housing Policy and Implementation Plan, Housing Public Private Partnership Policy; 
• Develops, reviews and amends legislation and regulatory proposals, for example, the Housing Act, Rent Restriction Act and Mortgage Insurance Act, Architect Registration Act and the Port Royal Brotherhood Act; 
• Facilitates, encourages and conducts stakeholders’ consultation in the formation of policies and legislations via public meetings; 
• Undertakes risk assessments to inform policy and legislations; 
• Liaises with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) e.g. National Housing Trust (NHT), Housing Agency of Jamaica Limited (HAJL), Jamaica Mortgage Bank (JMB) etc. to achieve co-ordination, collaboration and integration of government policies; 
• Provides policy advice to the Minister(s), Permanent Secretary and Chief Technical Director through briefs, reports and meetings; 
• Prepares highly technical documentation such as, Cabinet Submissions, Cabinet Notes, and Ministry Papers, etc.; 
• Reviews and finalizes Cabinet Submissions, Cabinet Notes, Ministry Papers, etc. drafted by Policy Officers; 
• Attends Cabinet Committee meetings (Infrastructure, Legislative etc.) to justify Submissions for Cabinet’s approval, as required; 
• Prepares the Ministry’s Policy Register and Legislative Agenda to inform GOJ’s National Registry; 
• Facilitates the preparation of Country Reports for UN Habitat/UN ECLAC/MINURVI, for submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as well as the Ministry’s delegation to those meetings; 
• Co-ordinates and undertakes research on the country’s human settlement agenda to inform policies, legislations, and position papers at the local, regional and international levels; 
• Co-ordinates the undertaking of socio economic and market surveys, via primary data collection methodologies; 
• Co-ordinates and undertakes research to provide response to questions posed in the Houses of Parliament; 
• Reviews Draft Socio-economic reports and provides comments to inform finalization of reports prepared by the Research Team; 
• Participates in the Ministry’ s programme development and service delivery exercises;
• Undertakes requisite activities (research, documentation of information and design of programmes) to facilitate the implementation of signed international agreements relating to housing; 
• Investigates and responds to public queries regarding settlement issues and problems;
• Co-ordinates, develops and facilitates technical assistance for special projects being undertaken by the Section; 
• Reviews Annual Reports and other progress reports submitted by Portfolio Agencies, to inform submissions to Cabinet and tabling of reports in the Houses of Parliament, as necessary; 
• Participates in the review of proposals submitted to the Ministry to undertake housing developments and provides written comments, where necessary; 
• Co-ordinates, prepares and finalizes technical advice/response to requests from MDAs on policies, legislation, Cabinet Submissions, Notes and other official documents being drafted, to inform finalization of same; 
• Assists in the provision of policy direction to Agencies (e.g. HAJL, JMB, UDC, Factories Corporation of Jamaica, Agro-Investment Corporation) under the ambits of the Ministry and other stakeholders; 
• Participates in media interviews relating to the Housing Sector. 

Human Resources: 

• Manages the welfare and development of direct reports through the preparation of performance appraisals and recommendation of required training and development programmes; 
• Provides leadership to staff through effective objective setting, delegation and communication; 
• Promotes a work environment that encourages continuous learning and new skill development; 
• Develops and reviews the Section’s policies, procedures and systems to meet the Ministry’s goals and objectives; 
• Provides guidance to staff through coaching, mentoring and training, providing assistance and support, as needed; 
• Participates in the recruitment and selection of staff for the Branch; 
• Ensures that staff is aware of and adhere to the policies, procedures and regulations of the Division, the Ministry and the Government; 
• Initiates disciplinary proceedings where appropriate; 
• Develops a job enrichment strategy for the Branch in collaboration with HR;
• Ensures that the staff have sufficient and appropriate physical resources to undertake their duties efficiently and effectively; 
• Convenes regular staff meetings and ad hoc meetings, as necessary, to discuss job scheduling and any other issues/problems that affect the Unit, to provide solutions that facilitate the achievement of objectives; 
• Maintains effective working relations with external and internal stakeholders and customers, to ensure a consistently high level of service from the Unit; 
• Serves on various committees internal and external to the Ministry; 
• Performs any other related duties that may be assigned from time to time. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

Core: 

• Excellent leadership skills 
• Excellent research and analytical skills 
• Good interpersonal and people management skills 
• Ability to analyze and interpret changes in the economic, political and social environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Excellent planning and organizing skills 
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Ability to use own initiative 
• Ability to lead and work as a team 
• Ability to cope under pressured working condition and meet deadlines 

Technical 

• Excellent knowledge of Government’s policy formulation, parliamentary procedures, legislative process, GOJ’s Policies and Procurement Guidelines 
• Knowledge of programme monitoring and evaluation processes 
• Knowledge of the operations of Government and Portfolio Agencies 
• Knowledge of economic and social policies 
• Sound knowledge of international trends and the changing environment 
• Risk Assessment skills 
• Sound knowledge of planning and policy development 
• Competence in the preparation of Cabinet Submissions, Notes, Ministry Papers and Position Papers 
• Sound knowledge of research methodologies 
• Excellent analytical skills 
• Competence in the preparation of technical reports 
• Competence in the use of relevant computer applications including various analytical tool
• Strong research and consultative skills 

Minimum Required Qualification and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Planning, Development Studies or Earth Sciences;
• Training in Policy Formulation and Management would be an asset; 
• Training in Supervisory Management would be an asset; 
• Four (4) years related work experience. 

OR 

• Bachelor’s Degree in any one of the following; Development Studies, Urban and Regional Planning, Policy Development or related field; 
• Training in Policy Formulation and Management would be an asset; 
• Six (6) years’ experience in a similar capacity. 

Special Conditions Associated with the Job

• Pressure from various stakeholders with an interest in the Housing Sector;
• Extended working hours including selected weekends; 
• Working in volatile communities. 

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.