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 providing 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;
- Conduct 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, 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 responses 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;
- Coordinates, prepares, and finalizes technical advice/response to request for comments from MDAs on policies, legislation, Cabinet Submissions, Notes, and other official documents being drafted, to inform finalization of same;
- Assist 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;
- Participate in media interviews relating to the Housing Sector;
- 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 review 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.
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 written and oral communication skills
- Excellent planning and organizing skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- 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
- At least six (6) years’ experience in a similar capacity
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
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