SCOPE OF ACTIVITY

The Field Direction and Operational Support activity funds staff in two broad categories. The bulk of the account supports Community Builders who represent the Department and all of its programs to our customers and potential customers, and match our resources and those of other governmental, private and nonprofit entities with the needs of the communities we serve. These employees coordinate cross program initiatives and are responsible for ensuring effective customer service. The account also supports Labor Relations staff who provide technical assistance to program areas and program users in the area of Federal labor standards compliance.

FIELD

The HUD 2020 Management Reform Plan created the positions of Community Builder (CB) and Public Trust Officer (PTO) to reflect the Department's mission of empowering communities and restoring the public trust. In the past, these two distinct functions have been handled by the same staff who were responsible for informing communities of HUD's programs and services and helping them find solutions to their problems, and monitoring the community to ensure that it was using Federal resources properly. With implementation of HUD 2020, responsibility for these two functions has been split in order to improve the Department's ability to carry out both of these critical roles more effectively. Moreover, this arrangement advances the accomplishment of HUD's six Strategic Objectives.

The account includes the recently established Community Builder position which has enabled the Department to take a very proactive approach in serving its customers. CBs are responsible for reaching out to the community�the public, nonprofit and private sectors�to help with problem solving and to facilitate partnerships. The efforts of CBs have expanded the local network of customers the Department assists in helping address local housing, economic development and related needs. The CBs play a critical role in informing the public of the availability of HUD programs and services and working with communities to devise appropriate solutions to local needs in such areas as economic development, community development, elimination of homelessness, and increasing of homeownership.

1. FIELD DIRECTION STAFF
1. Secretary's Representative

There are ten multi-state jurisdictions, each coordinated by a Secretary's Representative. They report to the Secretary/Deputy Secretary and provide management oversight and evaluation of the Senior Community Builders. They also coordinate the accomplishment of cross program and management priorities within their multi-state jurisdictions.

Secretary's Representatives: (1) serve as the Secretary's "eyes and ears" for their geographic area, and represent the Secretary with governors, mayors, State officials, private sector groups as well as broad-based interest groups and act as the Senior Community Builder for the office in which they are physically located; (2) take lead responsibility for ensuring effective implementation of customer service; (3) identify complex problems requiring Headquarters resolution; (4) serve as the primary point of contact for coordination of HUD and other Federal programs within their jurisdiction; and (5) coordinate disaster assistance activities. Secretary's Representatives also provide management direction to the operational support staff within their offices.

2. Senior Community Builders

The Senior Community Builders serve as the senior management official within each of HUD's field offices, reporting to the appropriate Secretary's Representative. They coordinate the accomplishment of cross program priorities within their respective offices and make sure HUD customers are well served by the Department.

Senior Community Builders: (1) represent the Department for all HUD programs within their geographic jurisdiction; (2) serve as the Department's liaison with State and local officials, private sector organizations and public interest groups; (3) coordinate and implement the Business and Operating Plan for their geographic jurisdiction; and (4) identify problems within their geographic jurisdiction that require higher level HUD resolution.

2. OPERATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF

Labor Relations

The Field Office Labor Relations staff is responsible for ensuring the proper and uniform administration and enforcement of construction labor standards pertinent to all HUD programs within the office jurisdiction and for advising the Secretary's Representative or the Senior Community Builder and program managers on labor relations matters. Specific functions of a Labor Relations staff include: processing wage requirements; conducting labor standards investigations and compliance reviews; determining maintenance wage rates for public housing agencies; providing technical assistance and guidance to local public agencies on labor standards/labor relations matters; promoting employment and training opportunities for the disadvantaged in HUD programs; preparing recommendations for sanctions against labor standards violations; and conducting Davis-Bacon residential wage surveys.

Travel

The table below identifies travel requirements unique to this activity.



The implementation of the Department's six strategic goals through local Business and Operating Plans will require the Secretary's Representatives and Community Builders to travel to various locations to meet with the Department's program customers, governmental entities, and civic organizations to advance community development, homeownership, fair housing, economic development and other relevant activities associated with the mission of the Department. The size of the field staff to handle this work has substantially increased. A major portion of their work will require travel.