HMIS Specialist

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Homeward Alliance serves as the Collaborative Applicant and HMIS Lead Agency for the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care (NoCO CoC). The NoCO CoC is a HUD-recognized regional entity working to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Larimer and Weld counties. In these roles, Homeward Alliance supports regional coordination, strategic planning, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement of the homeless response system in collaboration with community partners.

In addition to its regional coordination responsibilities, Homeward Alliance provides direct services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Northern Colorado. Through direct services and partnerships, we help people meet immediate needs and build pathways toward housing and stability.

Homeward Alliance encourages applications from BIPOC, individuals who have experienced homelessness, and those holding marginalized identities.

People with criminal justice system involvement are also encouraged to apply. Background checks are run only after an offer is extended, and candidates are given the opportunity to speak with the hiring manager about the results if desired.

We are also looking for bi- and multilingual candidates and pay $1,040.00 more per year for this skill.

POSITION SUMMARY

The HMIS Specialist supports the responsibilities of the HMIS Lead Agency for the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care (NoCo CoC). This position plays an important role in maintaining data quality, providing technical assistance to homeless service providers, supporting system compliance, and strengthening the effectiveness of HMIS operations.

In addition to providing day-to-day system support, the HMIS Specialist contributes to the development and implementation of standardized procedures, training resources, data quality improvement strategies, and other initiatives that strengthen the capacity of HMIS users and participating agencies.

The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, resourceful, and comfortable navigating complex systems and processes. They demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, take initiative in identifying opportunities for improvement, and can translate technical information into accessible guidance for individuals with varying levels of technical expertise.

This position reports to the HMIS Director

RESPONSIBILITIES

HMIS Technical Support and Agency Assistance

• Provide timely and effective technical assistance to HMIS end users, including troubleshooting system issues, responding to help desk tickets, and supporting report generation.
• Investigate user-reported issues by gathering relevant information, identifying root causes, and developing appropriate solutions or recommendations.
• Support the implementation of consistent technical assistance practices, including standardized support procedures, escalation processes, and documentation.
• Assist in assessing agency support needs and providing tailored technical assistance, training, and resources based on agency capacity and performance.
• Identify recurring challenges, training gaps, and opportunities to improve system usability and end-user experience.
• Develop and maintain knowledge base articles, standard operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, and other technical support resources.

Data Quality, Reporting, and Analysis

• Generate, review, and distribute routine data quality and timeliness reports, working with participating agencies to identify and resolve data issues.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews of HMIS data, system configurations, and reporting outputs to identify errors, discrepancies, or opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development, maintenance, and validation of reports and data visualizations, gaining familiarity with HMIS reporting tools and business intelligence platforms such as Clarity, Looker, Snowflake, and Tableau.
• Assist in the development of standardized reporting methodologies, data definitions, and quality assurance procedures to promote consistent and reliable reporting.
• Support the preparation, review, and validation of reports for local, state, and federal requirements, including the Longitudinal Systems Analysis (LSA), System Performance Measures (SPM), Housing Inventory Count (HIC), and Point-in-Time Count (PIT).

Training and Capacity-Building

• Support HMIS training for new and existing users in accordance with applicable HUD HMIS Data Standards and local policies.
• Support the creation and maintenance of accessible training materials, including written guides, recorded demonstrations, interactive learning activities, and e-learning courses.
• Utilize learning management systems and course authoring tools to support training delivery, knowledge assessments, and ongoing professional development.
• Collaborate with participating agencies to identify knowledge gaps and provide targeted education and technical assistance.

System Administration and Continuous Improvement

• Assist with HMIS administrative functions, including user account management, access permissions, system configurations, and compliance monitoring activities.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and refinement of policies, procedures, and operational workflows that promote consistency and efficiency.
• Support the implementation of new system functionality, reporting standards, training approaches, and operational improvements.
• Identify opportunities to streamline repetitive tasks, improve internal workflows, and reduce administrative burden through standardization or automation.
• Document processes, decisions, and technical solutions to support consistency, knowledge sharing, and continuity of operations.

Collaboration and Project Support

• Participate in local, statewide, and national HMIS meetings, workgroups, and professional development opportunities as appropriate.
• Collaborate with HMIS staff across Colorado, participating agencies, technical consultants, and other stakeholders to advance shared priorities and system improvements.
• Support the planning and execution of HMIS-related projects by coordinating assigned activities, documenting progress, and following through on deliverables.
• Contribute to a collaborative, solutions-oriented team environment and perform other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to investigate complex issues, identify patterns, and develop practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, navigate, and troubleshoot technical systems, software applications, and data-related processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize inconsistencies, errors, and opportunities for improvement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts in clear, accessible language.
• Ability to develop organized, accurate, and user-friendly documentation, instructional materials, and procedures.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, manage ongoing assignments, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, take initiative, and recognize when additional information or consultation is needed.
• Collaborative approach to problem-solving, with the ability to work effectively with individuals and organizations representing diverse roles, experiences, and technical skill levels.
• Ability to adapt to evolving requirements, learn new tools and processes, and contribute constructively to organizational change.
• Commitment to data privacy, confidentiality, accuracy, and ethical information management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Clarity Human Services or another Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
• Familiarity with HUD HMIS Data Standards, federal homeless assistance programs, or Continuum of Care operations.
• Experience with data analysis, reporting, or visualization tools such as Excel, Looker, Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
• Experience with data quality assurance, quality control, data validation, or performance monitoring.
• Experience developing training materials, facilitating adult learning, or using learning management systems and e-learning authoring tools.
• Experience providing technical assistance, managing help desk requests, or supporting users of complex software systems.
• Experience developing standard operating procedures, implementing process improvements, or supporting organizational change initiatives.
• Familiarity with relational databases, SQL, or other data management concepts.
• Experience collaborating across organizations or contributing to projects involving multiple stakeholders.

Pay: $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Fort Collins, CO 80524