Low Income Housing Compliance Associate/Mgr

WhiteCap Search; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitecap Search is seeking a detail-driven Compliance Manager to lead all LIHTC lease-up compliance for a large NYC project in Corona, Queens. You will oversee a 6-10 person team, review high volumes of files weekly, and ensure strict adherence to LIHTC, HOTMA, and AMI requirements.

You will coordinate with leasing, operations, and social services to ensure timely move-ins and maintain QA controls. Strong leadership and NYC program knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 years of affordable housing compliance experience, with LIHTC experience.
• Experience leading or supervising a compliance team.
• Experience with large-scale affordable housing lease-ups.
• Strong knowledge of LIHTC, income/asset qualification, AMI requirements, rent restrictions, occupancy compliance.
• Working knowledge of HOTMA.
• Familiarity with NYC housing programs and housing agency processes.
• Experience reviewing high volumes of applicant/resident files.
• Experience responding to agency inquiries, audits, compliance findings, and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lease-Up Compliance for 461 LIHTC units within the development.
• Manage a team of 6-10 Compliance Specialists with goals and quality standards.
• Review up to 150 applicant/resident files per week for accuracy and eligibility.
• Maintain expert LIHTC & HOTMA compliance and AMI restrictions.
• Develop QA procedures and controls to minimize errors and rejections.
• Coordinate with NYC housing agencies for submissions, inquiries, audits, and actions.
• Collaborate with Leasing, Property Management, Operations, and Social Services to resolve issues.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes and train the team accordingly.
• Support workforce housing compliance for 100%-120% AMI programs.
• Monitor reporting and performance, identify risks, and prepare lease-up reports.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Problem-solving skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Job description

Whitecap Search is seeking a detail-driven, mission-focused Compliance Manager to play a critical role in a transformative new affordable housing development in Willets Point, Corona, Queens. This position involves leading all compliance efforts related to the LIHTC lease-up phase, ensuring 100% adherence to federal, state, and local housing regulations. The Compliance Manager will collaborate with leasing, operations, and social services teams to ensure a smooth, timely, and fully compliant move-in experience for hundreds of new residents.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Lease-Up Compliance: Direct all compliance activities for the 461 LIHTC units within the 881-unit development, ensuring timely and accurate execution throughout lease-up.
• Manage Compliance Team: Supervise, coach, and develop a team of 6-10 Compliance Specialists, establishing weekly goals, workflows, productivity expectations, and quality standards.
• Conduct High-Volume File Review: Personally review up to 150 applicant/resident files per week, ensuring files are accurate, complete, properly documented, and eligible before agency submission.
• Ensure LIHTC & HOTMA Compliance: Maintain expert knowledge of LIHTC, HOTMA, AMI restrictions (30%-80%), income/asset qualification, household eligibility, and ongoing occupancy requirements.
• Establish Quality Assurance: Develop and maintain standardized file-review procedures, QA checklists, and controls to minimize errors, agency rejections, and compliance deficiencies.
• Coordinate with Housing Agencies: Serve as a primary compliance liaison with applicable NYC housing agencies, managing submissions, approvals, agency inquiries, compliance flags, audits, and corrective actions.
• Drive Lease-Up Execution: Partner with Leasing, Property Management, Operations, and Social Services to identify and resolve compliance issues that could delay approvals or resident move-ins.
• Oversee Regulatory Updates & Training: Stay current on changes to federal, state, and local regulations and ensure the compliance team is appropriately trained and implementing requirements consistently.
• Support Workforce Housing Compliance: Provide guidance and file-review support for 100%-120% AMI workforce housing, ensuring consistent income qualification and documentation practices across programs.
• Monitor Reporting & Compliance Performance: Maintain accurate tracking of file status, submissions, approvals, rejections, and outstanding items; prepare regular lease-up/compliance reports and identify trends or risks requiring management attention.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of affordable housing compliance experience, with significant LIHTC experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supervising a compliance team.
• Experience with large-scale affordable housing lease-ups strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of LIHTC, income/asset qualification, AMI requirements, rent restrictions, and occupancy compliance.
• Working knowledge of HOTMA.
• Familiarity with New York City affordable housing programs and housing agency processes.
• Experience reviewing high volumes of applicant/resident files.
• Experience responding to agency inquiries, audits, compliance findings, and corrective actions.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to maintain accuracy under significant time pressure.
• Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and affordable housing/compliance software.

Preferred Experience

• Managed a 400 unit affordable housing lease-up.
• Managed a team of 5 compliance professionals.
• Direct experience working with NYC housing agencies.
• Experience with developments containing multiple affordability tiers or subsidy programs.
• Experience creating QA systems, workflows, and compliance procedures for a new development.

Disclosure: The hourly rates and/or salaries listed may or may not reflect total compensation packages including bonus and fringe benefits, etc., nor are the advertisement(s) posted a guarantee of a certain compensation package for a position or bona fide offer of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.