Office Assistant - Bilingual

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Dental Plan

Vision Plan

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan

Job summary

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) seeks an Office Assistant to serve as the first point of contact, handling multi-line phone systems, greet visitors, and support the Housing Management Department and Section 8 Program. The role emphasizes strong communication, clerical accuracy, and compassionate public service.

The ideal candidate has at least one year of clerical experience, basic office skills, and proficiency with Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year clerical experience including reception and public contact.
• Knowledge of basic office practices, filing systems, record keeping, and telephone etiquette.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to type with acceptable speed and accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and business correspondence principles.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and stay composed; bilingual Spanish required.

Responsibilities

• Answer phones and greet visitors professionally, presenting a positive image.
• Schedule appointments and respond to inquiries; provide general information on policies and programs.
• Prepare routine documents: correspondence, emails, reports, meeting minutes and agendas.
• Process invoices, work orders, purchase orders and other records with accuracy.
• Perform data-entry, copying, scanning, mail processing and records management.
• Maintain organized files and operate standard office equipment.
• Deliver courteous customer service and de-escalation when needed.

Skills

Bilingual

Spanish

Reception

Customer service

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Description

Join Our Team

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is an award-winning, mission-driven public agency and a recognized leader in the affordable housing industry. Known for our attractive, well-maintained communities, we have developed and secured over 4,300 units of affordable rental homes throughout Santa Barbara. But our work goes far beyond building housing; we are committed to delivering innovative, long-term solutions that address our community’s housing challenges.

At HACSB, we empower residents to thrive through forward-thinking housing programs and supportive services. At the same time, we invest in our employees by offering meaningful work, professional growth opportunities and a shared sense of purpose. We foster a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful work environment where every team member plays a critical role in advancing our mission: providing safe, quality and affordable housing to those with limited incomes. Our dynamic leadership team leads a talented and dedicated team of professionals guided by our core values, the '5 C's': Competence, Cooperation, Commitment, Communication, and Compassion.

Under general supervision, the Office Assistant serves as the first point of contact for the agency, delivering exceptional customer service while providing administrative support to the Housing Management Department and Section 8 Program. This role is responsible for managing a busy multi-line phone system, greeting and assisting visitors, responding to inquiries, and performing a variety of clerical and administrative functions in a fast-paced office environment. The ideal candidate is organized, professional, and compassionate, with strong communication and clerical skills, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to serving the public.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Answer phones and greet visitors in a professional, tactful, and efficient manner to present positive image of the Housing Authority. Schedule appointments, respond to inquiries and provide general information to the public regarding Housing Authority policies, procedures, and programs.
• Prepare a variety of routine documents including general correspondence, e-mails, reports, meeting minutes and agendas.
• Process invoices, work orders, purchase orders, requisitions, and other administrative records, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Perform routine office duties and administrative support including data-entry, copying, scanning, mail processing and records management.
• Maintain organized, accurate files and operate office equipment.
• Deliver professional, courteous customer service, including using effective de-escalation techniques when interacting with upset individuals.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and personal attributes:

• A minimum of one year clerical experience including reception and working with the public;
• Knowledge of basic office practices and procedures including standard office filing systems, record keeping practices, and telephone etiquette;
• Knowledge of modern office equipment and computers (MS Word, Excel and Outlook);
• Ability to type with acceptable speed and accuracy for successful job performance;
• Good written and verbal communication skills and principles of business correspondence;
• Ability to perform clerical work of average difficulty according to established procedures;
• Ability to successfully multi-task in a fast-paced work environment and work under pressure and sometimes stressful circumstances; and
• Bilingual with Spanish (required).

Full-time, in-person position; 9/80 schedule (Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-5:30PM & alternate Fridays 7:30AM-4:30PM).

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The 5 step salary range is $27.02-$32.84 per hour + bilingual premium pay.

HACSB offers eligible employees a comprehensive and well-rounded benefit package including:

• Cafeteria Benefit Plan
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
• Group Health Plan
• Vacation
• Dental Plan
• Sick Leave and Catastrophic Leave
• Vision Plan
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Long-Term Disability
• Training and Development Program
• 401(a) Employees’ Money Purchase Pension Plan
• Recognition and Incentive Programs

SELECTION PROCESS

For primary consideration, applications must be received no later than Monday, October 5, 2026; thereafter position open until filled. Selection process may include an interview and other testing designed to predict successful job performance.

If HACSB determines an applicant is suitable for the position based on a job related evaluation of skills and experience, prior to subsequent employment, the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check, appropriate to the job functions and business necessity. Criminal convictions will not automatically disqualify a candidate for employment. The nature of the crime, time since offense, surrounding circumstances, and relevance of the offense to the position applied for will be considered. The Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the ADA and FEHA, HACSB provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [phone] TDD to make accommodation requests.