Rental Housing Program Specialist

Kinsley Power Systems; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cambridge is seeking a Rental Housing Program Specialist to review eligibility, income certification, recertification, and program documentation while developing and enforcing policies, workflows, and compliance practices.

The role coordinates with residents, property managers, developers, nonprofit partners, and City staff; provides training, outreach, and technical assistance to advance equitable, efficient affordable housing administration; supports data reporting and program

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, urban studies, public administration, public policy, management, business, housing policy, community development, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing or related field.
• Experience with program administration, eligibility review, compliance, and stakeholder coordination.

Responsibilities

• Manage and administer components of the City’s affordable housing programs for residents and applicants of the Inclusionary Housing Rental Programs.
• Oversee applicant eligibility reviews, income certifications, annual recertifications, resident compliance reviews, waiting pool administration, preference group tracking, unit matching, and resident selection processes to ensure compliance with fair housing, equity, and program requirements.
• Coordinate applicant, resident, and property manager communications, educational workshops, counseling services, information sessions, trainings, and unit tours; guide applicants through the application, lease-up, recertification, and transfer processes.
• Develop and maintain relationships with residents, applicants, service providers, property managers, and City staff to better serve our constituency.
• Oversee resident, applicant, and property-related requests related to lease-up, transfers, recertifications, vacancies, inspections, tenancy issues, building concerns, and available support resources.
• Collaborate with residents, property managers, service providers, and City staff to address program concerns, support resident engagement and compliance activities, and provide technical assistance related to program operations and administration.
• Conduct affordable rent calculations, compliance reviews, applicant and resident eligibility reviews, recertification processes, vacancy processing; implement program systems and workflows and participate in and support efforts to enhance operational efficiency and program coordination.
• Maintain, track, and update applicant, resident, property, vacancy, inspection, recertification, information in program databases, spreadsheets, online application systems, and other housing management tools.
• Coordinate and facilitate trainings for property management staff, service providers, or program partners regarding affordable housing program requirements, application processes, recertification procedures, resident compliance, and related administrative responsibilities.
• Lead information sessions and participate in outreach, education, marketing, community events, and community engagement activities to promote program awareness and participation; maintain program materials; and provide support and technical assistance to program participants.
• Prepare reports, memoranda, and data analyses related to program operations, compliance, utilization, and planning activities; maintain accurate program records and databases; evaluate participant feedback and program outcomes.
• Maintain current knowledge of affordable housing program requirements, eligibility standards, fair housing, rental compliance requirements, and housing policies and apply this knowledge in program administration.

Skills

Multilingual

Public speaking

Customer service

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree (related field)

5–7 years affordable housing experience

Tools

CRM

Housing management software

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Rental Housing Program Specialist reviews eligibility, income certification, recertification, and program documentation; contributes to the development of and supports program policies, procedures, workflows, and compliance practices; coordinates with residents, applicants, property managers, developers, nonprofit organizations, service providers, and City staff; and provides technical assistance, customer service, outreach, reporting, and program support to advance equitable, efficient, and compliant affordable housing administration.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Manage and administer components of the City’s affordable housing programs for residents and applicants of the Inclusionary Housing Rental Programs.


• Oversee applicant eligibility reviews, income certifications, annual recertifications, resident compliance reviews, waiting pool administration, preference group tracking, unit matching, and resident selection processes to ensure compliance with fair housing, equity, and program requirements.


• Coordinate applicant, resident, and property manager communications, educational workshops, counseling services, information sessions, trainings, and unit tours; and guide applicants through the application, lease-up, recertification, and transfer processes.


• Develop and maintain relationships with residents, applicants, service providers, property managers, and City staff to better serve our constituency.


• Oversee resident, applicant, and property-related requests related to lease-up, transfers, recertifications, vacancies, inspections, tenancy issues, building concerns, and available support resources.


• Collaborate with residents, property managers, service providers, and City staff to address program concerns, support resident engagement and compliance activities, and provide technical assistance related to program operations and administration.


• Conduct affordable rent calculations, compliance reviews, applicant and resident eligibility reviews, recertification processes, vacancy processing; implement program systems and workflows and participate in and support efforts to enhance operational efficiency and program coordination.


• Maintain, track, and update applicant, resident, property, vacancy, inspection, recertification, information in program databases, spreadsheets, online application systems, and other housing management tools.


• Coordinate and facilitate trainings for property management staff, service providers, or program partners regarding affordable housing program requirements, application processes, recertification procedures, resident compliance, and related administrative responsibilities.


• Lead information sessions and participate in outreach, education, marketing, community events, and community engagement activities to promote program awareness and participation; maintain program materials; and provide support and technical assistance to program participants.


• Prepare reports, memoranda, and data analyses related to program operations, compliance, utilization, and planning activities; maintain accurate program records and databases; evaluate participant feedback and program outcomes.


• Maintain current knowledge of affordable housing program requirements, eligibility standards, fair housing, rental compliance requirements, and housing policies and apply this knowledge in program administration.


• Perform related duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, urban studies, public administration, public policy, management, business, housing policy, community development, or a related field


• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing, assisted housing, housing program administration, affordable homeownership, inclusionary rental, housing assistance, affordable housing development, or a related field, including experience with program administration, applicant or participant support, eligibility review, compliance, and stakeholder coordination.


• Experience with affordable housing programs, income and eligibility reviews, application management, applicant or participant communications, compliance documentation, and program administration.


• Experience coordinating with housing stakeholders, such as homeowners, homebuyers, renters, residents, property managers, developers, lenders, nonprofit partners, or service providers, preferred; experience with affordable housing lease-up activities, recertifications, or rental compliance also preferred.


• Multilingual skills in Amharic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, or another language spoken in the Cambridge community are preferred but not required.


• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of affordable housing programs, inclusionary rental, housing assistance, development-related programs, and available affordable housing resources.


• Knowledge of the regional housing market and the Cambridge community, including housing needs, community resources, and barriers affecting low-, moderate-, and middle-income residents.


• Knowledge of income and program eligibility review, application and selection processes, recertification requirements, compliance monitoring, affordability restrictions, and applicable housing program policies and regulations.


• Ability to understand, interpret, and summarize complex program policies, regulations, guidelines, requirements, and application, selection, lease-up, recertification, or closing processes.


• Ability to clearly explain program requirements and housing resources to applicants, residents, renters, property managers, and diverse public audiences.


• Ability to provide strong customer service, technical assistance, and participant support while maintaining accuracy, confidentiality, professionalism, and sound judgment.


• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, tasks, deadlines, interactions, and program workflows in a fast-paced office environment.


• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as a team member and, when assigned, as a project or program lead.


• Ability to research, gather, review, and analyze relevant data to support program administration, reporting, compliance, evaluation, planning, and development.


• Strong organizational, time management, interpersonal, written, verbal, and public speaking skills, with keen attention to detail.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ability to use or learn housing program management, CRM, online application, database, spreadsheet, and reporting systems.


• Ability to support outreach, marketing, information sessions, community workshops, and public-facing program materials.


• Ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups across diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the direction of the Director of Inclusionary Rental Housing, exercising considerable independent judgment and initiative in administering affordable homeownership programs. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports, compliance measures, and evaluation of program effectiveness and outcomes.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment with moderate noise and typical office equipment. Work includes frequent interaction with residents, applicants, renters, property managers, service providers, partner agencies, and City staff. Duties include attendance at public meetings, workshops, information sessions, community events, site visits, unit inspections, and visits to residential properties or housing sites, including properties under construction. This position may require occasional evening hours.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work requires the ability to access, input, and retrieve information using a computer and standard office equipment; communicate effectively in person, virtually, and by telephone; and travel throughout the City to attend meetings, community events, site visits, and housing or construction sites. Duties may involve walking, standing, climbing stairs, navigating uneven terrain or active construction areas, and occasional bending, reaching, or lifting of materials up to 10 pounds.

The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.