Housing Management Specialist

Job Type
Programmatic/Project Management
Organization
Dept. of Housing and Community Development
Job Description

Official Title: Housing Program Specialist III

Functional Title: Housing Management Specialist

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street

Job: Community and Social Services

Agency: Department of Housing & Community Development

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day

Job Posting: Sep 13, 2021, 1:28:00 PM

Number of Openings: 1

Salary: 63,780.86 - 92,381.90 Yearly

Bargaining Unit: 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.

Confidential: No

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is within Housing and Economic Development Secretariat and its work touches the lives of all Massachusetts residents.  DHCD's mission is to strengthen cities, towns and neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life of Massachusetts residents by providing leadership, professional assistance and financial resources to promote safe, decent affordable housing opportunities, economic vitality of communities and sound municipal management.

The Housing Program Specialist III (HPSIII)/Housing Management Specialist is a position within the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD’s) Division of Public Housing.

The HPSIII/Housing Management Specialist is responsible for the asset management and the monitoring of operations for approximately 20 to 30 Local Housing Authorities (LHAs), comprised of properties that include both federal and state-aided housing, some with diverse funding streams including Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guaranteed financing, Section 8, New Construction Substantial Rehabilitation and other low income housing financing.  The HPSIII/Housing Management Specialist is primarily responsible for asset management activities and monitoring of property management operations, including program budgets and financial performance, compliance reporting, capital needs assessment and planning; and on-site management reviews of property operations.  The incumbent assists in ensuring that LHAs report data through DHCD systems and performs queries from data in DHCD systems.

The HPSIII/Housing Management Specialist serves as principal liaison between DHCD and assigned LHAs and provides technical assistance with management operations, including, clarification on regulations, and guidance with policies, procedures and management systems.  The incumbent participates in the development and implementation of housing management policies and procedures as they relate to public housing.  The incumbent is responsible for detecting under-performing LHAs, analyzing operations and LHA financial systems.

The HPSIII/Housing Management Specialist will be assigned at hire a specialty area based on aptitudes, interests, and Bureau Needs. They will provide guidance, training, and support to LHAs and Bureau staff regarding procedures, rules, guidelines and overall program requirements related to the specialty/topic area. For topic to be assigned; such topics may include tenant selection, resident services programs, tenant participation, or another area.

The HPSIII/Housing Management Specialist uses DHCD regulations, Massachusetts General Laws and other pertinent material as guides in the performance of their duties.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

  1. Serves as principal liaison between the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the assigned Local Housing Authority (LHA), maintaining clear and consistent communications with the Executive Director and LHA site staff regarding management of site operations as it relates to operating budgets, tenant selection, lease up of state-aided public housing units, unit turnover, maintenance, rent collections and annual DHCD compliance reporting.
  2. Evaluates performance of assigned housing authorities by monitoring all aspects of housing authority operations for compliance with benchmarks and various statutes, regulations and guidelines.
  3. Conducts on-site management reviews of assigned LHAs, to evaluate the effectiveness of the LHA’s management systems, maintenance systems and finance systems, as well as regulatory compliance for each of the state-aided housing programs.
  4. Writes detailed management reviews citing deficiencies, making recommendations for corrections, and establishing a timetable for corrective action or other steps to address performance concerns.
  5. Works collaboratively with LHAs, identifying under-performing housing authorities, providing technical assistance, advising LHA Boards of their required roles and responsibilities and/or making recommendations to Division of Public Housing senior management staff of corrective action to be taken.
  6. Works independently, exercising discretion and sound judgment with general matters and in handling confidential information.
  7. Reviews (and revises, if necessary) LHA operating budgets for adherence to Department of Public Housing guidelines and approves/disapproves budgets.
  8. Reviews quarterly operating statements to monitor spending and recommend cost-saving methods.
  9. Reviews Annual Plans for assigned LHAs.
  10. Reviews selection process and criteria for hiring Executive Directors, including establishing salary levels in accordance with DHCD guidelines for Executive Director Hiring and published salary schedule.
  11. Reviews, revises, and recommends approval/disapproval of all housing authority contracts for executive directors, maintenance, legal, management, based on DHCD guidelines and consultation with appropriate DCHD bureaus in order to ensure conformance with DHCD guidelines and procedures.
  12. Reviews, revises, and recommends approval/disapproval of all housing authority expenditures in excess of $10k; reviews all requests for capital improvements, purchases of equipment and furnishings made with operating funding in accordance with DHCD Budget guidelines.
  13. Responds, orally and/or in writing, to inquiries from LHAs, state legislators, local governments, tenants, tenant organizations, and the public-at-large concerning all facets of housing authority operations to ensure that all such inquiries are answered promptly and accurately.
  14. Conducts workshops on a state-wide and/or regional basis for Executive Directors, LHA staff and commissioners of LHAs and for other interested housing professionals.
  15. Topic expert on issue to be assigned by supervisor based on aptitudes, interests and Bureau Needs. Provides guidance, training, and support to LHAs and Bureau staff regarding procedures, rules, guidelines and overall program requirements related to the specialty. For topic to be assigned; such topics may include tenant selection, resident services programs, tenant participation, or another area.
  16. Assists in developing reports and tracking required for tenant selection data.
  17. Researches and learns all facets of an assigned specialty area.
  18. Represents the Department, during business hours and occasionally during evening or weekend hours as assigned. 
  19. Prepares detailed reports for supervisor.
  20. Works on special projects assigned by Assistant Director, Associate Director, Director, and the Division of Public Housing Director.
  21. Other duties as assigned.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Knowledge and experience with policies, procedures and systems of on-site property management, including budgeting/financial systems, operational systems and performance, regulatory and reporting requirements of asset management.
  2. Knowledge and experience to evaluate and monitor performance benchmarks of management operations, such as rent collection, tenant selection, unit turnover, vacancies and budgets.
  3. Knowledge and experience analyzing the factors, trends and problems in providing housing services to low-income households.
  4. Ability to evaluate LHA operations, identifying under-performing housing authorities, when necessary, and analyze financial reporting of LHAs and conduct comprehensive management reviews of LHAs.
  5. Ability to gather information by reviewing records, documents, interview individuals, evaluate housing systems, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, which includes the knowledge of professional business writing, general report writing, charts, graphs and tables.
  7. Expertise or knowledge of special needs housing programs (Mass. General Laws Chapter 689, 167) for persons with mental illness and development or physical disabilities, and/or senior supportive housing initiatives and programs.
  8. Ability to meet deadlines within close time constraints.
  9. Ability to address groups of people in public and in-house meeting.
  10. Ability to work with local officials and committees.
  11. Ability to work closely and cooperatively with fellow employees, LHA staffs, tenants, organizations and the public-at- large.
  12. Ability to interpret and apply the laws, rules, policies, procedures, and guidelines governing housing programs, including fair housing laws and the doctrine of reasonable accommodations.
  13. Proficient with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access and able to quickly learn new software applications.
  14. Bachelor's degree preferred. Property management certification(s) is/are preferred.
  15. Travel across the state will be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent from another state.
  16. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required as part of the regular duties of this position.
  17. Demonstrated willingness to take initiative and work effectively, independently, and with little supervision.
  18. Ability to develop written program summaries, documents, and training materials.
  19. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage and direct multiple projects.
  20. Ability to work effectively with other organizations in coordinated delivery of program services.
  21. Ability to maintain extensive databases, and manage and maintain voluminous filing and documentation system.

COMMENTS:

Please upload resume and cover letter.

This position is currently a telework position. The successful candidate will work remotely but must be flexible and able to perform duties in a shared office workspace as required.

Salary placement is determined by years of experience and education directly related to the position and the Human Resources Division’s Recruiting Guidelines. In the case of a promotional opportunity, the salary provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

Executive Order #595 requires Executive Department employees to have received COVID-19 vaccination or to have been approved for exemption as a condition of employment. Finalists will be given details about how to demonstrate receipt of vaccination or request an exemption due to a sincerely held religious belief or if the vaccine is medically contraindicated.

QUALIFICATIONS:

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
 

Minimum Entrance Requirements:

Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in real estate management, property management, public housing program management, public housing program development or public housing program administration, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. 

Substitutions: 

I. An Associate's degree with a major in real estate, public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.* 

II. A Bachelor's degree with a major in real estate, public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required experience.* 

III. A Master's or higher degree with a major in public administration, business administration or business management may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required experience.* 

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. 

Special Requirements: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
 

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Marjie Lalli  617-573-1254